Pop
Leigh‑Anne Pinnock praises Jesy Nelson for her strength after twins’ diagnosis
Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock has praised her former bandmate Jesy Nelson for the "really incredible" way she has spread awareness of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1 after her twins' diagnosis.
Leigh‑Anne Pinnock has spoken warmly about Jesy Nelson, calling her former Little Mix bandmate “incredible” for the way she has handled her baby twins’ recent health diagnosis.
Jesy, who welcomed daughters Ocean Jade and Story Monroe 10 months ago, previously shared that both children have Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1, a rare and serious muscle‑wasting condition. She also confirmed that Leigh‑Anne, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall had reached out privately with their support.
Speaking on The Smallzy Show, Leigh‑Anne said the news had deeply affected her.
She said: “It’s heartbreaking, just awful. Obviously I did reach out to her. It’s just the worst thing ever.
"I think she’s really incredible for spreading that awareness. I think that’s the special thing about us. We will always be there.”
She echoed the sentiment in a recent interview with Heart Breakfast, explaining how important it has always been for the group to support one another.
She said: “We’ve all reached out to her and I think she is really brave for what she is doing.
“Me, Perrie and Jade are super close as well. We were together for so long — we are sisters — and that relationship is really important to us.”
Jesy, who left Little Mix in 2020 after struggling with the pressures of fame, recently told This Morning that hearing from her former bandmates has been “very healing.”
She reflected on their shared history, saying: “We were genuinely best friends. Things happen in life, it doesn’t always go how you think it’s going to… but since they’ve been reaching out, it’s lovely. It’s definitely healed a part of me.”
She also spoke candidly about the reasons she stepped away from the group, explaining that constant comparison and scrutiny took a toll on her mental health
She said: “I don’t want to constantly be like, ‘I hated my time in Little Mix,’ because I had some of the best times of my life.
“But that part never left me… sometimes in life, as selfish as it may seem, you’ve gotta do what makes you happy.”
