Jade Thirlwall admits being in Little Mix was ‘cut-throat’ and reveals she struggled the most to adapt after the band’s hiatus because she doesn’t have a family

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Last month, she began her first tour as a solo artist, called ‘That’s Showbiz Baby.’ Now, she’s getting ready to accept the Musician Award at the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year Awards in 2025.

Jade Thirlwall, 32, looked stunning on the cover of the magazine’s December/January issue, released on Wednesday. She discussed her years with the group Little Mix and what it’s been like adjusting to life since they paused their activities.

Little Mix, consisting of Jade, Jesy Nelson, Perrie Edwards, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, was created on the eighth season of The X Factor in 2011.

The group rapidly rose to fame as one of the leading girl groups of the 2010s, releasing a string of popular songs like “Wings,” “DNA,” “Move,” “Black Magic,” and “Shout Out to My Ex.”

The band released six studio albums, and several of them topped the charts in the UK. In May 2022, they announced they were taking a break with no set return date so each member could pursue individual projects.

Jade recently shared what it was like being in the band, describing the environment as very competitive and harsh.

In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar UK, she described the environment as very competitive. She explained that maintaining success was a constant challenge, and dropping out of the top ten could lead to serious consequences.

Looking back, it’s crazy to remember when we were at our peak, before our ‘Get Weird’ album. We all stayed up all night worrying that if our next single wasn’t a Top 10 hit, we’d lose our record deal. It’s funny now, considering how successful we already were.

Since then, Jade has achieved great success as a solo artist. She won the 2025 Brit Award for Best Pop Act, had a Top 10 hit single, and her first album received excellent reviews and reached No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart.

Before launching her career as a solo artist, Jade found it difficult to adjust to life after the band broke up and felt lost about her future.

She confessed that leaving the group was hardest for her because the other members had things to focus on – like their families and children – which helped them move forward. She felt alone in starting a new phase of her life.

I was completely lost after Little Mix split up. I’d been a huge fan since I was 18, and it took me some time to get used to life without them.

I felt lost in a whirlwind of uncertainty. I worried about whether people would still care about my work once I re-emerged, and if I’d even be taken seriously starting a solo career at my age.

I took some time to travel and reconnect with friends. When I returned home, I realized I needed to focus on my well-being, so I decided to start therapy and explore my identity through creative work.

Jade’s tour began last month in Dublin, Ireland, and will finish on March 18th in Hamburg, Germany.

And Jade revealed that her main goal for the tour is simple – to make sure people can’t be bored. 

‘The goal is simple: to make sure people can’t be bored,’ she told the publication. 

Let’s be real, I love a little bit of fabulousness in my life! I may not be rolling in dough like Beyoncé or Taylor Swift just yet, but I’m definitely finding ways to create a glamorous lifestyle on my own terms. It’s all about being resourceful and making the most of what you’ve got!

The singer appeared completely confident as a solo performer in the photoshoot, stunning in a large, black-and-white patterned dress with a pretty white lace trim.

Jade looked stunning in photos, finishing her outfit with fluffy black ballet flats and styling her dark hair in curls.

Let me tell you, Jade absolutely killed it in her latest photoshoot! She rocked a gorgeous black faux-fur coat – and nothing else! – and the photos are seriously striking. She really knows how to work the camera with those sultry poses. It’s all about confidence, and she’s got it in spades!

I was absolutely captivated by Jade’s final outfit! She wore this stunning white lace dress – it was so classic and flattering. I loved the high neckline and long sleeves, and the way it hugged her waist before flowing out beautifully. It was just a perfect, draped silhouette – truly breathtaking!

Oh my gosh, watching Jade blossom as a solo artist has been incredible, and it’s not just us fans who think so! She’s gotten so much love and support from actual LEGENDS – like Mel C from the Spice Girls, can you believe it?! And Lily Allen too! It just proves how amazing and talented she is, doesn’t it? I’m so proud!

She shared that Mel C was very kind to her after her first album came out, and Lily Allen even sent her a direct message saying she genuinely loved the album and its themes.

She explained that being direct and honest can sometimes cause problems for women, as people often criticize them for speaking their minds.

Read the full interview in the December/January issue of Harper’s Bazaar, on sale from November 7.

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2025-11-05 20:19