Ex-Little Mix sensation Perrie Edwards has spilled the tea on her current status with former bandmate Jesy Nelson, revealing it’s been a long time since they last chatted. The 31 year old songstress opened up to Cosmopolitan about wishing things had panned out differently after Nelson, 33, left the chart-topping group in 2020, blaming the pressures on her mental health.
The girl group, which became a pop phenomenon, was born on the X Factor stage in 2011 when Edwards, Nelson, Jade Thirlwall, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock were thrown together following solo auditions and a series of hiccups during the show’s intense bootcamp rounds.
With an impressive haul of around 60 million records sold worldwide, Little Mix notched up five UK number one hits and seven albums that smashed into the UK top 10. They powered through as a trio post-Nelson’s departure before deciding to take a breather in 2022.
Discussing the severed ties with Nelson, Edwards didn’t mince words: “We don’t talk, and haven’t done for a long time, It’s really sad, it’s heart-breaking.”
She expressed her wish for a different outcome: “But sometimes these things happen and people decide they want to part ways, and that’s absolutely fine.” Reflecting on the split, she mused, “I would rather it went differently, but you can’t control how things go.”
Since becoming a mum to her boy Axl in 2021 and facing the music world solo, Edwards confessed that both motherhood and her solo career have reshaped her. She shared her journey of self-discovery: “Having a baby changes you completely, and going solo has as well.”
(Image: Cosmopolitan/PA)
Edwards highlighted the newfound strength she’s found, saying, “I’ve had to find an inner confidence to do it on my own, without the girls as a comfort blanket.”
Edwards, after releasing the singles “Forget About Us” and “Tears” in 2024, is now looking forward to launching her debut solo album.
Revealing a shocking insight about her mental health situation, the ‘Black Magic’ singer confessed that her current anxiety levels are “probably the worst it’s ever been”.
She revealed: “It started to consume me, It’s horrible.”
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Emphasising the importance of discussing such matters, she said, “I try to speak out about it, because when you feel so anxious or scared of panic attacks. It makes you feel so isolated.”
Voicing her struggles with anxiety, Edwards further explained, “It stops your everyday life because you try to avoid situations where you might have one, even though you can’t predict it.”
Navigating her mental health journey, the singer admitted: “I have therapy and coping mechanisms. You can never get rid of it, so you have to learn to live with it.”
Talking about the support system around her, she credited Girls Aloud star Cheryl as a reassuring presence in the industry, calling her “just the best”.
(Image: Kaj Jeffries/Cosmopolitan)
Further sharing insights into her private life, Edwards praised her fiance, Besiktas footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for his unconditional support during tough times.
She elaborated: “He’s just the best person I’ve ever met in my entire life. I’m obsessed with him, and so content in my relationship.”
Edwards couldn’t resist gushing over her partner, saying “He’s so supportive, well natured and everything I’ve ever wanted. He’s also the funniest person I’ve ever met. I could cry when I talk about him, I love him so much.”
While eager fans await their nuptials, the singer confessed that she’s been browsing wedding dresses online but isn’t rushing into marriage.
Edwards concluded: “I want a bit more time to plan and enjoy it. I don’t want to do it on top of releasing an album and being a mum. I want to enjoy the process. I like being engaged.”
The songstress spilled the beans on her “dream” to dazzle in a musical flick akin to The Greatest Showman and voiced her desire to lend her pipes to Disney characters. Yet, she’s keeping her cards close to her chest about what’s next, admitting it all hinges on her tunes hitting the right notes with fans.
Edwards confessed: “I’m honestly just going with the flow right now.”
“It’s all dependent on how your music does, and you don’t know what the future holds. I’m just learning as I go. But I want to do what I love and be happy.”
Fans can catch a glimpse of the singer gracing the cover of Cosmopolitan UK’s August/September issue, set to hit stands on Tuesday, July 16.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
