Jesy Nelson reveals heartbreaking self-doubt in inspirational throwback post

"I refused to speak about how I was feeling for so long"

Author: Emma DoddsPublished 30th Jul 2019

Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has spoken out about suffering from crippling self-doubt in the early years of the band. The 28-year-old, who rose to fame along with Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall on The X Factor in 2011, has taken to Instagram after filming a documentary about anxiety with the BBC.

Sharing a throwback post of herself from years ago, Jesy wrote a heartbreaking caption that read, '6 months ago this girl was someone I just wanted to forget. I wanted to erase her from my mind and everyone else’s memory.

'I didn’t see her as Jesy I saw her as “the fat one from Little Mix”. Up until now I hated her, not because she’d ever done anything bad but because I was made to hate her by endless amounts of trolling.'

Swipe through to see Little Mix's transformation through the years...

2011

After being put into a group by Kelly Rowland on The X Factor in 2011, the Little Mix girls rocked denim and trainers as they posed at the Judges Houses' stage of the competition.

Jesy Nelson reveals heartbreaking self-doubt in inspirational throwback post
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She continued, 'Since filming my documentary for @bbcone and @bbcthree I’ve learned so much more than I ever expected to. Thanks to all the inspirational people I’ve met on this emotional journey, I now love the girl in this photo.

'I’ve made this documentary for 2011 Jesy and for anyone who might be feeling like she did. I refused to speak about how I was feeling for so long. I was embarrassed and scared to. But I was so wrong to feel that way. Please if you are feeling how I did, SPEAK ABOUT IT. Talk to your family, speak to your friends, there’s always help out there.

'If you’d have told that girl one day you won’t feel sad anymore, I’d never have believed you....and here I am. Now when I look in the mirror, I don’t see Jesy the fat one, I see Jesy the happy one.'

The inspirational post was flooded with likes and comments, racking up nearly 300,000 likes in just over an hour. Fans shared their love for the singer, praising her honesty, with one writing, 'jessyyyy this documentary is going to help so many people ❤️❤️', as another added, 'I’m so proud of you babe!! You are so strong and you inspire all of us 😘 one of the strongest women I know! ! I love you loads ❤️❤️' sic

Jesy first announced the mental health documentary back in March this year, taking to Instagram to share a video of herself discussing the project and writing, 'Mental health awareness is something we should all be talking about more. Having suffered myself I decided I want to do something about it.

'So I’m pleased to announce I'm making a film with the BBC, telling my own personal story and exploring how social media, body shaming and trolling is effecting the mental health of young people.'

Congratulations, Jesy. ❤️

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