JADE's career timeline: Her rise to fame from The X Factor to global superstar
And she's not slowing down for anyone!
Jade Thirlwall really has proved that if at first you don't succeed, you should try, try and try again. After being unsuccessful on The X Factor as a 15-year-old schoolgirl back in 2008, JADE persevered with another audition in 2010, going on to hit it big as part of Little Mix - who WON the show in 2011. And, as they say, the rest is history.
But JADE wasn't just a singer in one of the world's biggest girl groups - she's also a nightclub and cocktail bar owner AND a solo superstar, with her debut track landing in July 2024. Then in 2025, after releasing more hits, she won her first solo BRIT Award for Pop Act, performed at Glastonbury, released her debut solo album, and is about to release a deluxe version including the song 'Church'.
Here we take a look at JADE's very impressive career highlights:
2008 - Jade's first audition on The X Factor
Jade first auditioned on The X Factor back in 2008 at the age of just 15. Singing Whitney Houston's song 'Where Do Broken Hearts Go', the Geordie girl impressed Louis Walsh, Cheryl Tweedy and Simon Cowell enough to be sent through to the bootcamp stage, but unfortunately she didn't progress any further.
2010 - Jade auditioned on The X Factor for a second time
Undeterred, Jade auditioned on The X Factor again, but once again it wasn't to be. Matt Cardle won the competition that year, with One Direction being runners up.
2011 - Jade won The X Factor as part of Little Mix
It was third time lucky for Jade as she won The X Factor as part of Little Mix. It wasn't an easy ride though as she failed the first bootcamp challenge to get through to the girls category. Luckily for Jade, she was brought back as part of a three-piece group along with Leigh-Anne Pinnock, with Perrie Edwards and Jesy Nelson in another group. Despite both groups being eliminated from the competition, it was decided that the four girls would be brought back as a group, who went on to win the competition. And as they say, the rest is history.
2017 - Little Mix win their first BRIT Award
'Shout Out to My Ex' won the girls their first BRIT Award. The award was for British Single of the Year and reached Number 1 in the UK, it was co-written by Jade along with the rest of the group and a team of songwriters.
2019 - Little Mix win another BRIT Awards
Despite not winning British Group, Little Mix took home the BRIT Award for British Video of the Year, for their single 'Woman Like Me' featuring Nicki Minaj. This was also the year when it was revealed that Jade had been signed to Sony/ATV via joint venture TwentySeven, as a published songwriter along with Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
2019 - Jade Thirlwall appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race UK
The singer appeared as a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK, in the episode Girl Group Battle Royale.
2019 - Jade opened a nightclub
Jade Thirlwall opened a cocktail bar in South Shields called Red Door. In 2020, the name was changed to Arbeia, and that year she also opened a nightclub called Industry next door to her cocktail bar, as well as collaborating with clothing brand Skinnydip London.
2019 - Jade Thirlwall climbed Mount Kilimanjaro
2019 was a busy year for Jade. The singer, along with her Little Mix bandmate Leigh-Anne, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for Comic Relief's Red Nose Day.
2021 - Little Mix get their own waxworks
To mark the band's 10th anniversary, Madame Tussauds unveiled waxworks of Little Mix, including former member Jesy Nelson.
Working with Ellesse, Jade also became the new face of the Italian sportswear brand, as well as launching her own Autumn/Winter collection.
In 2021, the singer also launched her own eyeshadow palette with Beauty Bay. The palette was inspired by Jade's love for crystals, spirituality and astrology.
2021 - Jade appeared on The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off
Appearing on The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off for charity, Jade was crowned the winner of her episode. The singer wowed Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith with her recreation of one of the group's concerts in front of thousands of biscuit fans.
Jade also won the Allyship award at the Gay Times Honours.
2022 - Little Mix announce their hiatus
Following the departure of Jesy Nelson, Little Mix announced that they were taking a break from the group after they'd finished their 'Confetti Tour', which took place in 2022. They wrote: 'We are not splitting up - Little Mix are here to stay đź’« We have plans for more music, tours and performances in the future. We've made so many incredible memories with you all, and we can't wait to make so many more.'
2023 - Jade teases work on solo music
Following the announcement that Jade had signed a solo deal with RCA Records in March 2022, she stayed pretty quiet on the solo music front. That was, however, until November 2023, when she shared an Instagram post showing her behind the mic. The post included an image of Jade wearing headphones in front of a recording microphone, hinting to fans that she has been working away on her solo music.
2024 - Jade posts more solo music teases
Jade got her fans whipped into a frenzy once again in May 2024, sharing a series of photos on the grid - including one of herself in a recording studio with some chunky headphones on alongside the caption: 'I'm working laaaaate cos I'm a singer,' quoting the smash hit 'Espresso' by Sabrina Carpenter. Many fans took to the comments to share their excitement - including former bandmate and BFF Leigh-Anne, who wrote: 'Drop the album already.'
2024 - 'Angel Of My Dreams' is released
Jade released her incredible tune 'Angel Of My Dreams' on Friday 19th July 2024, with a first official play on-air the previous evening. The sensational video came out on the Friday, with Jade using it to show her "love/hate relationship with the music industry". Fans were utterly obsessed from the get-go, with many flooding the comments section of her YouTube premiere with words of praise and encouragement. It's safe to say it's a hit!
2024 - Jade gifts fans with 'Midnight Cowboy'
On 22nd September, Jade teased that she was set to release another bop - featuring a very familiar voice! The singer shared a teaser video for 'Midnight Cowboy', not only featuring a snippet of the new song, but also Ncuti Gawta, who fans know from his starring roles in titles such as Sex Education, Doctor Who and Barbie. Shortly after the teaser clip was shared, Jade wrote: 'I didn't want you all to have to wait so long for music again 💙MIDNIGHT COWBOY💙 is a gift from me to you until my next single drops 🌟'. (sic)
With her also adding: 'oh and there's a visualiser out at 10am BST too ⛲️' (sic), it was then on 25th September that fans were gifted with the full track, along with the visualiser video on YouTube. As well as reportedly working with RAYE on writing the song, Ncuti's voice can be heard in the opening of the track.
2025 - Jade releases 'IT Girl'
Jade released her first single of the year on Friday 10th January. It is another banger called 'IT Girl', and Jade described it as the "little sister" of 'Angel of My Dreams'.
2025 - Wins her first solo BRIT Award
In January 2025, it was revealed Jade was up for two awards at the BRIT Awards 2025 with Mastercard. Her debut single 'Angel Of My Dreams' was nominated for Song of the Year, while Jade herself was up for Pop Act! At the event on 1st March, Jade was announced as the winner of Pop Act, beating tough competition from Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Lola Young and Myles Smith. While Song of the Year went to Charli XCX for 'Guess' featuring Billie Eilish.
At the event, Jade also put on a memorable performance of her debut solo 'Angel Of My Dreams'.
2025 - Jade releases 'FUFN'
Released on 14th March 2025, Jade's song 'FUFN' is all about channelling female rage. She told us in an interview: "I think for me this one is my sort of 'all guns blazing', big pop moment. 'FUFN' is about like channelling female rage and just letting someone have it. You know when you're in an argument and you feel like it's the worst thing ever in the moment? Hoping that the next day it will all blow over, it will be fine. Which I think is very relatable."
2025 - Jade performs at Glastonbury
In March 2025, Jade was announced as part of the upcoming Glastonbury Festival line-up. She performed on Saturday 28th on the Woodsies Stage, on the same day as Charli XCX, RAYE and Neil Young.
2025 - Jade releases debut solo album
Jade released her debut solo album 'That's Showbiz Baby!' on 12th September 2025 ahead of her solo tour. The album features 14 songs including her amazing debut solo hit 'Angel of My Dreams'.
2025: Jade goes on her UK and Ireland tour
Following the release of her debut album, JADE went on her UK and Ireland tour. The tour started in Dublin on 7th October, before she travelled across the UK, ending in Newcastle on 23rd October.
2025: Awarded the Freedom of the Borough
It was announced in October 2025 that JADE will receive the Freedom of the Borough from South Tyneside Council! Council leader Tracey Dixon said she "could not be more deserving of the marvellous tribute," adding that she was nominated due to "her outstanding contribution as a cultural ambassador and her ongoing commitment to South Tyneside." Councillor David Francis praised how she'd used her "platform to speak out and amplify the voices of the marginalised." She'll receive the award at a future point.
2025: JADE received Harpers Bazaar Award
Fellow Geordie Cheryl presented JADE with her Musician of the Year Award, at the Harpers Bazaar Women of the Year Awards 2025. Speaking about JADE, Cheryl said: "She and I have a lot in common: we're both from the north-east of England and we both grew up determined to follow our dreams of making it in the world of pop music.
"It takes a lot of courage to audition for a talent show, not least one that's going to be broadcast on national television, where people will be following your every move. It takes energy and passion to thrive as part of a chart-topping, record-smashing girl band. But it takes even more bravery to go it alone as a musician, and the singer I'm about to welcome on this stage has done exactly that."
2025: JADE performs at Hits Radio Live Birmingham
JADE joined the huge line-up at Hits Radio Live Birmingham on 21st November 2025. The singer performed her huge songs 'FUFN', 'Plastic Box', and 'Fantasy', ending with her debut solo hit 'Angel of My Dreams'.
Who has Jade Thirlwall collaborated with?
As part of Little Mix, Jade released a number of collaborations, with the likes of Sean Paul, Galantis and David Guetta, however it emerged in late 2021, that she's also worked with another dance DJ as a solo artist.
With Little Mix starting their hiatus after their 'Confetti' tour, Jade worked away on some solo music - with her debut track 'Angel Of My Dreams' being released on 19th July 2024.
DJ Jax Jones, however, revealed that he worked with Jade saying: "I was in the studio with Jade and she is mega-cool and super-talented. She is also such fun to be around. We wrote something really cool so hopefully that can come out too."
In September 2024, Jade released 'Midnight Cowboy', the track was reportedly co-written with RAYE, with Sex Education, Doctor Who and Barbie star Ncuti Gatwa featuring on it.
Read more:
Jade Thirlwall: Everything you need to know about the Little Mix singer
Little Mix: Everything you need to know about the UK's biggest girl group
20 fascinating facts you never knew about Little Mix 🎶