Jesy Nelson has admitted that the negative impact of social media has made her not want to have children.
The Little Mix star, 29, who is dating actor Sean Sagar, 30, has been the target of cruel online trolls in the past, having won a National Television Award for her documentary Odd One Out.
Speaking to the Daily Mail’s You magazine, Jesy said: ‘It makes me not want to have a kid. Those insecurities that we all have now because of social media, imagine having that embedded in you as a child?’
Honest: Jesy Nelson has admitted that the negative impact of social media has made her not want to have children
Jesy told how being in the music industry made her and her bandmates Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall question themselves.
She said: ‘Before we got in the group, I never looked at myself and thought, “I don’t like that” – I don’t think any of us did. I never thought, “Oh god, I’m fat”, and then we got in the industry, and we all started wanting to change things about ourselves.
‘It’s so sad. There are things [in the past] I definitely wish I hadn’t done. But would I be the person I am today if I hadn’t gone through all of that?’
However, the girl group are quick to insist that they feel very privileged to have the career they do.
Relationship: The Little Mix star, 29, who is dating actor Sean Sagar, 30, has been the target of cruel online trolls in the past, having won a National Television Award for her documentary Odd One Out
Jesy acknowledged the group all have great lives, but she also feels their ‘innocence’ was taken away from them.
Leigh-Anne Pinnock agreed with Jesy’s views on social media, admitting she worries about the impact it could have on her future children.
The group also discussed criticism they have received in the past for wearing revealing clothing in their music videos and live performances.
Jade said that when men perform provocative routines, it is ‘celebrated’ but women are told they should rein it in.
Jesy said: ‘It makes me not want to have a kid. Those insecurities that we all have now because of social media, imagine having that embedded in you as a child?’
The singer also said she feels women are conditioned to be pure and innocent and receive criticism if they try to ‘step out of that’.
It comes after Jesy was forced to pull out of the finals of Little Mix: The Search, after falling ill.
The singer was due to appear on Saturday night’s grand finale of the competition but a statement released just hours before the live show revealed that she is unwell.
She will also be unable to host the MTV EMAs on Sunday night, or perform alongside her bandmates as planned.
Little Mix had been due to host the 27th edition of one of the biggest nights in global music – the 2020 MTV EMAs – which will air globally on Sunday.
Congrats! Little Mix’s Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock crowned Since September the winners of their competition series The Search during Saturday’s live finale
Jesy’s bandmates Jade, Perrie and Leigh-Anne will still host and perform without her.
Perrie, Jade and Leigh-Anne crowned boyband Since September the winners of The Search during Saturday’s live finale.
The trio opened the show by performing their single Secret Love Song in demure brown gowns, while their absent bandmate Jesy ‘rooted from home’.
Host Chris Ramsey addressed fellow artist Jesy’s absence as he said: ‘Jesy will not be joining us tonight, but she’s rooting for the contestants from home’.
Beaming with delight, Since September said on their win: ‘This has been an absolute pleasure, we’ve all dreamt of this. It’s been a pleasure to get to know everyone on this stage.’
Winners! The champions Since September – including Harry, 22, Jacob, 20, Matthew, 21, and Patrick, 20 – branded the experience ‘a dream’ as they prepare to join the award-winning group on tour