Jade Thirlwall has reflected on her journey through 'The X Factor' as a pivotal member of the chart-topping pop quartet Little Mix, who claimed victory in the eighth season of the British talent competition in 2011. Alongside her bandmates Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jesy Nelson, the ensemble made historical strides as the inaugural group to win the UK edition of the show. The quartet subsequently unleashed six studio albums, with their most recent effort, 'Confetti,' dropping in 2020. In 2022, Little Mix embarked on a hiatus, allowing each member to embark on solo ventures.
During an intimate conversation with The Independent, Thirlwall offered a candid assessment of her 'X Factor' experience, describing certain facets as "utterly disturbing." She elaborated on the immense pressures contestants faced and the inadequate safety measures provided. The UK iteration of the show last aired in 2018, though its franchise continues to thrive in other parts of the globe, including Denmark, Italy, and Indonesia.
"I believe its time had come and gone; such shows can no longer exist in today's world," Thirlwall opined about the competition. "We reside in a vastly different era now. We wouldn't publicly mock someone's mental health issues while they struggle with their vocals. The notion of a joke act on a show is sheer brutality, reminiscent of the Roman Empire. Yet, paradoxically, wasn't that grueling experience the best preparation for my music industry immersion?"
She further commented, "I'm unaware of anyone who emerged from that show unscathed mentally. Even now, I grapple with criticizing it because it revolutionized my life. Hailing from a humble working-class family in the north, I sent demos to labels, performed everywhere, and did everything conceivable to succeed. I needed a platform like 'The X Factor' to give me a fighting chance."
Thirlwall, who enduringly auditioned for the show three times, also shed light on the living arrangements for female contestants, who were housed in communal dormitories. "Even at 18, I noticed individuals struggling mentally, keeping everyone awake at night," she revealed. "I'm uncertain if there was even security outside our residence. Reflecting now, it's terrifying, but I was too naive to comprehend its severity then."
She continued, "I'd estimate that only 5% of contestants emerged relatively unscathed, having survived the ordeal; the remaining 95% suffered silently. How do you transition from that high-stakes show back to a mundane 9-to-5 job? How do you secure a record deal, believe you've made it, and then get dropped when your song fails to make the Top 10? This industry machine is ruthless. Even then, we were acutely aware of our daily fortune in remaining signed."
In 2023, Rebecca Ferguson, who was the runner-up to Matt Cardle in the seventh season, lambasted the show, describing her experience as "traumatic" and urging ITV to conduct an investigation. The program faced renewed scrutiny following the passing of One Direction's Liam Payne in October 2024. Payne, who appeared on the same season as Ferguson, battled numerous addictions and mental health struggles throughout his career.
On January 10 of this week, Thirlwall will release her latest solo single, "IT Girl," via Sony Music. Her 2023 single, "Angel Of My Dreams," which tackled the darker underbelly of the industry, featured on Billboard UK's Songs of the Year list, showcasing a fierce and focused artist poised to embrace every facet of her solo career.
