They are the only girl group to have won The X Factor UK, and five albums later, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jesy Nelson, Perrie Edwards, and Jade Thirlwall are still going strong as Little Mix. Their success has also crossed over to the USA, where the girl group has enjoyed plenty of chart success with a range of hits, including 'Shout Out to My Ex,' 'Touch,' and 'Wings.'
Despite all of their success, there have been problems. In 2018 - following endless disagreements with their former label boss (the rich, famous, and powerful Simon Cowell), the group cut ties with the music mogul and then signed a new deal with RCA Records. This label will distribute their forthcoming seventh studio album later this year.
With over 50 million albums and singles sold worldwide, Little Mix has broken records formerly held by the likes of Fifth Harmony, Destiny's Child, and Spice Girls. But what else is there to know about these four women? Here's the lowdown.
13 They Were Originally Called Rhythmix
When the group was first put together, they were actually called Rhythmix. During The X Factor UK, producers informed them that they had to change their name since there was already a children’s charity called Rhythmix. Thi issue led the girls to rename their group, Little Mix.
12 Jade Had Previously Competed On The X Factor UK
Before she won the competition with her Little Mix members, Jade Thirlwall competed in the singing competition twice. She failed to make it through to the live shows in 2008 and 2010, but things were looking up for her when she came back the following year. That's when she was placed in a girl group formed by Simon Cowell.
11 Their Debut Single Shot Straight To No. 1
Following their win on The X Factor UK in 2011, Little Mix released their debut single, ‘Cannonball,’ which became one of the best-selling songs of the year - and it only came out in December of that year. It was clear at that point that these girls were bound for chart domination, no matter what they were planning to release next.
10 They Won ‘Best British Single’ For Their Breakup Anthem
In 2017, Little Mix took home the award for 'Best British Single' for their song, ‘Shout Out to My Ex’. This happened at the BRIT Awards. This particular annual award ceremony is more or less the UK’s version of the Grammys, so it goes without saying that winning the top prize for 'Best British Single' was an astonishing feat for the group.
9 They Were The First Girl Group To Surpass X Factor’s Live Shows Week 7
Little Mix made history on their series of The X Factor UK - they became the first girl group to survive week seven of the singing competition. Girl groups had never done that well on the show, so that alone was an achievement for Little Mix. They would break another record when they became the first girl group to win.
8 They Were Involved In The Nicki Minaj/Cardi B Feud
In October 2018, in the midst of Nicki Minaj’s feud with Cardi B, Little Mix backed the ‘Super Bass’ rapper (Minaj) after her nemesis claimed she got an offer to be on their song, ‘Woman Like Me’ before it was passed to Nicki. In response to that, Little Mix said: "Sorry, Cardi, hun, but this is the T. We've always wanted the Queen".
7 They Fell Out With Former Boss Simon Cowell
Also in 2018, Little Mix had a falling out with Simon Cowell - the man who was practically responsible for their rise to stardom. According to the girls, Simon didn’t agree on their creative vision for their fifth album, ‘LM5.’ Tension continued between the group and their boss, and they would go on to part ways with Simon Cowell, just days before the album’s release.
6 It Led To Them Leaving His Syco Record Label
Things had escalated to the point where Little Mix and Simon Cowell cut ties, meaning they left his SyCo record label. They are now signed to RCA Records, which is also the home for artists such as Britney Spears, Chris Brown, and Miley Cyrus. So, it looks as if they’re in perfect hands over there.
5 They Were Dissed By Spice Girls’ Melanie C
Back in 2016, when Little Mix gave quite a raunchy performance on The X Factor UK, Spice Girls star, Mel C, said she wasn’t impressed with what she saw on television, arguing that their outfits were “too provocative” for a family show. In other words, Melanie certainly doesn’t seem to be a fan of Little Mix.
4 Jesy Was Bullied For Years
Throughout her years in the group, Jesy Nelson has faced plenty of bullying on social media. She opened up about her struggles in her award-winning BBC documentary, Odd One Out, which aired in September 2019. She admitted to being harshly criticized for her appearance, recalling how people would make fun of her for being bigger than her band members, which shattered her confidence level.
3 Jade Suffered From Anorexia
While this might surprise some fans, Jade once battled an eating disorder that stemmed from bullying at school, a challenging upbringing, and the untimely death of a family member. To make matters worse, she was hospitalized for anorexia and sought treatment from a therapist. These days, Jade is healthy and happy, and we couldn’t be happier for her.
2 They Released Their Own PrettyLittleThing Collection
In November 2019, it was announced that the group had partnered with fashion firm, PrettyLittleThing, for the release of their very own clothing collection. Their line of apparel was branded “bold, playful, and super sexy.” An official statement from PLT read: “Each one of the girls has brought their own unique style to the collection but with co-ordinating looks, you can get ready to hit the town with your best dolls in your own girl band.”
“Whether you’re styling Eastern-inspired prints or leveling up with a vinyl two-piece, this collection brings the party, and you’re invited.
1 They’ve Published Two Books
Perrie, Leigh-Anne, Jesy, and Jade are also authors. To date, they’ve published two books: ‘Ready to Fly,’ which covers everything about their rise to fame and ‘Our World,’ which uncovers secrets and intimate details the girls have never shared before. All in all, these are definitely two books fans would want to purchase.