Jade Thirlwall has spoken candidly about her ongoing struggles with body image, revealing she faces a “daily battle” to avoid turning to Ozempic after years of living with an eating disorder. The former Little Mix star, 32, explained that while she is now the “healthiest [she’s] ever been”, online scrutiny of her weight continues to trigger harmful thoughts.
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Thirlwall said the pressure has intensified since launching her solo career, following global success with Little Mix. “I have a daily battle with myself not to go on Ozempic. I don’t judge people that do, but because I have a history of eating disorders, I don’t know where taking something like that would end for me,” she told The Guardian. She added that comments on her appearance often come from other women, with frequent speculation online about whether she is pregnant.
The singer revealed that her eating disorder began as a teenager after the death of her grandfather, leading to anorexia. By the time she auditioned for The X Factor in 2011, she had only recently been discharged from hospital, something she now believes should have prevented her from competing. Despite her fragile health, she went on to achieve international acclaim with Little Mix, who became the first girl group to win a Brit Award for Best British Group.
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Looking back, Thirlwall admitted she can see the toll of fame in old photographs, where she appeared “very, very thin”. She acknowledged that restricting food had once been a toxic way of exerting control whenever life felt overwhelming. Now preparing to release her debut solo album That’s Showbiz Baby, she is set to perform as a supporting act for Chappell Roan at the Royal Highland Showgrounds in Edinburgh, marking a new chapter in her career.
