Little Mix say music bosses tried to make one of them the star

Little Mix have become the most successful girl group in UK history since they won The X Factor 10 years ago, and the group have put their success down to a close friendship that has seen them refuse to name a lead singer.

Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock say they are all equal in their place in the group, and have stayed firmly supportive of Jesy Nelson even after she chose to quit Little Mix.

Read more: Little Mix announce first song without Jesy Nelson

In an interview with US radio show Zach Sang, the Confetti singers said that they had fended off attempts from music bosses to find a main star in the group.

Thirlwall said: “We have always had the same vision, we always wanted to be equal. Nobody wanted to outshine someone else.

“The moment that happens in a group dynamic, the cracks start to show, like someone has a bit more of an ego. We have always been determined to remain equal people on our team, whoever else has suggested otherwise.

“We have said no, we know it works better, it is healthier for us doing it that way. And it has got us where we are now.

“We have the same ambition and the same agenda and are there for each other without trying to outdo each other.”

The approach has seen Little Mix rack up five number one singles and six top 10 albums, with the group now continuing as a trio since Nelson's exit in December.

Little Mix left behind original label Syco, run by X Factor boss Simon Cowell, in 2018 for RCA and said since then they felt more in control of the music they were making.

Read more: Little Mix talk 'new dawn' in first cover interview as trio

Jade said: “A few times we have felt pushed into a direction or a song. Almost like a bribe, like ‘if you don’t do this song you can’t have that’.

“There was a point where there was a bit of that and that was a bit unsettling for us.”

Watch: Little Mix regularly attend group therapy sessions