Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall’s sexy outfits on The X Factor show she’s beaten anorexia
Singers are funny, feisty females who should not be under-rated after reaching no1 in the charts
I CANNOT praise Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall highly enough for being honest about her struggle with anorexia.
By being so open, she will help many young girls and boys in the grip of this horrible and destructive illness.
Jade’s eating disorder began when she was just 13. She apparently became overwhelmed with problems at home, the death of a family member and being bullied.
Jade’s way of coping — and her understandable need to have control over at least one aspect of her life — led to her virtually starving herself. Like so many others who become slaves to anorexia, Jade pressed that self-destruct button.
She refused to face up to the fact she had a problem, wouldn’t listen to concerned family and friends and stubbornly continued in a dangerous downward spiral.
Her periods stopped and she was so dangerously underweight she had to be admitted to hospital.
That was a real wake-up call.
A sort of “tough love” therapy helped her enormously and she was able to take baby steps towards dealing with her eating disorder.
Jade, left, is now 23 and has shown real strength of character by sharing her story and facing up to her past problems.
She is one of the lucky ones.
Far too many of our young women and men are slowly killing themselves through starvation, bingeing and vomiting, without receiving the help they need.
The nature of their illness means they often don’t want anyone to intervene and won’t listen to reason.
But there aren’t enough counsellors or specialist units available either.
For parents trying to cope it must be beyond frustrating and completely heartbreaking. So many people, GPs included, still don’t understand the complicated nature of these illnesses.
The worst thing you can say to an anorexic is: “Pull yourself together and have a fish supper.”
That’s not just patronisingly simplistic, it is also incredibly unhelpful — like telling someone with a broken leg to run the marathon.
It is actually remarkable, given her anorexic past, that Jade is now blossoming in one of the most ruthless, image-conscious professions on the planet. Pop music chews up talent and spits it out. You must be made of strong stuff in order to cope.
Luckily, Jade has bandmates Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock for support.
Having interviewed the girls many times since they won The X Factor in 2011, I have seen at first hand how close they have all become.
They will be keeping a watchful eye on their friend to make sure Jade is eating properly and taking care of herself.
In the very early days, the girls clung to each other for dear life as they were propelled into frenzied global stardom.
Now they have grown to be steel magnolias, with an “all for one and one for all” attitude I wish more young women would adopt.
Far too many girls are their own worst enemy, succumbing to envy, bitchiness and bullying, not realising how important it is to have girl pals who trust you, love you and have your back.
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Look at how Little Mix closed ranks around Perrie when she was unceremoniously dumped by former One Direction star Zayn Malik, and how they had a delicious revenge on that rather shallow young man with their new single Shout Out To My Ex, with references to bad sex and faking orgasms with a duff former boyfriend.
We are left to draw our own conclusions but I think we get the message, Perrie.
This is a band who really are stronger together and genuinely support each other.
Little Mix fans are fiercely loyal and look up to all the girls. They, in turn, know they have a responsibility to be proper role models.
Their risqué outfits during last week’s triumphant appearance on The X Factor might have ruffled a few feathers but these girls aren’t pop puppets who wear what they are told and whose every word is controlled by management.
They are funny, feisty females who should not be under-rated and they choose to wear those revealing outfits because they feel happy and confident in their bodies.
That’s a remarkably strong message from the girls — and from Jade in particular.
It sends out a positive message that you can escape from the clutches of an eating disorder and go on to love the skin you are in.
Mel such a good Sporty
I HAVE always had a soft spot for Mel C, going way back to the days when she was confined to a uniform of tracksuits and known as Sporty Spice.
Even the other Spice Girls will admit her vocal skills carried the band, while she could also execute a rather impressive backflip.
Melanie took a bit of stick earlier this year for bowing out of the proposed Spice Girls reunion with Geri, Emma and Mel B. (Victoria swiftly ruled herself out of the proposed 20th anniversary series of concerts, as she’s now too cool for school).
She was diplomatic about the notoriously hot-headed Mel B calling her a “bitch” on American TV for not taking part in the proposed tour and insists the girls are all still friends.
Ironically, the reunion might have to be delayed due to Geri’s pregnancy.
But with all these “Spice Babies” around, maybe they could join forces and form their own band one day in the not-too-distant future.
Back the Obamas
PRESIDENT OBAMA might have had most of his plans and good ideas thwarted by the US political system, and perhaps failed to live up to those unrealistic expectations.
But as we prepare to say goodbye, it should be noted that he and his wife Michelle have brought a grace and dignity to the White House that has never been seen before. There’s not been a breath of scandal about the Obamas and their daughters are a credit to their parents.
He’s funny, cool and utterly trustworthy.
She’s passionate, strong and elegant.
In years to come they will be remembered as an exceptional President and First Lady and I only wish they could both stay on for four more years.
I'll give 'Arry a break
POOR Sandra Redknapp is now recovering after that horrific freak car accident, when husband Harry misjudged how far she had crossed the road and ran over her ankle in his Range Rover.
It’s difficult to imagine who was the most shocked.
Sandra would have been in agony but Harry was beside himself seeing her injured and bleeding.
Her daughter-in-law Louise told me that when she was being carried into the ambulance, Sandra was pleading with paramedics that she needed to be well enough to travel to the BBC to be in the Strictly Come Dancing audience.
Louise is one of the judges’ favourites in the competition and the whole Redknapp clan has been supporting her.
I hope Sandra gets well soon and that Harry stops beating himself himself up for inadvertently injuring his beloved wife.
Although I reckon he should invest in the biggest bunch of roses known to man, as well as a truck-load of posh chocolates before he even starts making amends.
Con's back on form
DOFF my cap to the wonderful Con O’Neill, who played a blinder in the first episode of BBC drama Ordinary Lies’ new series.
This fine actor quietly enhances every production he is involved with and can convey more emotion with a simple glance then most puffed-up Hollywood A-listers achieve in an entire blockbuster.
Con is always a joy to watch and never more so than in Telstar, a 2008 movie about Sixties pop trailblazer Joe Meek. It’s funny, nostalgic and ultimately tragic.
Check it out.
Think of the kids, Madge
MADONNA has been quiet lately, which probably explains why this week she was bemoaning the fact men no longer send her photos of their genitals.
Seriously, who would want their, ahem, inbox stuffed with images of willies?
They aren’t the most attractive body part. I’ve always thought of them as God’s gleeful joke on mankind.
The increasingly tiresome Material Girl went on to promise (or threaten) to give oral sex to everyone who votes for Hillary Clinton, lowering this already nasty presidential election even further into the gutter.
Madonna has just mended fences with her son Rocco. Lord knows what he and her three other kids think of their mum’s outbursts.