RELEASING her debut solo single Boyz should’ve been a celebratory moment for Jesy Nelson.
But instead the ex-Little Mix star, 30, has found herself embroiled in a "devastating" blackfishing row, with rumours of a feud between her and her former bandmates at fever pitch.
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Jesy Nelson looked young and fresh-faced when she joined Little Mix in 2011Credit: Getty - Contributor
As a solo artist, Jesy has been accused of "blackfishing" due to her dark skin, curly wigs and clothingCredit: Splash
The term blackfishing is used when a white person uses black culture and aesthetics for their own gain.
Jesy, who was born and raised in Romford, East London, has recently overhauled her image, debuting voluminous curls and a dark tan which she insists is natural.
After her Boyz music video - featuring Trinidadian-born rapper Nicki Minaj - attracted controversy, Jesy defended her look, telling viewers of an Instagram live: "My intention was never to offend people of colour with this video and my song."
She added: "My hair is naturally curly, I got it from my dad - I wanted to get a wig that emulated the same texture as my hair and I genuinely didn't think I was doing anything wrong.
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"I just want to touch on the whole tanning thing as well, when I was in the video with you [Nicki], I didn't have fake tan on. I'd been in Antigua prior to that for three weeks.
"I'm really lucky as a white girl I tan so much. Leigh-Anne [Pinnock] even said to me in the group: 'Are you sure you're not mixed race because you go darker than me in the sun!'"
Jesy has also admitted Leigh-Anne - who filmed a documentary about racism - had spoken to her about her so-called blackfishing after they filmed the music video for their song Sweet Melody.
Referencing Leigh-Anne and bandmate Jade Thirlwall in the Instagram chat, Jesy said: "I was in a group with two women of colour for 10 years and it was never brought up to me until the last music video I did with them when Leigh-Anne messaged me."
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Jesy's latest look is a far cry from her fresh-faced first appearance on The X Factor in 2011 - but it's not the first time she's undergone a dramatic transformation.
Over the years she's worn an array of wigs ranging from vibrant pink to a blonde, short bob.
Here we reflect on some of her wildest stand-out looks.
October 2011
When Jesy first joined Little Mix, her look was very laidback and her tan was more subtle tooCredit: Wenn
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November 2011
Along with the other girls, Jesy appeared to begin getting her tan out of the bottleCredit: Simco Ltd
2012
By 2011, Jesy had started experimenting with her hair, turning up to the BRITs with red locksCredit: Rex
2015
As she started growing up, so did her style - and, by 2015, Jesy was sporting a vampy lookCredit: Rex Features
2016
It seemed Jesy was really starting to feel comfortable with her body as she wore figure-hugging dresses like this one in 2016Credit: Rex Features
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April 2017
By 2017, Jesy showed off a slimmer frame but has since admitted she was miserable and barely eatingCredit: instagram
June 2017
She was dressing a lot sexier than we'd seen her previously in June 2017Credit: Instagram
2018
Jesy begins experimenting with wigs in 2018 - and she's now a huge fanCredit: The Mega Agency
February 2019
By 2019, she was sporting a different look altogether, wearing a long, poker straight ginger wig and Gucci coatCredit: Instagram
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June 2019
For one of the Little Mix music videos, Jesy wore a purple wig with big bouncy curls - and still rocked it!Credit: Instagram
September 2019
She had a very racy look during her final tour with Little Mix - although she wore a more natural-looking platinum wigCredit: Instagram
May 2020
After her documentary about trolling came out, Jesy seemed like she was embracing her natural hair and beautyCredit: Instagram
October 2020
Months after her natural make-under, Jesy was rocking a bright orange wig and dark eye make-upCredit: Instagram
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May 2021
Jesy debuts a long, silver wig and insists she wears them to protect her natural hairCredit: @jesynelson
October 2021
Jesy's tight curls and tanned look in the Boyz music video is what drove some to accuse her of "blackfishing"Credit: Instagram
Jesy has insisted her tan is natural and she caught the sun while on holiday in Antigua. Here she wears yet another platinum wig with dark streaksCredit: Instagram
Nicki Minaj slammed by Little Mix fans as she reignites Jesy Nelson blackfishing row with deleted TikTok comment
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