Jade Thirlwall is no stranger to opening up about the challenges of her career, and her latest interview dives deep into the emotional toll of her time on X-Factor. The Little Mix alum, who recently launched her solo career, revealed how the iconic singing competition had a detrimental impact on her mental health. In a candid conversation with The Independent, Thirlwall reflected on how the show shaped her, for better and for worse.
“2024 for me, was the toughest and most rewarding year to date. What a crazy year it was. I got to do everything I ever wanted. Which was to work on so much music. And yes, I got to do a lot of it,” Thirlwall said, detailing how the pressure of the show affected her well-being. “I don’t know anyone that’s come off that show and not had some sort of mental health issue on the back of it,” Thirlwall shared.
While she credits the show for changing her life and propelling her into stardom, she also doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of the experience. “But also, even now, personally I’m conflicted criticizing it, because it changed my life,” she admitted. The 32-year-old singer was just 18 when she auditioned for X-Factor as a solo artist, only to be later placed in a band with fellow contestants Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards, and Jesy Nelson, forming the group Little Mix.
Thirlwall described the X-Factor experience as “pretty f—ed up,” acknowledging how intense the competition was, especially for young performers. “Even at 18, I knew there were people who weren’t mentally well in there, keeping everyone up at night,” she reflected. “I don’t know if there was even security outside the house. It’s scary to think about now, but I was too young to realize that at the time.”
The final episode of X-Factor, which aired in 2018 after 15 seasons, marked the end of an era. Thirlwall feels the show had to end, acknowledging that “that kind of show” no longer fits in today’s world. She also criticized the earlier format, which sometimes featured “joke acts” that were laughed at rather than supported. “We’re in a different place now,” she stated. “We wouldn’t put someone that’s mentally unwell on a TV screen and laugh at them while they sing terribly. The concept of a joke act on a show is just cruel.”
Despite the show’s drawbacks, Thirlwall emphasized the professional growth she gained from her time on X-Factor, calling it “the best training ever” to enter the music industry. But she didn’t sugarcoat the hardships either. “Five percent of the people that went on there have come out of it not unscathed, but having survived,” she said, adding that “the other 95 percent have suffered in silence.”
Thirlwall also shared her thoughts on the ruthless nature of the entertainment industry. “How do you go from being on that show to back to your nine-to-five?” she asked. “How do you get signed to the label, think you’ve made it, and then once your song doesn’t hit the Top 10, you’re just dropped?” It’s a brutal reality she and her bandmates faced, knowing how lucky they were to keep their careers going.
Reflecting on her solo career, Thirlwall shared the struggles she faced before her X-Factor breakthrough. “The final year I auditioned, I couldn’t be bothered because I was with a crappy boyfriend, and I was like, ‘Oh, I just want to hang out with him.’” But after some encouragement from her brother, she decided to give it one last try. “I went, and then I got put in Little Mix, so thank God,” she said, expressing her gratitude for the serendipitous moment.
This year, Thirlwall has been thriving as a solo artist, with a top-10 hit in the UK with her debut single “Angel of My Dreams”. She followed that with two more tracks, “Midnight Cowboy” and “Fantasy”, both of which are expected to appear on her highly anticipated solo album, slated for release in 2025.
In a recent interview, Thirlwall shared her bold vision for her solo career, describing herself as a “relentlessly in-your-face visual pop artist.” “I want them to think of Jade and think, ‘F— me, that girl does everything. She gives us everything we could want and more,’” she said. Her ambition is clear: to be recognized not only as a pop star, but as a credible artist who writes her own music and stands for something.
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