Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock says she’s finally ’embracing’ her pregnancy

Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock spoke about ’embracing’ her pregnancy in her first interview since making the exciting announcement. 

The mother-to-be, 29, who is expecting her first child with fiancé Andre Gray, also 29, enthused about ‘owning’ her news as she joined her bandmates Jade Thirlwall, 28, and Perrie Edwards, 27, for a make-up free chat on Thursday’s BBC Breakfast.

Their virtual discussion came just hours after claims suggested their former co-member Jesy Nelson wants to ‘sever ties’ as they reportedly haven’t spoken in months following her exit from the group last December. 

‘I’m relieved!’ Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock spoke about ’embracing’ her pregnancy in her first interview since making the exciting announcement

On becoming a parent, the singer said: ‘I’m having a baby! It feels so weird saying it as I’ve been hiding it for so long. I just feel relieved that I can embrace my bump so I feel good.’

The musician also stressed the importance of controlling the details of her journey, adding: ‘It’s such sensitive information and I wanted to be the one to tell the world. This felt like the right time to bring it out and say it.

‘It’s scary… I wanted to enjoy the moment and I was scared that it was going to come out and I wasn’t going to be able to control that. You want to own it yourself. I’m happy I got to release that imagery!’

The band went on to detail how they’ve been adjusting to life as a trio following Jesy’s departure.

Jade – who stunned in a £925 ‘smile’ jumper by Stella McCartney – said: ‘You get it on with it. We’ve had to adapt, especially with changes to our existing music. It’s been a weird shift but we’re getting on with it.

‘We, as a three, weren’t ready to call it a day yet. This year is all about keeping going and enjoying the ride. We’re making the most of it and enjoying 2021 as a three.’ 

The chart-topping stars also highlighted how friendship has encouraged them to stick together as they mark 10 years in the industry.

Leigh-Anne said: ‘Getting along is the most important thing. We were lucky that they put girls together that clicked.

‘If it wasn’t for that, we wouldn’t be here. Friendship is the one thing that has driven this whole thing.’

Perrie added: ‘We hoped that we managed to stay together for 10 years. We wanted to stay together because we love each other so much and we’ve had such a fun ride. 

‘It’s incredible, we can’t believe it. It makes me feel really good, we just wanted to make music we loved.’

The pregnant beauty – who, of Barbadian and Jamaican ancestry, previously admitted she questioned whether she was only in the band as the ‘token black girl’ – later spoke about her upcoming BBC documentary, Race, Pop & Power.

Leigh-Anne shared: ‘It was super important. It’s been so long. It was so deep delving into my experiences.

‘I hope I can help one person and change things, my work will be done. It’s a really important film.’ 

The girls are gearing up for Tuesday’s BRIT Awards, in which they have picked up a nominated in the British Group category.

On what winning would mean to them, blonde beauty Perrie gushed: ‘The Brits mean everything to us, we’re so proud to be British.

‘We feel amazingly humbled to be there. Please, let this be our chance! Females have never won this award. We want to make history!’

Elsewhere, reports have claimed Jesy and her bandmates have not spoken directly in months, with the artist wanting to ‘sever ties’.

The documentary filmmaker recently detailed how she felt ‘sad’ and ‘couldn’t deal with the pressure of being in a girlband’ during her stint.

And now insiders have alleged communications between her and the trio have broken down – with there being no plans for them to perform together.

A source told The Sun: ‘The plan was always to stay in touch but that just hasn’t happened because Jesy didn’t want it. 

‘She wants to sever ties and start again — that seems to be both professionally and personally.’

It is also alleged that Little Mix were shocked at some of what Jesy has said since leaving the band and thought she’d take longer to get back into the studio to launch her solo career, claiming that it has felt like a bit of a ‘dig’.

Another insider added that although it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that Jesy has thrown herself into music as she was a ‘bit of a leader’ in Little Mix.

They told the publication: ‘Communication between them has basically broken down now. There are formalities at times via third parties… there’s a clear divide.’

MailOnline has contacted Little Mix and Jesy Nelson’s representatives for further comment. 

The singer was part of the group in the period that the BRIT nomination covers, however it has been claimed that the trio have made tweaks so their performance can go ahead without her.