Little Mix On Dating One Direction & Making it as a Woman in Music
Little Mix has their sights set on world domination. See what they have to say about their career plans, being a woman in the music biz and dating One Direction.
Little Mix became the first group ever to win The X Factor UK in season 8. With their first single, Wings, officially released, the British girl group has their sights set not just on the U.K. charts, but the world.
In an interview with The Mirror, Leigh-Anne, 19, says: “In five years we want to be on stage selling out Madison Square Garden in New York.”
Jesy, 21, adds: “Europe’s a big priority and we've had a great response on Twitter and heard from fans in Australia and Asia. We’re not here to just prance around. We want to take over the world. Like the Spice Girls.”
Who doesn't want to be the Spice Girls? Reach for the stars!
Of course, music isn't the only thing these girls are known for. Perrie has been the subject of much scrutiny and a bit of fan jealousy regarding her relationship with One Direction member Zayn Malik, who was so stressed by rumors and accusations of cheating that he briefly fled Twitter over it.
19 year old Perrie doesn't let all the hype bring her down. Perrie said, “It doesn't bother us at all that everyone has an opinion on our relationship,” she says. “It’s like being at school and you start dating the popular boy in the class and everyone is jealous about it. It isn't a big deal.
“Our Little Mix fans have actually helped me. If people start on me then they stand up for me. In total there’s probably only been two or three comments that have truly got to me.
Sounds like she has a pretty good attitude about the whole thing and she's going to need it, since it doesn't look like the gossip or the hormone driven haters are going to go away any time soon.
Perrie goes on to say that Malik is a "sweet little boy" and his most annoying habit is that he "never stops singing."
Band mate Jesy also weighed in on the unwelcome focus of many online "trolls" and magazines on her size.
“It wasn't nice when people were calling me overweight – I’m not,” she says. “It did affect me – it really did. But a year on I've learned you have to expect it within this industry.
“What actually annoys me with all these women’s magazines is the judgment on women’s bodies. You never see men getting picked on like women do. One week girls are too skinny and then girls are too fat, and that sets a bad example.”
I like how she is sticking up for herself here. I don't think I can recall a single season of any singing competition where at least one girl didn't take a lot of online and media abuse over her weight. Even Kelly Clarkson, who has been one of the most successful female acts to emerge from a reality t.v. singing competition, has been constantly dogged by vicious gossip concerning her fluctuating weight.
It seems to go both ways with contestants like Jessica Sanchez being criticized for being too skinny. Being under the intense media scrutiny of these shows has got to be pretty tough, so I can only imagine how much worse it is to have to deal with people harping on you about your body size.
The group wants everyone to know that they are about the music and not about looking sexy on stage.
Perrie says: “I think Rihanna is the sexiest woman in the world – she could wear a bin bag and make it look sexy. But that’s not us.”
Leigh-Anne pitches in: “We’re fine with a bit of belly on show – but we’re not slutty. We’re body confident.”
And Jade says: “We want to be about the music. We’re not about getting our tits out.”
These girls seem to know what they are about. I like their approach and love their confidence. I hope their first album is a success.
