Leigh-Anne Pinnock reflects on her journey as she releases solo album
Leigh-Anne Pinnock describes her initial appearance on The X Factor at the age of 19 as “delusional.” Looking back, she recalls her confident declaration, “I wanna be the next big thing. I want to be a pop icon,” as she performed Rihanna’s “Only Girl in the World.” These early moments laid the foundation for a remarkable career, reports BritPanorama.
The girl group Little Mix, formed during The X Factor in 2011, went on to become one of the most successful acts in music history. With multiple awards and record-breaking hits, Pinnock’s journey has been underscored by a mix of success and personal strife. The group was the first to win The X Factor and achieved significant milestones, including being the first female group to win a group award at The Brit Awards.
Despite their popularity, Pinnock faced personal challenges growing up in High Wycombe, where her initial shyness often conflicted with her ambition to perform. Reflecting on her past, she shares how she overcame this timidity through talent shows and public speaking, gradually building her confidence as an artist. However, she acknowledges that her rise to fame was not devoid of challenges, particularly concerning her identity.
As the only black member of Little Mix, Pinnock has often navigated complex conversations about race and representation in the music industry. Following Jesy Nelson’s departure from the group in 2022, Pinnock and her bandmates each embarked on solo careers, with Pinnock recently releasing her debut album, My Ego Told Me To. The album is characterized by influences of reggae and dancehall and reflects her journey towards self-discovery and independence.
Production of the album was fraught with difficulties; Pinnock had a falling out with Warner Records and decided to part ways with the label in 2025. After challenges with her initial single “Most Wanted,” which features Jamaican artists Valiant and Rvssian, Pinnock sought new collaborations and wrote songs that resonated with her personal experiences.
Among these are the tracks “Dead and Gone” and “Look Into My Eyes,” which she describes as embodying a newfound attitude. Her drive to carve out her own artistic identity has become a central theme in her work, culminating in a project that she feels is authentically hers. Pinnock emphasizes the importance of trust in her expression as a mixed-race black woman in a predominantly white industry, noting, “I feel like a lot of labels don’t put trust in mixed black women that are doing black music… it’s just not cool.”
Pinnock’s reflections also reveal the lasting effects of her experiences in Little Mix, where she often felt pressured to conform. This journey to find her place and voice has informed her songwriting and public persona. In her new music, she oscillates between vulnerability and assertiveness, exemplifying her growth and resilience.
With her debut solo album now released, Pinnock expresses pride in her evolution as an artist and a person. She draws on her past self—“that delusional, determined, fierce girl”—as inspiration to reclaim her narrative and assert her individuality. My Ego Told Me To is out now.
