Inside Jesy Nelson’s most extreme transformations from Little Mix teen to perma-tanned solo artist in blackfishing row

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. Getty - ContributorJesy Nelson looked young and fresh-faced when she joined Little Mix in 2011 '/caption ' SplashAs a solo artist, Jesy has been accused of ...blackfishing... due to her dark skin, curly wigs and clothing '/caption ' 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. ...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!'... MORE ON JESY NELSON MIXING IT UP Inside Jesy Nelson's most extreme transformations as blackfishing row rages MIXED RESULTS Little Mix's Leigh Anne Pinnock is £62k in debt with fashion range cut off Little Mix's famous friends unfollow Jesy Nelson as Anne Marie backs band in row BLACKLISTED Famous friends UNFOLLOW ex-Little Mix star following blackfishing row MERCY MUROKI Little Mix's Jesy Nelson is CELEBRATING black culture not blackfishing MIXED UP Jesy Nelson 'devastated' by livestream backlash & thinks it's a 'personal attack' 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.... 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 WennWhen Jesy first joined Little Mix, her look was very laidback and her tan was more subtle too '/caption ' November 2011 Simco LtdAlong with the other girls, Jesy appeared to begin getting her tan out of the bottle '/caption ' 2012 RexBy 2011, Jesy had started experimenting with her hair, turning up to the BRITs with red locks '/caption ' 2015 Rex FeaturesAs she started growing up, so did her style \- and, by 2015, Jesy was sporting a vampy look '/caption ' 2016 Rex FeaturesIt seemed Jesy was really starting to feel comfortable with her body as she wore figure-hugging dresses like this one in 2016 '/caption ' April 2017 instagramBy 2017, Jesy showed off a slimmer frame but has since admitted she was miserable and barely eating '/caption ' June 2017 InstagramShe was dressing a lot sexier than we'd seen her previously in June 2017 '/caption ' 2018 The Mega AgencyJesy begins experimenting with wigs in 2018 \- and she's now a huge fan '/caption ' February 2019 InstagramBy 2019, she was sporting a different look altogether, wearing a long, poker straight ginger wig and Gucci coat '/caption ' June 2019 InstagramFor one of the Little Mix music videos, Jesy wore a purple wig with big bouncy curls \- and still rocked it! '/caption ' September 2019 InstagramShe had a very racy look during her final tour with Little Mix \- although she wore a more natural-looking platinum wig '/caption ' May 2020 InstagramAfter her documentary about trolling came out, Jesy seemed like she was embracing her natural hair and beauty '/caption ' October 2020 InstagramMonths after her natural make-under, Jesy was rocking a bright orange wig and dark eye make-up '/caption ' May 2021 @jesynelsonJesy debuts a long, silver wig and insists she wears them to protect her natural hair '/caption ' October 2021 InstagramJesy's tight curls and tanned look in the Boyz music video is what drove some to accuse her of ...blackfishing... '/caption ' InstagramJesy 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 streaks '/caption '
Source: Fashion Mag

---