The article was published in the 28-29 issue of the journal Vanity Fair on newsstands until July 19, 2023
“You’re a black girl, you need to work ten times harder”. When Leigh Ann Pinnock she heard those exact words from choreographer Frank Gatson Jr., former artistic director of Beyoncé, she thought of two things: that he was a bit cruel, and that no one had ever spoken to her like that, not even her parents. She, High Wycombe Englishwas 20 years old, and he was on the set of the video for “Wings”, the debut song Little Mix, first girl group win in 2011 English edition X – Factor who would then very quickly become very famous, mostly millennial version of the Spice Girls with the addition of the historic prestigious Brit Award.
Since then, even later dissolution of the group in 2022 AND the beginning of a solo career with a single Don’t say love — released in mid-June and hit the charts straight away — Leigh-Anne Pinnock continues to work ten times harder. To achieve an ambitious, powerful goal: combat racial dynamics, in the music world and beyond. “I don’t want the next pop star to feel the way I do.”
How did she feel?
“Sometimes different, sometimes a stranger at home, sometimes invisible.”
You explain.
“Racism is not “just” treating a word beginning with the letter “n” or insulting. There are silent, everyday forms. There is racism in the little things. I looked around the set or room and saw only white people. The fans ignored me or greeted me with muted applause, while the rest of the band didn’t: I knew I didn’t get the same love. On the contrary, for the first time in Brazil, I was overwhelmed by the love of people with the same skin color as me.
The color of his skin determined his position in Little Mix. This is what he says in the BBC documentary. Lee Ann: race, popularity and powera candid and enlightened analysis of what he’s been through with the pop bubble.
“Already X – Factor I dyed my hair red and shaved the sides to be the “Rihanna of the band” for an attractive black girl. Horrible! It was just as terrible that my skin tone was questioned: would it be better darker or not? Even colorism is a form of discrimination! Every day there was something to be sad about. I had so much to process and tell…”.
Out of frustration when he asked his former record company for a meeting to deal with lack of diversity and placed her in a room with the head of marketing: “Two black women will solve racism,” to venomous social media comments such as, “A black girl sounds like a white girl, and a white girl sounds like a black girl.”
“In fact, I can’t say which form of racism is the worst that I’ve suffered from, there wasn’t one specific or more serious than all.”
Besides telling them, what else does he do to fight them?
“I created a fund called The Black Fund, which in turn helps charities that support the black community. Last year, for example, we funded 11 of them about mental health because it’s 100% about discrimination.”
Are you afraid that your children, almost two-year-old twins, will suffer from this?
“Now we live in a predominantly white neighborhood, and I’ve heard too many stories about black kids being bullied at school, bullied, even bullied by teachers — it’s just petrified. But I never stop instilling as much confidence in my children as possible and at the same time I try to make them aware of who they are, as well as racism. I want them to be well educated so they never think they have limits.”
Do you want other children?
“I don’t think about it now. But I would never say no. Becoming a mother is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me, a blessing.”
Is it difficult to combine motherhood with a pop star sold for 75 million copies?
“I remember when there was a stupid stigma around pregnant artists: they were called “not cool“. We women can have children and be successful at the same time, right? Of course, it’s not easy. As for me, I’m still looking for a balance: one moment I’m in Los Angeles, and the next I’m in New York. In addition, my partner, or rather my husband, plays in the Greek football team (Andre Grey, Forward Aris Thessaloniki, approx. ed.), so he is often not at home. But it won’t always be like this.”