IN 2015 Ella Henderson was flying high with a No1 album, No1 single and two Brit Award nominations.
But the four years since haven’t been easy — fighting her way through a split from Simon Cowell’s record label Syco and battling with online trolls.
Until now.
The former X Factor star has finally launched her comeback, featuring on Jax Jones’ new single This Is Real ahead of the release of her EP Glorious, due out in November.
And despite her rocky road, she has a renewed optimism for a bright future in music.
In her first newspaper interview in four years, Ella explained: “I know it’s taken a little while but everything on this EP is from me and written by me and I’m so glad to be back out there with me as my complete, true self.
“I always take the positives out of everything. I was with Syco for a good six or seven years and it just mutually came to an end, like anything does in life. I’m still only 23.
“I had a few new things I set out to do, and I think if you want change then you’ve got to make change. I’m really happy and everyone else is happy. I think as long as I’m happy and motivated, that’s the main thing.”
But Ella also revealed she has been targeted by online trolls, as was her Little Mix pal Jesy Nelson, who spoke out in a documentary last month.
Ella said: “I think it’s incredible what she’s done and not just for people in the music industry. I can really relate to that in so many different ways.
“I think everybody just needs to be a lot kinder to other people and realise there’s a lot going on behind the eyes.”
Ella actually wrote her new collaboration with Jax five years ago, as the pair go way back.
Jax explained: “My wife is from the same little village as Ella called Tetney in Lincoln-shire. And my wife used to babysit her.
Ella added: “It just shows when you write something you’re super-proud of, those kinds of songs are timeless because we’re here five years later shooting a video for it. It’s mega-exciting.”
Ella is now signed to Rudimental’s label Major Toms, and they have been in the studio with her for her new tunes.
THE ladies of Love Island have figures most women would kill for but none have the confidence of Lizzo.
That’s why it’s a genius move for fashion retailer Boohoo to sign the US singer for £1.5million to front a new plus-size collection.
She follows in the footsteps of Jennifer Lopez and Maura Higgins who worked with the brand earlier this year.
A source said: “Lizzo has been inundated with brands wanting to work with her but Boohoo seemed like the one that connected most with her fans.
“She loves her clothes and is fast becoming a role model for fashion as well as in music and her career.
“The bosses have been tying up the final details of the contract but it should be signed, sealed and ready to launch in time for Christmas.”
Lizzo has become a music sensation this year, spending five weeks at the top of the US charts with hit Truth Hurts.
The industry needs more empowering characters like her.
FOLLOWING live-action remakes of Aladdin and Beauty And The Beast, Disney is now believed to be casting for a new version of Snow White. US sources claim it is set to begin filming in Canada in March 2020.
IT’S lucky her film Hustlers has made £5million at the UK box office as Cardi B clearly has expensive tastes.
The rapper, who has been in the French capital working on her second album, wore this ridiculous outfit at Paris Fashion Week.
Somehow she managed to find boots and a handbag to match, as well as a fetching hat – just like mine.
It’s the closest I’ve felt to being a ladies’ man.
FIVE years after coming to blows, Justin Bieber and Orlando Bloom don’t seem to have buried the hatchet.
The Pirates Of The Caribbean actor threw a punch at Justin in a restaurant in Ibiza back in 2014 after the singer struck up a friendship with his ex-wife Miranda Kerr.
Now Orlando has snubbed Justin’s wedding celebration to model Hailey, which took place in the US on Monday night, despite his fiancée Katy Perry flying out for the do. Justin and Hailey wed in secret in September last year.
Orlando, who was in the Czech Republic filming the second series of Amazon Prime series Carnival Row, appeared to poke fun at Justin on Instagram yesterday, posting a photo with cuts across his face and joking his character had “been fighting again”.
He may not have needed his make-up team for those if he had shown up at the wedding.
THE BEATLES’ Abbey Road and George Michael’s Faith are part of a white label charity auction for National Album Day on October 12. They join signed copies of Ed Sheeran’s No 6 Collaborations Project and The Specials’ self-titled album in the lots. Online bidding open now.
ALTHOUGH it’s been two years since her split from footballer-turned-pundit Jamie Redknapp, singer Louise still struggles to cope with their separation.
She said: “It was really tough and some days are still really tough.
“It was a shock to me as it was to everyone. It took the wind out of my sails. Anyone who has been through that knows there are good and bad days and I would never – whether it be to my friends, or in an interview to the public – make light of what I went through.”
Louise relaunched her music career after the pair ended their 19-year marriage and the mum-of-two channelled her upset into her songs. She also credited her mum Lynne for helping to mend her broken heart. Louise said: “Every day when I was down, Mum would say really encouraging words to me and I wrote them all down.
“She is a wise woman.”
GERMAN pop star Kim Petras today releases her spooky Halloween-themed mixtape Turn Off The Light, combining nine new tracks with the eight she released on a record of the same name last year. Appropriately freaky song titles include There Will Be Blood, Massacre, Bloody Valentine and Death By Sex.
MICHELLE Pfeiffer broke her arm getting out of the bath. Speaking about her injury at the weekend, the Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil actress explained: “I was at a hotel and I got out (of the bath) and I saw really slippery marble floors . . . and I said to myself, ‘Self, slippery floor – be careful’.” Oops!
BILLIE Eilish’s 2020 arena tour will feature an “eco-village” to teach fans about climate change. Speaking about other moves to make her shows more green, the Bad Guy singer said: “There’s no plastic straws allowed, fans are going to bring their own water bottles and there’s recycling cans everywhere.”
COVER your ears: Kerry Katona has revealed she considered recording a song with Katie Price. She told New! mag: “I’m loving the fact my mate Katie has teamed up with another good friend of mine, Sam Bailey, to record a single. For a brief second I thought about joining the fun.”
