LEIGH-ANNE PINNOCK is having her say, weeks away from stepping out of one of the biggest girl groups of all time.
After more than ten years in Little Mix I can reveal that as well as forging her solo career, a wide range of projects include a major debut book.
After the huge success of her acclaimed BBC Three documentary Race, Pop And Power, the singer is now negotiating a book deal with several major publishing houses for the autobiographical insight, which will focus on identity and her own experiences at the heart of British popular culture.
A source tells me: “This is stuff she’s passionate about – it isn’t going to be an expose on life in a pop band, more an insight into her feelings about who she has become in that time, what she stands for and what she believes in.
“The reaction to her documentary really spurred Leigh-Anne to want to do more. She knows her platform can help other people too and she wants to represent as many young women like her as she can.
“This is about stepping out from a band and defining who she is going to be as an independent woman and as an artist going forwards. She’s very excited at the prospect of working on it and getting it out to fans.”
Little Mix will shortly head out on the road for their final run of tour dates as a band — at least for now — and are expected to go out with a bang in their final performances of more than a decade of hits which has seen them become the most successful girl group of their generation.
Each of the remaining three members are in the process of mapping out their future career plans, combining solo music with film and TV
projects, fashion and other ideas.
Former bandmate Jesy Nelson has already begun releasing music alone, while pals Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirwall are currently negotiating their own new contracts to develop as solo artists.
A pal adds: “Leigh-Anne has a pretty clear vision of where she wants things to go after the band. She’s signed with a very established and successful management company, got a great record deal, appeared in the movie Boxing Day, alongside an all-black cast, and co-hosted the Mobo Awards — all just a few months after becoming a mum for the first time.
“She’s loved being in the band and has great memories of their experiences, but she’s definitely ready to step out on her own.”
With the right team behind her and a lorry-load of drive and ambition, you wouldn’t bet against her killing it alone.
LIZZO took a shine to this metallic bikini while on a sun-drenched break with pals.
She shared the racy snap on Instagram with the caption: “Back to work.”
Lizzo’s fourth album is out this year and she said: “It’s one of the most musically daring and sophisticated bodies of work I’ve done.”
MICHELLE Keegan and Mark Wright looked the perfect pair in these co-ordinated blue outfits while on a stroll in Los Angeles.
The couple have been making the most of their break in LA, dropping into celebrity restaurant Craig’s for a posh night out.
They have gone all out for the jaunt too, staying at a £26,000-a-week villa overlooking the Hollywood Hills.
If they weren’t building their own mega mansion in Essex I’d advise them to stay across the pond.
With views like that every day, I would never want to leave.
And no, I’m not just talking about Michelle…
NICK Grimshaw has ditched plans to move to LA.
The ex-Radio 1 DJ checked out California at the start of the year.
But asked in an exclusive chat if a move was on the cards he admitted: “Not really. I tried but I wasn’t mad into it. It was all right, fun for a holiday, but it made me really miss London and the UK.”
Last week his first major telly job since quitting Radio 1 was announced.
He will host Channel 4’s upcoming makeover show The Great Home Transformation, with Emma Willis.
On DIYing he said: “I had to build stuff on this show and I did surprise myself.”
ROCHELLE Humes hailed her husband Marvin on International Women’s Day.
The ex Saturdays singer told Glamour UK: “We need men like him because, though in my career I have been surrounded by so many strong amazing women, we can only go so far.
“We need to bridge that gap between men and women…otherwise we are on separate journeys.”
Model Leomie Anderson echoed her calls, adding: “It’s more than just a man wearing a feminist T-shirt. Being a real male ally is about taking affirmative action.”
The full interviews are in the mag’s Women’s Day issue, online now.
KANYE West has made some questionable decisions in recent weeks but hiring the so-called journalist who last month claimed The Queen had died is one of the strangest.
Jason Lee runs US blog website Hollywood Unlocked.
In February he claimed to have the exclusive news about the Queen passing away, then doubled down on the story.
But clearly Kanye – who calls himself YE – isn’t put off by his dodgy reporting, as Jason is now on the rapper-cum-designer’s payroll as his media man ager.
A music insider said: “Kanye and Jason have known each other for a while but spent more time together at the beginning of the year.
“Now Jason is working for him in the role of a media manager, helping broker deals and he is in charge with his public image.
“From the outside it seems totally strange to take him on, especially after what happened with the Queen.
“But he wants to be surrounded by people who know how the media game works and reckons he shares a vision with Jason.”
I had been wondering why Kanye was getting such positive publicity on Jason’s website recently, now that’s all explained.
The Jesus Walks musician could use some help though.
His latest album Donda 2 hasn’t sold enough copies to made a mark on the charts after it was released exclusively via the Stem Player – his own product for playing music.
Stunts like that may make a fortune for Kanye by persuading some of his fans to buy the device, but in the long run it’ll just mean people switch off altogether.
TOM Parker has made his grand return to The Wanted’s reunion tour – sitting on a throne in the centre of the stage during their rendition of Glad You Came.
Tom had been forced to sit out the first few dates following treatment for his brain cancer in Spain.
He joined bandmates Siva Kaneswaran, Max George, Jay McGuinness and Nathan Sykes in Bournemouth on Monday – but wasn’t able to perform.
Nathan told the crowd: “As you guys can probably tell, there is a massive space in this band tonight. And we love Tom as much as you do. We can’t wait to have him back, which will be very soon.”
THE XX have landed a monthly radio show on Apple Music 1 featuring exclusive new music and special guests.
Each episode of the show, Interludes Radio, will be hosted by a different member of the trio, of Jamie XX, Romy and Oliver Sim.
The first episode at 2pm tomorrow will see Oliver joined by Florence Welch, Elton John and Sampha, with his The XX bandmates also dropping in.
The group said: “We’ll be taking turns to get into the things that inspire us individually.”
ROMAN Kemp says he hates dating English women because they care too much about his fame and fortune
The Capital Breakfast DJ explained: “Women that have their life plan and are busier, that attracts me more than anything.
“You look at the girls I’ve dated in the past, they’re girls that are doing their own thing and they’re f***ing good at it.
“It’s one of the reasons, to be totally honest with you, that I don’t really date English girls, ever. I love someone not knowing what I do for a living. I love someone not caring at all.”
Single Roman is on the lookout for someone special because he is eager to settle down and start a family – and he is inspired by his musician parents Martin and Shirlie Kemp.
He told the Diary Of A CEO podcast: “I want that relationship I see my mum and dad have. I want that more than anything.
“The thing I panic about more, it’s an odd thing, but I think it’s an insecurity that a lot of men have that they never talk about as well, which is, ‘Will I be able to have kids when I’m older?’.
“That’s my biggest fear. I think that my sole purpose in this life is to make other people that are nice.”
