For Pinnock, that means opening up about the tough side of being in a band: the comparisons, particularly as the only Black member of the group. As she discusses in her documentary, Leigh-Anne: Race, Pop & Power, “I was living in a very white world for most of my career,” she says.
“The pop industry is very white; we did have a predominately white fan base. It took me so long to understand why I was feeling so undervalued. I just blamed myself. My family would be like, ‘Oh, Leigh, you’re getting the same money. It’s fine.’ I just couldn’t accept that.” A tour stop in Brazil, where Black fans told her how big an impact she had had on them, changed her life. “Fans were chanting my name—I’ve never had a response like that and we’d been in the group for nine years,” she says.
This new record—which mixes R&B, amapiano, garage, and afrobeats into pop—gets into rediscovering her confidence solo. One song, “I Did That,” reflects on her accomplishments. “I had these incredible girls around me, holding me, and even though sometimes they might not have understood, they still had me,” she says, her voice wobbling as she tears up. “Oh, here she goes again, getting upset—I knew it was going to happen!” The album will also discuss the trials and tribulations of motherhood, and her relationship with soccer player Andre Gray: “Things aren’t perfect, and I get a bit deep with that.” But building this family has grounded her. “It puts it all into perspective and changes you. Things don’t phase me as much, in a good way.” She smiles. “Now I feel so resilient.”
Vogue: In your X Factor audition, you said you wanted to be the next Justin Bieber. Is that still the case?
Leigh-Anne Pinnock: Justin Bieber—that is hilarious! I was so young. When I was younger, I wouldn’t take no for an answer. I told everyone I met that I was gonna be a pop star. But as a child, I was the most shy person ever. That audition was the one time I…
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