This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at MSU chapter.

I was 13 when I discovered Little Mix, a pop British girl band. Their music was full of self-empowerment and girl power, just the kind of thing a little Indian girl with big insecurities needed. I obsessively listened to their first album, DNA, in middle school. Their music defined my childhood, and now, as I am about to finish college, I have these women to thank for getting me through so many difficult moments with their music. So, let’s talk about Little Mix.

Little Mix has 3 current members, but the trio was originally a foursome: Perrie Edwards, 27, Jade Thirlwall, 28, Leigh Anne Pinnock, 29, and Jesy Nelson, 29. These women were just teenagers when they competed on the 8th season of The X Factor UK. Not only did they win their season, they were the first band to ever win the show. Needless to say, their talent knows no bounds. After winning The X Factor in 2011, they released their debut single that same year. “Cannonball,” a cover of the Damien Rice song, went straight to number 1. After that, the band released hit after hit including “Wings,” “Secret Love Song,” “Black Magic,” “Shout Out to My Ex,” and “Woman Like Me.”

Little Mix is huge in the UK, but not many people in the US know who they are. As someone who has been listening to them for nearly 10 years, I don’t understand why. They are the perfect package of pop superstars, with strong voices and dance breakdowns that make every concert a mesmerizing experience. Seriously, just watch this. The Little Mix women have been working hard for 10 years and have had incredible success despite not quite cracking the American music industry. Little Mix is one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, with over 50 million records sold. They have nearly 50 awards to their name, 4 number 1 singles in the UK, 13 VEVO certified music videos, and 6 amazing albums. These girls are truly unstoppable.

The thing I love most about Little Mix is the message they send to fans. Jade is an active supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, Leigh-Anne has spoken about racism in the music industry, Jesy has opened up about her struggles with body image and mental health, and all the girls use their platforms to speak on feminism and equality. Many of their fans are young girls and seeing the women of Little Mix be so honest and genuine is exactly what we need in this day and age. Jesy Nelson decided to leave the band in December 2020 for personal reasons, but she reminded us all that taking care of our mental health should be a priority. It is this kind of raw honesty that makes this band work, even with the odds stacked against them.