Jesy Nelson's Documentary Transformed My Perspective on Her Resilience
Alana Anderson published her review on February 6, 2026, at 11:00am, based on the first episode of the documentary Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix. This six-part Amazon Prime Video series offers an unprecedented look into the pop star's life, revealing a side of Jesy Nelson that audiences have never seen before.
A Journey Through Unimaginable Highs and Lows
Jesy Nelson has endured more challenges in less than a year than most people experience in a lifetime. The 34-year-old former Little Mix singer announced she was expecting twin girls with then-boyfriend Zion Foster in January 2025, but her path to motherhood became tragically complicated. The documentary captures this emotional rollercoaster, from the ecstatic pregnancy announcement to the devastating news that her unborn twins had less than a 10% survival rate.
As someone who previously didn't find Jesy particularly influential and remembered her disappointing response to 2021's Blackfishing accusations, I approached the documentary with skepticism. However, watching her story unfold brought me to tears multiple times. During a screening where Jesy sat behind me, I heard her sigh nervously as the episode began, understandable given the raw vulnerability she displays throughout.
Medical Challenges and Personal Heartbreak
The documentary reveals Jesy's three-month hospital stay before her daughters Ocean and Story were born, followed by the devastating diagnosis that both twins have Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). This rare genetic condition causes progressive muscle wastage and presents numerous challenges:
- Bone and joint problems including scoliosis
- Significant muscle weakness in arms and legs
- Movement difficulties with sitting, crawling, and walking
- Breathing and swallowing complications
- Muscle tremors and shaking
Adding to this medical crisis, Jesy and Zion ended their engagement shortly after sharing their twins' diagnosis with the world. The documentary shows their genuine love and excitement about becoming parents, making their separation particularly heartbreaking. In one poignant scene, Jesy admits her pregnancy wasn't planned and expresses concerns about Zion becoming a father at 25, yet she acknowledges, 'I couldn't want a better dad for the girls.'
Revisiting Career Milestones and Personal Truths
The series opens with footage from Jesy's 2011 X Factor audition, where she performed Jazmine Sullivan's Bust Your Windows as a solo artist before becoming part of the first band to win the show alongside Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Jade Thirlwall. Jesy reflects emotionally on this period, stating through tears, 'I'll never get back the version of me from before the X Factor. That was the most authentic version of Jesy there ever was.'
She also addresses her 2020 departure from Little Mix, promising to reveal her truth about why she left the group. 'There's been a constant narrative about me and certain interviews where people have spoken, and I believe gave a false narrative of why I left,' Jesy explains. 'This was my turn to say my truth and why I left. I feel like I have been carrying that weight for a long time, but who knows. It was the most vulnerable time in my life, but like I said, it's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and this is my truth.'
Finding Light in Darkness
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Jesy consistently finds moments of laughter and joy throughout her ordeal. In one particularly touching scene, she accidentally wets herself from laughter while filming a pregnancy update video with Zion. This ability to maintain her sense of humor during such a cruel experience demonstrates her remarkable resilience and personality strength.
The documentary shows Jesy confronting her past, lowering her defenses, and committing to raising awareness about Spinal Muscular Atrophy for her daughters' sake. Her journey from X Factor contestant to mother facing unimaginable medical challenges reveals a depth of character that transforms how viewers perceive her.
All six episodes of Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix became available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video starting Friday, September 13th. The series stands as a testament to human resilience, showing how even in our most vulnerable moments, strength can emerge in unexpected ways.
