Mum of Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall proud after daughter reveals devestating anorexia battle

The mother of Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall has spoken of her pride after the young singer opened her heart on her devastating battle with anorexia.
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The 23-year-old from South Shields, who cut her teeth performing in Sunderland, developed the eating disorder when she was just 13.

The singer, who missed an appearance on BBC TV's the One Show last night due to a family bereavement, reveals her struggle in Little Mix's new book Our World.

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Jade's mum Norma told us: "I think Jade is so brave for speaking out about her battle with anorexia.

"She is an inspiration and we all hope that by doing this she might help a fan who is currently going through the same issue."

She added: "I think Jade proves you can come through this, look at her now. But you need to seek help and talk about the problems your facing.

"If Jade can help just one other person by talking about her experiences in her book then it will all be worthwhile. I'm so proud of her."

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In Our World, Jade tells how she fell victim to anorexia after suffering bullying, problems at home and also losing a close relative.

"Anorexia is a self-destructive thing and you become stubborn, so when people are trying to tell you something you get it into your head that they're against you and you're not going to listen," she admits in the book.

"My periods stopped and things were getting out of control but I don't think I really cared about what was happening to me. I felt so depressed at the time that I just wanted to waste away and disappear."

Attacked with bleach powder and called a P***

Jade also revealed how she was picked on at school because of the colour of her skin.

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“This particular girl used to corner me in the toilets, shout things like ‘P***’ and throw bleach powder at me," she said in the book.

"Once she got her mates to hold me down and draw a bindi on my forehead."

The former St Wilfrid's and South Tyneside College student said he turned into someone she didn't recognise, mistreated those closest to her, and was told she would die if she carried on.

"It took going to hospital to make me realise that it wasn't a game, it was something really serious. They sat me down in the clinic and were quite tough at first, spelling it out: 'You're destroying your body and if you keep doing this you will die.'"

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The 23-year old said even at that stage she didn't realise she was slowly killing herself.

It took her friend who was also suffering from anorexia ending up in a specialist unit in hospital to make her realise the severity of the situation.

"It shocked me into making a change," she said

Jade began visiting the hospital every week and undergoing therapy sessions. By the end of secondary school, she said she was back to full health and she had a new outlook on life.