Jade Thirlwall makes shock confession over 'negative stereotypes'

Jade Thirlwall just explained that she hid who she truly was in the beginning.

In the latest cover interview with Rolling Stone UK, the Little Mix star admitted being "scared to promote her heritage,” after feeling left out in school for being half Arab, with Yemeni and Egyptian roots.

"I'd only ever seen negative stereotypes of Arab people in the press, so I was scared to promote my heritage," The X Factor victor told the outlet.

The Sweet Melody singer continued, "I feel sad for my younger self that I could've been the representation I needed back then. I try to make up for that now."

Furthermore, Thirlwall also discussed transitioning into a solo artist after she shot to stardom with her UK girl group, alongside Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jesy Nelson, in 2011.

"I didn't know how to be a woman in my own right," she admitted, adding, "When we first stopped, I was lost because I was like, 'f***, every decision I've made over the past decade hasn't been my own'. It took me a minute to get my independence back."

Thursday evening, Jade Thirlwall’s music career as a solo artist was celebrated at the Rolling Stone UK Awards in London. After she performed her debut single, Angel of My Dreams, she took home the ceremony’s Trailblazer Award.