'Little Mix helped me come out – X Factor broke the mould with this superstar girl group'

ok.co.uk:

To Jade, Leigh-Anne and Perrie, Before I congratulate you on 10 incredible years in pop music and bid Little Mix farewell (for now) as you finish your last tour, I want to tell you a little bit about me.

I have loved girl groups since I can remember. As a 1990s baby, the Spice Girls ruled my childhood. I quickly became obsessed with Girls Aloud and that followed with every girl group to pass us by since, no matter how long or short-lived they were.

Sugababes, The Saturdays, Parade (remember them?), Fifth Harmony and everybody in between. I was 16 years old in 2011 and insisted I wouldn't buckle and fall in love with the new girl group The X Factor were putting together.

What was the point? They were only going to be sent home in the first live show, right? Wrong. As each week passed, I watched as these four young girls grew into empowering women with each determined performance and I fell hook, line and sinker.