Believe

by Leigh-Anne Pinnock

'I found my power when I realized it was within me, within my skin and within my soul.
It just needed to be set free.'

Leigh-Anne Pinnock's life changed overnight when she became part of the first ever girl band to win the X-Factor. The multi-platinum selling supergroup Little Mix, went on to become one of the biggest girl bands of all time.
Launched into chart-topping global fame, Leigh-Anne was living her childhood dream of becoming a popstar. But behind the scenes, as a Black woman within an industry and team with little diversity, Leigh-Anne was struggling with her identity and felt completely lost.
In her highly anticipated memoir, Leigh-Anne shares her journey from growing up in a mixed-race family in Britain to taking the pop world by storm. Honest and direct, she reveals the challenges and prejudices that stood in her path and how she overcame them by embracing her own power. Sharing the experiences and lessons that have shaped Leigh-Anne, this book will empower us all to challenge the status quo, stand up for what we believe in and go after our dreams.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Audiobook, Autobiography, Music

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2023

About the author

Leigh-Anne Pinnock is an English singer-songwriter and author. She rose to prominence in the 2010s as a member of the English girl group Little Mix, who achieved five number-one singles on the UK Singles Chart. Following the group's hiatus in 2022, Pinnock signed to Warner Records.

Her first memoir, Believe, is expected in October 2023.

Reviews

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has made me love Leigh-Anne so much more deeply than I thought possible for a celebrity I've never had a real conversation with. When I met Little Mix in 2015 during a radio promo tour, it was Leigh-Anne who made me feel the most special as she paid the most attention to me and seemed the most genuinely pleased to see the fans.

"You're the Black girl. You're gonna have to work ten times harder." After reading this quote, I wonder if that is why Leigh-Anne put so much more effort into this little exchange. While it did work and made me pay more attention to her, I'm sad that it was necessary. The book shows that it didn't work with everyone and she was still overlooked a lot.

I hope with her solo career, she can continue on this journey of self discovery - and thank you for doing all the hard work. I can't wait to see what's to come.

[leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

as someone who a) loves a memoir, especially a celebrity/popstar memoir delving into their fame, b) watched 'the x factor' religiously throughout my childhood, and c) was/is a little mix fan, i knew i had to read this.

in believe, leigh-anne shares the details of her life so far: her upbringing/heritage, her experience on 'the x factor' and being put in the girlband that’d become little mix, her journey in little mix and their fame over the years, and where she’s at now with motherhood and launching her solo career. a lot of the book focuses on leigh-anne’s struggles to forge her own identity, her experience with being ‘the black one’ in little mix and the racism and exclusion that accompanied that. it’s vulnerable and inspiring, offering a great insight into a black woman’s experience in the music industry.

i definitely recommend watching the bbc documentary leigh-anne: race, pop, and power where she further explores racism in the music industry, which includes a focus on colourism and speaking to darker-skinned black women about their experiences.

also love that natalie morris, the writer who helped leigh-anne with this book, was credited on the cover of this!

[Manoek (manoeksbooknook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a huge fan of Little Mix and Leigh-Anne since their first single Wings came out in 2012. They have been such a huge part of my life and shaping me into the person I am today from a 13 year old to now a 25 year old! I have such fond memories of seeing them in concerts and I have met them as well. Meeting Leigh-Anne especially has always stood out to me because I had such a wonderful conversation with her and she made me feel very seen and loved.

I watched the documentary she made a few years ago which was incredibly powerful and through that I already knew some things about her experience as a black person in the band and in the music industry. But reading this book and getting more details and insight into her life, growing up and her immense drive and passion, the behind the scenes of X factor and Little Mix, her relationship(s), motherhood and her deep dive into race and being black in the music industry was all so interesting and powerful to read.

I loved listening to the audiobook as well since it's narrated by Leigh-Anne herself which makes it even more personal. I'm so immensely proud of how far she has come and everything she will do in the future and I'll be over here supporting her

[abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

not miss pinnock having an emotional affair with a man in a long term relationship who's also colourist 💀 but it's okay because they got married and he apologised

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this!! Leigh Anne and Little Mix have played such a huge part of my life and I’m so glad she wrote this for us to all hear her story.

It’s a great look into how she felt for the majority of her career and the feelings of invisibility as well as the important discussion of race. As gutting as it is to hear how she felt it’s an incredibly powerful and moving book. Her identity and her belief in herself really shows throughout.

I loved getting to know more about her journey and how she felt throughout several parts of her life. Between her early life and then her wedding etc you see the behind the scenes.

The photos were amazing additions too!!

Can’t wait to see where she goes from here with her solo career!

[Kate Worthington ❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted more goss…

[Macy Jami · Rating 5 out of 5]

So proud of Leigh-Anne 🥹❣️

[Daniëlle]

i love leigh-anne. what a beautiful memoir

[Dom Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this in audio book form and the book had some great strengths but it did feel like it only scratched the surface of how deep it could go.

Definitely one for the Little Mix fans!

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️.
An enjoyable read that focuses on difficult topics and goes into depth on things people wouldn’t assume about her life. At first I was wary because it is ghost written and you can tell but the further into the book I got the more it flows.

[gosia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I get a free trial of audible soley to listen to this? The answer is yes!
Just an incredible and honest book that made me feel immensely proud of Leigh-Anne.
As someone who has been apart of the little mix fandom for half my life (quite literally) I can't deny that I did notice Leigh-Anne having the least fans in comparison to the other 3 girls. She delves into not only dealing with this, but having to confront the deeper issue as to why this was. It really broke my heart to hear just how much this alienation and exclusion affected her throughout her years in little mix, especially being so young in the beginning.
it is really a testament to modern racism and how it's expressed in these hidden, but harmful ways. The chapter on racial gaslighting felt really pivotal. Leigh expresses the importance of confronting racial motivated situations rather than brushing them off, as we naturally tend to avoid admitting that certain things happen largely because of ones race.

I also inevitably enjoyed her deep dive on the creation of little mix and the sneaky ways that the X Factor and the music industry operates. It made me sad in a way, knowing that a band that brought me so much joy as a young girl had to struggle so much in their dealing with shifty people who controlled them. But I'm glad Leigh was able to talk about it all.

Just amazing to see Leigh's growth and development overtime In all aspects of her life. I especially resonated with her growing up as a shy child and having to grow into herself as an adult, gaining that confidence that's needed to survive as you're older. Yet at the same time, acknowledging her younger self and that the quiet girl still lives in her regardless.

I'm so proud of Leigh Anne and she is a Literal Mother !!!!! I'm so excited for her solo career or whatever she does next !! ❤️‍🩹

‘It is one thing to worry that you might not be beautiful enough, but it is another thing to be deemed less beautiful because of your race. It’s only looking back that I can piece together how my blackness played a part in this. How being perceived as other directly influenced the feeling that I was less desirable than the other girls.’

‘In those early months I found my identity in sisterhood. I understood who I was when I was jade perrie and jesy. I understood their friendship and their love for me helped me keep a grip on myself. Even if I didn’t know who I was in the eyes of our fans, I knew who I was to them. i was their friend, I was their sister.’

[Vera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Leigh-Anne, thank you for sharing your story. It was wonderful to get to know you on a deeper level, to understand your struggles and to see you’re now better and happier than ever!
As a white woman, I’ll never be able to understand how you’ve felt for so many years of your life and I honestly feel deeply heartbroken that you (and black people in general) had/have to face such cruelty as rascism. I just hope the world will keep getting better for you all!
My favourite quote from the book is “Our beauty is in our individuality, in the things that make us unique, that set us apart.”.
Throughout this book I laughed, I cried (rivers) and I felt immense pride! I love Leigh-Anne so much and it is a gift to share this world with such a kind, caring and loving person as her. 💚

[Margaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book would be a bit more like "recap of each little mix era" and less "hi guys, here is everything that went to sh!t in my life!" so it took me a couple chapters to just give up on my idea of this book as a little mix memoir
as a lm fan who knew about every thing she mentions because I was just there when each thing was released or happened, this book brought forward nothing new for me but it was still a nice read! definitely would be more "useful" for casual fans though

[Halima Ahad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful, heartfelt book!! 🥹 definitely planning to reread soon hehe

[Phoebe Coop · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love her so much

[Jazmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an emotional yet empowering read. I've been a fan of Little Mix since the beginning and have had such an immense love for Leigh. Learning what her reality was like being part of the band hurts, but I have such immense pride in her strength and resilience and how she uses her platform to make a change. This book is a must-read for any true fan of Little Mix or Leigh as a solo artist.

I have written a more in-depth review for The HoneyPOP.

[Ewa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,6/5

leigh-anne, kocham cię, ale muszę dać 3,6

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. Big slip up in the book. Leigh Anne has wanted to keep the gender of her children private yet she accidentally reveals it on page 50. I'm sure the paperback version will make the necessary ammendments.

[gabriellereadss]

I don’t usually review/speak on the non fiction books I read, purely because who am I to comment on somebody’s life story and experiences. However, after reading some of the reviews on goodreads, how could I stay quiet.

I am honestly, quite appalled and embarrassed at some of the reviews for this book that I have seen - I am completely 100% supportive of each individual having their own opinion, but people lowering their ratings because of Leigh-Anne talking up on struggles of being a black woman in the industry, the BLM movement and ‘not enough gossip on Little Mix’ took me back a little bit. Especially from people who claim to have been a lifelong fan of the band.

Personally, I loved this memoir and was shocked and saddened to hear the struggles Leigh-Anne faced all throughout her life, especially within the music industry. Growing up, I was a huge Little Mix fan, and it never dawned on me how singled out Leigh would feel just because of the colour of her skin as to me, she is and always was so beautiful in every which way and her skin never took away any of her talent in my eyes, nor does it now.

I listened to the audiobook, which was a great experience hearing the words out of Leigh-Anne herself, I really enjoyed the minimal Little Mix speak and the focus being on what it should be - HER! I chose to listen to this to learn more about Leigh-Anne and I came away thinking I have done just that, there have been plenty other memoirs I have listened too or read in which to me felt like it was piggybacking off of the reasoning they were in the limelight, like they couldn’t let go - but this is not one of those. I think Leigh kept it classy not diving into petty gossip and tarnishing peoples names and think it shows what person she truly is - beautiful inside and out.

My respect and love will always stand with you Leigh-Anne!!

[Cath T · Rating 4 out of 5]

”For Black women, there are two fights. There's the fight against misogyny and the fight against racism. It's a double whammy.”

As a huge fan of Little Mix— Leigh-Anne in particular— I was extremely excited for this. I literally preordered the moment it was announced. That’s my way of saying this is going to be biased.

This is a very touching account of racism, identity, the music industry, and self esteem. Leigh-Anne talks openly about her struggle with racism and reclaiming her identity after losing herself and being pushed to the sidelines too many times. You go throughout this journey with her, from childhood to fame to insecurity and paranoia and finally relief.

Leigh-Anne doesn’t shy away from the brutality of being the “only black girl” nor her own privileges. I respect her a lot for acknowledging that. If you’re a fan of Little Mix, you’ll like this. If you want to feel seen by someone who was always told they were “imagining it”, I think you’d find a lot of comfort in Leigh-Anne’s story (as well as her documentary.)

In one chapter near the end, Leigh-Anne writes:

”I know myself, and that is a beautiful thing.”

and I find that incredibly simple and profound. That’s the message. To know yourself. To love yourself.

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved Little Mix for over a decade now. Leigh-Anne has always been such a bright shining example to me, and I'm so grateful to have been able to read this book. As a Mixer who loves the members more than words, it breaks my heart that so much of Leigh-Anne's career was spent feeling like she was lesser or any less worthy of her spot in the group. She is a beautiful human being, inside and out, and I'm so glad she has been able to speak up about these issues and the issue of racism and colorism not only in the music industry, but the world. The conversations had throughout this book were eye-opening and so extremely important, not just for fans of Little Mix. I will continue to love and support Leigh-Anne and all of the members of Little Mix for the rest of my life, these girls helped raise me and I'm so glad to see Leigh shining in her solo career and as a mother and activist. ❤️

[Emma Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of Little Mix since their X Factor days, I enjoyed the insight this book gave into Leigh-Anne’s first hand experience with it all. The telling of her journey with both race and beauty was both heartbreaking and empowering - the progress throughout her life of pushing down these emotions, to acknowledging them, and then using them as a power was inspiring to read and made me feel a sense of pride as a fan having grown up with her.

Whilst this book wasn’t particularly relatable to me for the most part, as a White reader, it really encouraged me to understand the perspective to the best of my ability and simply listen and learn.

That being said, this book felt slightly overly polished. I can’t really explain it, but it felt very clean cut, specifically in the language used, which lowered my rating ever so slightly.

Loved this book!!

[abi turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The unknown can be a terrifying thing, but it can also be thrilling. I am ready for whatever the universe has in store for me, and I am desperate to throw myself into this new challenge. I want to test my boundaries, push my limits and reach new heights.”

This book was truly inspiring, there was so many things that I took away from this book and I would love to reread this in the future to see how I have changed and whether or not the things I take from this book are different in the future.

I am so proud of Leigh-Anne and I can’t wait to see her in her solo career!

[Adeela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook (read by Leigh-Anne).

It was interesting to see her journey from a young child to where she is now in here career! It was also quite heartbreaking to listen to the things she had to go because of racism. Props to her for sharing her experience and talking openly about all the things that happened and stuff she learnt over the years 👏🏼

It’s a shame that the band is taking a break/split because they were ✨iconic✨

Hopefully they can one day come back together even if it’s just the trio!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

*listened primarily as an audibook*

having been a fan of little mix for literal yeeeears, hearing Leigh-Anne talk about her experiences was heartbreaking and inspiring all at the same time. getting a further glimpse into things we experienced as fans throughout the years was both interesting and shocking. the audio book was narrated perfectly, and it felt like Leigh-Anne was just having a conversation with you.

[Isabeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking, honest and hopeful.

“For Black women, there are two fights. There’s the fight against misogyny and the fight against racism… All too often, the burden of speaking out, campaigning and advocating for change falls to the very people who are most affected by discrimination and racism. But it can’t always be on their shoulders. It is up to the people who benefit from an unequal system to take on some of this labour.”

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Leigh Anne and I love Little Mix. This book was inspiring and insightful. Not only does the reader engage with Leigh Anne’s past and her experiences, they also gain a lot of insight on racism in not only her childhood, but also her career. There’s talk of marriage, relationships and motherhood, too. It was like having a long conversation with your big sister. I really liked this.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah. Ich wusste, was für ein talentierter, hart arbeitender, starker, leidenschaftlicher, selbstbewusster und reflektierter Mensch Leigh-Anne ist aber dieses Memoir hat all diese Eigenschaften in einen Konzext gestellt und in meiner Wahrnehmung von ihr intensiviert.
Ich musste mir eeeinige Male die Tränen verdrücken, vorallem welche aus fremd-stolz!
Vorbild!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never really been much of a little mix fan (wasabi slaps) but I can't deny they're feminist icons & pop pioneers. Everytime I read a female celeb memoir I'm reminded of how misogynistic the world is. Always makes me feel a bit sick after. This memoir showed me how much more difficult it is for a black woman. I'm horrified by what Leigh-Anne endured and I'm very glad girls have her to look up to.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love leigh-anne