Little Mix's Leigh-Anne & Jade awarded 'Inspirational Personality Award'

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Little Mix stars Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall have vowed to continue tackling racism after being named among the winners at this year’s Ethnicity Awards for their support of Black Lives Matter.

The bandmates will be handed a joint Inspirational Personality Award the when the official ceremony - held virtually in accordance with current coronavirus guidelines - gets underway on Friday evening. 

Both took part in an enormous Black Lives Matter march in August, while Leigh-Anne has been vocal about her first-hand experience of racism. She will also front a two part documentary, titled Leigh-Anne: Colourism & Race, in the new year. 

Addressing voters from her home, Leigh-Anne said: 'Hi guys, I just wanted to say a massive thank you for voting for me for this award, joint with Jade which is absolutely amazing.

'Thank you so much, I feel so overwhelmed to have received an award like this. I will continue to use my platform to speak up about race and fighting the fight.' 

She added: 'I already feel like there are so many people out there working towards change and fighting this fight and not necessarily being projected in social media or in the news so this award is for them.'  

Filming a separate message from home, Jade said: 'Thank you so, so, so much for this award. We're so unbelievably grateful and still can't quite believe it to be honest. 

'It's really important for me and Leigh to be using our platform to sort of share our experiences as two women of colour in the music industry, and just generally throughout our lives in the hopes of inspiring our young fans particularly to be proud of who they are and to make a difference in this world.' 

She added: 'I think this year particularly, as I'm sure everyone has experienced, has taken myself and Leigh on a very educational journey about what it means to put words into actions and to use our voices to really take a stand.

'I'm super proud of my sister Leigh and I'm so happy that we get to share this achievement together.'

Leigh-Anne will examine racism across the UK in her new two-part documentary, which will air on BBC Three.  

She told the BBC: 'Systemic racism is complex; through making this documentary I want to learn how I can best lend my voice to the debate so that the young people who look up to me won't have to face what me and my generation have had to.'

The singer has previously reflected on being the victim of racism during an appearance on Channel 4 show The Talk in August. 

Appearing on the show with her parents, she recalled: 'In primary school, a boy wrote on a bit of paper, ‘Name: Leigh-Anne. Age: Nine. Nationality: Jungle.

'I saw it, and my heart just dropped. I knew it was racism. I was nine years old, I knew it was racism. I was just distraught by it.'