Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson has broken down in tears during her first public interview since the announcement of her split from fiancé Zion Foster. The emotional moment came as she discussed her twin daughters' recent diagnosis with a severe genetic condition.
Emotional Campaign for Newborn Screening
Appearing on ITV's This Morning on 20 January 2026, Nelson met with Health Secretary Wes Streeting to champion a vital cause. She is campaigning for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 (SMA) to be added to the list of conditions all newborns are screened for on the NHS.
This was the star's first appearance since news emerged that she and Foster had ended their engagement after three years together. The couple share twin daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, who were born in May 2025 and diagnosed with SMA a few months later.
Navigating Life as a Mother and a 'Nurse'
During the interview, Nelson became visibly upset while talking about her children and her hope of sparing other families from a similar late diagnosis. "I am grieving a life I thought I was going to have with my children," she had previously shared in an emotional Instagram video.
The singer explained that her life has been turned upside down, stating she now acts as a "nurse" to her girls, performing medical tasks like managing breathing machines. "I want to be their mother, not their nurse," the newly single star emphasised, highlighting her determination to improve their quality of life.
Signs of the Split and Co-Parenting Commitment
Observant fans had noted that Nelson was not wearing her engagement ring during an earlier This Morning appearance this month to discuss her daughters' diagnosis. During her latest interview, she was again careful to hide her hands.
The couple had announced their engagement joyfully in September 2025, just months before the split. Their relationship had been on-and-off for years, with a first breakup in 2022 attributed to busy schedules and their eight-year age gap.
Despite the personal heartache, both Nelson and Foster are said to be committed to co-parenting their daughters. They have shared a united hope of providing the twins with the best possible life amidst the challenges of SMA.
The condition, which progressively weakens muscles, is the focus of Nelson's determined campaign. Her advocacy aims to ensure future newborns can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible, a mission born from her own family's difficult journey.
