EXCLUSIVE Lucy Spraggan says she became more 'palatable' as a lesbian on TV after weight loss and a boob job - as she details life after X Factor and close bond with Simon Cowell
The singer, 33, found fame on The X Factor in 2012, and to date is the only open lesbian contestant. Honey G, who competed four years later, came out as gay after appearing on the show.
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Lucy - who has just realised her new single The Lesson - opened up about being a lesbian in the public eye.
She shared: 'I don't feel any pressure to be a representation of the LGBTQIA+ community because it's so vast. But as a lesbian, I do think there's not that much visibility in the UK.
'I feel like if there's a lesbian on TV, they have to be a certain "kind" of lesbian to be palatable.'
From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.
Lucy explained: 'I noticed a big difference when I had my boobs and teeth done and dyed my hair blonde and I lost 20kg.
'I was much more palatable, I think. I don't know, we've got a way to go, but I think the UK is doing alright at the moment.'
While she noticed a shift in attitude towards her after changing her look, she insisted that it had nothing to do with her public perception.
Instead, it was Lucy's decision to go sober in 2020 that sparked her transformation.
She explained: 'I lost the weight because I stopped drinking, which led to a load of lifestyle changes.
'I started running a lot because I was trying to get high elsewhere, because I didn't have drugs or alcohol anymore, so it kind of happened by accident.
'Then because I lost so much weight, my boobs [sagged]. I mean it was a necessary surgery,' she laughed.
'I don't feel pressured to look a certain way. I think it's cool to be versatile. It's important to just represent doing you doing your thing, which is what I want people to like take from me.'
While the showbiz circuit is notoriously hedonistic, Lucy thinks that things have shifted in recent years.
'Maintaining sobriety is individual, it completely independent of everything else that's going on in life, stresses peak and then they go back down again,' she mused.
'But the music industry, I think people within it have become kinder, and I think there's a lot more focus on creativity at the moment and enjoyment and fulfillment and it's nice to be a part of that.'
Currently, the music world has been left reeling the shock allegations made against rapper Diddy, who has been accused of drugging and raping women at his parties, known as 'Freak Offs'.
Asked about the darker side of the music industry, she said: 'I've had my own sort of experience of that.
'You know in my book I spoke more about all of the things that have happened to me that have been very underground for years...
'But that being said, I've been sober for six years, so I don't really end up in many places I don't want to be in anymore.'
In 2023, Lucy revealed that during her time on The X Factor, she was raped by a porter in the hotel room where she was staying after partying with Rylan Clark.
At the time, when she quit the show, it was said to be down to illness.
Revealing the assault for the first time in her autobiography, Process, she explained the illness was the strong side effects of PEP medication - a drug given to her by doctors which can prevent someone contracting HIV.
On why she decided to reveal the truth 11 years on, Lucy confessed: 'It was scary for sure, it was terrifying, but I knew that if I put it out there - everything - there was absolutely nothing I have to hide from.
'People picked up on that and they said "thank you for talking about this thing, or that thing, because it made me feel really full of shame, and I haven't got any shame about anything".
'And I think that's a nice place to be.'
While Simon was not a judge on The X Factor when Lucy competed, he later reached out and apologised for how she was treated on the ITV show, with Lucy then admitting: 'His apology healed a part of my being that I didn't know needed healing.'
Asked how it felt receiving the apology, she mused: 'I think whether forgiveness is easy or not depends on the person.
'It's a lot easier to forgive somebody when they apologise, and that's something that's really big for me. I do a lot of work on forgiveness in general.
'They say like hating people is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.
'Truly in my life right now, there is nobody that I don't forgive and there's nobody that I don't wish, peace and health for in this world.'
Indeed, her friendship with Simon is better than ever, and last year the music mogul walked her down the aisle during her star-studded wedding to girlfriend Emilia Smith.
'It was really strange,' Lucy laughed. 'It's a high stress environment and I looked to the side and saw him, like this is weird!
'But he was here and Lauren [Silverman] was there.'
Married life has also inspired her music, with Lucy gearing up to release new album, Other Sides Of The Moon.
The title she revealed is inspired by her love story.
Discussing her relationship with her wife, she mused: 'We'd been friends for like 10 years. Then at the same time we looked at each other and thought "I'm in love with you."
'Then I wrote the song Other Sides Of The Moon and it's about looking at the same moon.
'We'd been looking at the same moon all the time, but we were just on other sides of it. Now we're on the same side.'
Lucy's new single, The Lesson is inspired by losing loved ones.
'They teach you so much while they're alive and the only thing that they don't teach you is how to live without them,' Lucy mused.
'The album is a collection of songs from the past, songs that I wrote years ago, that I wanted to bring into now and make them sound new and more mature.
'I'm at a point now where I feel quite comfortable in myself and my voice has changed a lot and I'm a bit more adventurous.
Lucy's single The Lesson, and tickets to her UK tour in November, are out now and her album, Other Sides Of The Moon, is out June 20.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Calorie labels rarely influence takeaway choices, survey suggests
Calorie labels rarely influence takeaway choices and are unlikely to encourage people to eat more healthily, a survey suggests. A poll of 1,040 adults living in England found the majority (77%) did not notice any calorie information during their most recent online takeaway purchase, the study, led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Reading and Exeter universities and published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health, found. Of those who did, 71% said it did not affect their food choices. Instead, taste and price were ranked the most important factors when deciding which takeaway to order, while healthiness and low carbon footprint were ranked as the least important. Around 50% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that alternative interventions, such as traffic-light labels and more healthy alternatives on the menus, would encourage them to make a healthier choice. People under the age of 35 were more than twice as likely to order takeaways weekly or more often than those who were older, the poll found. The study also asked respondents to report their height and weight measurements, which the research team used to calculate body mass index (BMI) scores, finding just over half of the sample had BMI scores indicating they were living with obesity (35%) or were overweight (28%). Those with BMI scores that classed them as obese or overweight were twice as likely to have weekly or more frequent takeaways compared to those with healthy or underweight BMI scores. It is estimated almost two-thirds (63%) of adults in England are overweight or living with obesity. Current guidance recommends adults should consume around 2,000 calories a day and main meals should contain around 600 calories each. Frequent consumption of out-of-home food, including takeaways, has been linked to higher energy intake and poorer diet quality. As part of a government strategy to encourage healthier eating, calorie labelling was introduced in April 2022 for large out-of-home businesses across England, including restaurants, cafes and takeaways. As well as listing the calories for each food item, menus also need to include a statement of the recommended daily calorie intake. Associate Professor Laura Cornelsen, lead author of the study based at LSHTM, said: 'While calorie labels can encourage businesses to provide healthier options, they aren't necessarily the answer to reducing unhealthy eating and tackling obesity. 'When we asked participants what they think could improve healthy eating, they suggested for example 'buy one get one free' offers on healthier dishes and more education early on in schools on food preparation. 'These are both examples of interventions that can equip people with the knowledge to plan healthier options in a way that works with their schedule and income. 'The focus should be on tackling systemic issues, like making it simpler and more affordable to purchase healthier options, rather than adding even more pressure to consumers and families to change their choices. The onus should also be on the food industry to get creative with offering tasty and affordable meals that also meet nutrition guidelines.' Study co-author Dr Cherry Law, a food economist at the University of Reading, said: 'While awareness of calorie labelling rules is quite high, most people don't notice the information when ordering online, and even when they do it rarely changes what they choose. 'The takeaway message is that we need strategies that reflect what people care about when eating out, as calorie information alone is not enough.'
The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Starmer to co-chair Ukraine meeting after call with Trump and European leaders
Sir Keir Starmer will co-chair a meeting with pro- Ukraine allies on Wednesday after a call with US President Donald Trump and European leaders about ending the war. Sir Keir will join a virtual call at midday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. They will then be joined by Mr Trump and US vice president JD Vance. Later, the Prime Minister will co-chair a Coalition of the Willing meeting to update wider partners on the day's discussions. The Coalition of the Willing is an international effort to support Ukraine towards a lasting peace, led by the UK, France and Ukraine. It is made up of 31 countries that have pledged strengthened support for Kyiv, including 27 European countries, as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Ahead of Wednesday's call, a Downing Street spokesperson said: 'The Prime Minister remains absolutely focused on a solution to this conflict grounded in Ukraine's national interests. 'He is determined to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, backed by robust and credible security guarantees that will deter Russia from threatening Ukraine in future.' Meanwhile, Mr Vance is set to meet US troops stationed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Wednesday. The US Vice President will receive a briefing on the base's capabilities and deliver remarks. According to The Times, he will also meet Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for breakfast in the Cotswolds. This comes after meeting with shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick and shadow home secretary Chris Philip on Tuesday. The call between European and US leaders comes ahead of the expected meeting between Mr Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. The two leaders are set to meet to discuss the future of the Kremlin's invasion, without the presence of Mr Zelensky. The Ukrainian President said at a news briefing on Tuesday that Mr Putin wants Ukraine to withdraw from the remaining 30% of the Donetsk region that Kyiv controls as part of a ceasefire deal. This was conveyed to him by US officials, Mr Zelensky explained. However, he reiterated that Ukraine would not withdraw from territories it controls because it is unconstitutional and would only serve as a springboard for a future Russian invasion. Mr Trump has also signalled he thinks Ukraine might need to cede territory in order to end the conflict, stating there is likely to be 'some land-swapping going on'. Speaking during a lengthy press conference on Monday, Mr Trump pledged to 'try to get back' some of Ukraine's 'oceanfront property' from Russia. He said: 'We're going to change the lines, the battle lines. Russia has occupied a big portion of Ukraine. They've occupied some very prime territory. We're going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine. 'They have taken largely – in real estate we call it oceanfront property. That's always the most valuable property.' A statement released by the European Union on Tuesday read: 'A just and lasting peace that brings stability and security must respect international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and that international borders must not be changed by force. 'The people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future. 'The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. 'Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities.' In response, Mr Zelensky said on X (formerly Twitter): 'I am grateful to the leaders of Europe for their clear support for our independence, territorial integrity, and precisely such an active approach to diplomacy that can help end this war with a dignified peace. 'Indeed, We all support President Trump's determination, and together we must shape positions that will not allow Russia to deceive the world once again. 'We see that the Russian army is not preparing to end the war. On the contrary, they are making movements that indicate preparations for new offensive operations. 'In such circumstances, it is important that the unity of the world is not threatened. 'As long as they continue the war and the occupation, all of us together must maintain our pressure – the pressure of strength, the pressure of sanctions, the pressure of diplomacy.'
Daily Mail
9 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
CLAUDIA CONNELL: Meghan's back, with love. And the big reveal? Harry hates lobster!
Get ready to 'elevate' that ham sandwich and scatter flower sprinkles on your spag bol, because Meghan Markle is back to enrich our lives with a second series of her lifestyle show. During the first episodes of With Love, Meghan, which aired in March, the duchess's culinary tips included how to plate up a takeaway and tie a bow around a bag of shop-bought pretzels. And, if this trailer promoting series two is anything to go by, things look set to be just as ridiculous. In the same week it was revealed that Harry and Meghan's Netflix deal has been 'downgraded', the Duchess of Sussex shows her skills slicing bread, crumbling cheese, cutting a cucumber and washing fruit. Groundbreaking. 'There are easy ways to show up lovingly,' she tells the audience in her trademark gobbledygook, as she packs what look like Jammie Dodgers into a cardboard box and ties string around them. 'I love finding new ways to show people you care,' she trills. The eight-part series airs on August 26 and comes just five months after the first. Both were filmed at the same time. A 'holiday' special has been recorded too, for the Christmas period. Netflix will surely be hoping that this follow-up performs better than the first instalment, which was mercilessly mocked by critics and failed to crack the streaming giant's top 300 programmes. Netflix claims: 'Meghan returns with a fun and heartwarming new season, welcoming celebrity chefs, talented artists and beloved friends for hands-on adventures filled with laughter and discovery ... Meghan and her guests explore bold flavours, experiment with new techniques, and discover simple ways to add beauty to everyday life.' Special guests include: model and TV producer Chrissy Teigen, American chef Christina Tosi, British Michelin-starred chef Clare Smyth, restaurateur David Chang, British-Indian podcaster Jay Shetty and former Queer Eye presenter Tan France. Not quite A-list, then, and some of her guests aren't without controversies of their own. Teigen, who is married to singer John Legend and has her own food brand, Cravings, is shown in Meghan's home 'getting creative and learning something new'. 'Little things like this make me so happy,' gushes Teigen who, four years ago, had to issue an apology for her earlier cyber-bullying of US reality star Courtney Stodden, who was then just a teenager. As well as prepping food, we see Meghan arrange flowers, sit with a potter's wheel between her legs and make what might be a tea towel (it's hard to tell). Harry is nowhere to be seen –this is Meghan's baby – but he gets a passing mention when she tells chef Jose Andres that Harry doesn't eat lobster.
