Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson displayed her collection of tattoos in a striking new photograph shared on social media this Tuesday. The 34-year-old singer posed confidently in a crop top, revealing intricate inkings including a delicate rose and the top of a tattoo that reads 'Once upon a time'. Her makeup was kept light and natural, with her hair styled into a sleek ponytail for the candid snap.
Bittersweet SMA Screening Announcement
Just days after sharing her tattoo photo, Jesy Nelson delivered a significant yet bittersweet update regarding spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) screening in England. On Friday, the singer revealed that despite progress in newborn testing, the implementation remains a 'postcode lottery' that determines whether babies receive this crucial screening.
Personal Connection to SMA Campaign
Jesy's advocacy stems from her deeply personal experience as a mother. Her nine-month-old twin daughters, Ocean and Story, were diagnosed with SMA Type 1 in January this year. This rare muscle-wasting condition means the girls are unlikely to ever walk and require specialist equipment to assist with breathing at night, along with feeding tubes for nutrition.
The late diagnosis of her daughters has fueled Jesy's determination to campaign for earlier detection. 'My girls were diagnosed with SMA Type 1 and unfortunately they weren't tested at birth because it wasn't here in England,' she explained in a recent video update to her followers.
Progress and Limitations of New Screening
Despite the UK's National Screening Committee rejecting calls to introduce checks for another muscular disease in January, Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced significant plans this Wednesday. Beginning in October 2026, more than 400,000 babies in England will be screened for spinal muscular atrophy as part of expanded newborn testing.
However, Jesy highlighted the geographical limitations of this rollout. 'It is bittersweet because basically they are only doing it in certain areas of England, so if you do not live in that certain postcode or part of England then your baby won't be tested for SMA, which is really sad,' she told her audience.
The Postcode Lottery Reality
The singer emphasized the inequality of the current approach, stating: 'It's essentially a postcode lottery for your baby which shouldn't be the case. All babies lives matter, so as amazing as it is there is still a long way to go in terms of that.'
Jesy expressed gratitude for the progress made through public support, noting that a petition with 100,000 signatures will now be debated in Parliament. 'That is all down to you guys so thank you so so much, you're incredible and I am so appreciated of all the support and love,' she said.
Medical Context and Personal Struggles
Spinal muscular atrophy is a serious genetic condition where muscles progressively weaken and waste away due to a missing gene. Without timely treatment, the condition affects breathing, swallowing, and other vital functions, with many children not surviving beyond age two.
Jesy has been candid about the emotional toll of caring for her daughters. She previously described the daily medical procedures as heartbreaking, saying the twins' cries and screams during treatments make her feel like she's hurting them. 'Every day is so full-on - I can speak about it, but I'll never be able to explain how intense it is until you see it,' she shared.
Hope and Determination
Despite the devastating prognosis, Jesy remains hopeful about her daughters' future. 'My girls are the strongest, most resilient babies and I really believe that they are going to defy all the odds,' she said during an appearance on Jamie Laing's Great Company podcast.
The singer has continued filming her Prime Video series despite the challenges, explaining: 'When the girls got their diagnosis, we decided that we wanted to continue filming. As hard as it was, we were like, "You know what? There's a reason you guys are here, and we've got to make the best out of this situation."'
NHS Screening Expansion Details
The new screening initiative represents a significant expansion of the NHS's current 'heel prick' test program, which currently checks newborns for just ten treatable conditions including cystic fibrosis. In a letter to Jesy Nelson and Giles Lomax, chief executive of SMA UK, Health Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed the accelerated timeline, stating screening would begin in October this year rather than January 2025 as previously planned.
Jesy celebrated this as a 'major milestone' for the SMA community, acknowledging that 'this has been going on for years trying to get this passed, so yeah it is a real proud moment.' However, she emphasized that her campaign will continue until screening is available to all babies across England, not just those in specific postcode areas.
