X Factor winners Little Mix caused shoppers to stop and stare as they met screaming fans at a Leeds shopping centre.
Around 500 people queued at the White Rose Centre to meet the girl band, with excited Courtney Tinker, 15, and mum Tracey, from Mirfield, first in line.
The foursome, who sprung to fame last year after being the first group to win the X Factor, told the Yorkshire Evening Post they were keen to promote the Spice Girls’ ‘girl power’ message.
They were in Leeds signing copies of their new book Ready to Fly, which they told the Yorkshire Evening Post gave the inside scoop on their lives.
“The book is about our journey from the beginning until now,” said Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
“There’s lots about our childhood, our aspirations and our X Factor journey.”
Perrie Edwards promised there would be details their fans didn’t already know – and added that despite their tender ages, they still had plenty of material for their book.
“We have gone through so much over the past year,” she said.
“We have got so much to write about. We were solo artists at the beginning and got thrown together. We could just write a book about the X Factor experience as so much happened.”
They said they’d used influences from their favourite artists to help create the unique Little Mix sound of their debut album, out next month.
Leigh-Anne added: “We do take influences from people, we don’t want to copy anyone but we listen to a lot of girl bands and take inspiration from that.
“We like Beyonce, Destiny’s Child, and we take influences from them and make our own sound.
“It was so important that we did establish our own sound.”
Perrie added: “We love the message that the Spice Girls had.”
She said they were “really lucky” to work with some of the biggest names from other girl bands on their debut, including Nicola Roberts from Girls Aloud, Shaznay Lewis from All Saints and T-Boz from TLC.
And the group explained that Little Mix turned the so-called ‘girl band curse’ of the X Factor – before their win no all-female group had ever done well – to their advantage.
“It made us even more determined,” said Jade Thirlwall.
“We are just four normal girls and people could really relate to us.”
Jesy Nelson added that they especially enjoyed meeting their fans.
“They’re always bringing us little gifts – it’s so sweet.”
Waiting downstairs in the centre to meet them, those in the queue said they liked that the girls were so down-to-earth.
Emma Shaw, from Cookridge, and friends Zoe Spink and Ellie Martin said Little Mix were “amazing”.
“They are really talented and inspirational,” said Emma, 15.
“They don’t let what people say change them.”
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