Jesy Nelson has shared stunning bikini throwback photographs from a recent holiday, but behind the glamorous snaps, the singer is continuing an emotional campaign to improve the future of children diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
The former Little Mix star, 35, revealed in January that her one-year-old twin daughters Ocean and Story had been diagnosed with SMA Type 1, a rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and can affect movement, breathing, and swallowing.
Since their diagnosis, Jesy has campaigned for newborn SMA screening to be introduced across England, arguing that early detection could allow treatment to begin sooner and improve outcomes for affected children.
Sharing memories from her getaway with friends, Jesy posted bikini snaps on Instagram alongside the caption: 'Take me back.'
The emotional update came after she revealed she was left 'heartbroken and outraged' following a parliamentary debate over nationwide SMA screening.
Jesy Nelson Speaks Out After SMA Screening Setback
Jesy attended Parliament after launching a petition calling for newborn SMA screening to be rolled out across England. The petition gained more than 150,000 signatures and prompted MPs to debate the issue.
The outcome left Jesy and many SMA families disappointed, with only 72 percent of England expected to have access to newborn screening when it begins in October. The remaining 28 percent will not be included in the first stage.
Areas expected to miss out include Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, Liverpool, Oxford, and Portsmouth.
Speaking after the debate, Jesy questioned why access to potentially life-changing screening should depend on where a child is born.
She said: 'I'm going to be completely honest, I was absolutely fuming. I feel so let down.
'It's sad. It's so sad, like our children's lives could look so different, and to know that we are still debating it. We are debating whether SMA future children should be disabled or not.
'Based on where you live, how does that make sense? How is that fair?'
The staggered rollout follows advice from the UK National Screening Committee, which said further assessment was needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme and its impact on NHS resources.
Singer Shares Reality of Life With SMA Type 1
Jesy has repeatedly highlighted how early diagnosis and treatment can change the lives of children with SMA.
The condition affects motor neurons responsible for controlling muscles, causing progressive weakness. In severe cases such as SMA Type 1, children can develop difficulties with movement, breathing, and swallowing.
During her campaign, Jesy shared a video showing sisters Maisie and Amelia, who both have SMA but experienced different outcomes. One was treated from birth and is able to run, while the other uses a wheelchair.
Jesy said she showed the footage to Sharon Hodgson, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Health and Social Care, who reacted: 'Wow, is that what the treatment does? Wow.'
The singer has also revealed the challenges of caring for her daughters, explaining that SMA has affected their ability to move independently.
'They could have been walking by now. They didn't have to be on breathing machines, they didn't have to have coughing machines', she said.
Jesy explained she gives her daughters medication every four hours, turns them every two hours and monitors them closely because SMA can affect swallowing muscles.
She added: 'I have to make sure they're not choking. I have to watch them so closely to make sure that they don't choke on their own saliva.'
Jesy ended her message by calling for a clear timeline for nationwide screening, saying: 'When are we going to get answers? And when is this going to change? Because this cannot go on.'
