A woman who went to school with Jessie J described what she was like as a teenager. Jessie J was born in Chadwell Heath and called herself an 'Essex girl'.

She became a huge star after releasing hits like Do It Like a Dude and Price Tag. She performed in Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End production of Whistle Down the Wind at 11.

At 16, she studied at the BRIT School and graduated with Adele and Leona Lewis. Her career went well, winning awards like the 2011 Critics' Choice Brit Award.

She appeared as a coach on The Voice UK, The Voice Australia, and The Voice Kids UK.

She planned a comeback to music in 2025, eight years after her last album, before being diagnosed with breast cancer.

She found a lump while preparing for the BAFTA's and got it checked.

She told fans she had surgery to remove one breast and needed a second surgery.

She canceled her tour dates while waiting for reconstructive surgery.

She returned to the stage for her No Secrets Tour and seems to be doing well.

What was she like when younger? A social media user who went to school with her shared her story on Reddit. She went to secondary school with the singer.

The user said she went to secondary school with Jessie J, who was a year above her, and they had mutual friends.

Jessie J was really sweet, never mean or competitive with other girls, and quite shy. She won every talent show but never showed off.

Another user remembered watching a festival on TV and Jessie J introducing her band, seeming genuinely nice.

A second user followed Jessie J when she was starting out, watching videos of her singing in her room, and thought she was nice and humble.