Lola Young has confessed that the ‘public scrutiny is too much’ as she is set to receive the Best New Sound of the Year award at the ELLE Style Awards 2025.
The Messy singer, 24, has revealed that some time the ‘bad’ comments people leave about her are so intense she avoid going online since she rose to fame.
As she posed up a storm in a long, black, leather dress for the cover of Elle magazine’s UK October issue.
Opening up to the publication, she explained that is can be too much when people target her insecurities.
She said: ”It’s tricky. I used to watch others go through it and wonder what it felt like. Now I know. I’ve spoken with artists like Jorja Smith about the scrutiny.
‘When you get a million comments, it’s hard not to let the bad ones in. Some days I can’t go online – the intensity and the remarks that target your insecurities can be too much. But I know what I stand for.
Lola Young has confessed ‘public scrutiny is too much’ as she is set to receive the Best New Sound of the Year award at the ELLE Style Awards 2025
The Messy singer, 24, has revealed that some time the ‘bad’ comment people leave about her are so intense she avoid going online since she rose to fame
‘There’s no façade or alter ego. I’m just promoting who I am. Some people don’t like that.’
‘It’s been hard at times, but mostly amazing. You can’t catch the moments between your fingers – they pass too quickly. Honestly, it’s been a dream come true. Having a number one that became one of the biggest songs in the world… it’s weird to even talk about.’
She also explained that she has tried to be open from the start about she feels when asked about the importance of being open about mental health.
‘That conversation wasn’t happening 10 or 20 years ago, but now artists are speaking up for their safety and mental health’, she said.
‘I’ve tried to be open from the start. I just think we should break down the stigma around this idea that you just jump on a show and you’re off. People don’t see what happens behind the scenes.
‘I still have really bad days, but through music I can always find joy. They can coexist. If I picture my inner child, the girl playing guitar at 14, I know she’d be shocked but proud. I try to link it back to that: this is my dream, and I have to continue.’
Lola explained she has attempted to stay true to herself and using fashion as a mean of self-expression as she said she ‘hates’ it when people say certain fashion trends are ‘unacceptable’.
She confessed: ‘One thing I hate is people telling others that a fashion trend is unacceptable. Wear whatever the f**k you want.
As she posed up a storm in a long, black, leather dress for the cover of Elle magazine’s UK October issue
Opening up to the publication, she explained that is can be too much when people target her insecurities
She also explained that she has tried to be open from the start about she feels when asked about the importance of being open about mental health
Lola explained she has attempted to stay true to herself and using fashion as a mean of self-expression as she said she ‘hates’ it when people say certain fashion trends are ‘unacceptable’
‘I dress for how I feel. Recently, I’ve been exploring more colour. Being confident is what matters.’
She also opened up on her recent show at Wembley stadium after a faulty earpiece left her in tears.
‘It was actually horrible, but it made for a really good f*cking video, I guess’, she confessed.
‘I couldn’t hear the music because the transmitter didn’t connect. I had to take my earpiece out and the bounce-back threw me out of time.
‘But I pulled it back. I’ve been performing for a long time – I wasn’t going to walk off stage. That’s my ethos. Things won’t always be perfect.’
Lola also opened up on her upbringing and how her musical household helped her but her circles have stayed the same since rising to fame.
She said: ‘I didn’t grow up with loads of money. My mum and stepdad are proud, and I support them where I can.
‘I’m from a musical household and started piano early. A lot has changed, but so much has stayed the same. I have the same friends, the same family, the same sisters stealing my clothes. That grounds me.
‘I never want to let the glitz and glamour take my head to a different place. You can get swept away quickly – it’s terrifying.
‘When you’re living a more luxurious life – being brought out to a fancy boat by a brand or something – you realise how many different pockets of the world exist and it’s easy to lose yourself.
‘People treat you differently. They know who you are before you walk in. I’ve never spoken about this before, but it’s something I’m still grappling with.
‘It’s strange. You have to know who you can turn to – who’ll tell you when you’re being a shit.’
Earlier this year Lola was forced to address allegations she is a ‘nepo baby’ or an ‘industry plant‘ after fans discovered her aunt is Julia Donaldson, the author behind the beloved children’s book The Gruffalo.
People also hit out, calling Lola an ‘industry plant,’ which is someone who presents as organically growing their fame but have actually been set up by a label.
Appearing on Capital Buzz, host Sam Pearce asked the rising star: ‘Something that happens any time an artist blows up, the term industry plant gets thrown around, and obviously people have no idea that you’ve been working since 2019. How do you feel about that term?’
Hitting back at the ‘losers that comment rubbish,’ Lola quipped: ‘No, they don’t know, otherwise they wouldn’t be saying that. I think it is just the most stupid term.
‘I think there are cases of industry plants but so what? It doesn’t mean they’re not talented and it doesn’t take away from anything.
‘People are saying I’m a nepo baby because my great Aunt wrote The Gruffalo. I mean what kind of rubbish is that?’
She continued: ‘I have so much to say on that which I can’t even talk about. But I’m not a nepo baby, I’m not an industry plant, there we go I said it.
‘I’ve cleared that up for all those losers that want to comment rubbish on the internet. Just find something better to do, you’re sad, you’re lonely.
Earlier this year Lola was forced to address allegations she is a ‘nepo baby’ or an ‘industry plant ‘ after fans discovered her aunt is author Julia Donaldson
‘The thing is industry plant is just a term for other artists and other people to use who just don’t know what they’re doing in life and feel upset that someone else is having their moment.
‘And if you are an industry plant, you’re not going to have your moment for that long, unfortunately.
‘And maybe sometimes you will, it just doesn’t matter, none of these things matter. If someone’s got talent, then they’ve got talent.’
She then clarified: ‘Yeah, and I’m also not an industry plant at all by the way.’