Jade Thirlwall revealed she ‘enjoyed’ finding love with Jordan Stephens while in lockdown.
The Little Mix singer, 27, gushed about meeting the Rizzle Kicks star, 28, earlier this year, saying she hadn’t been ‘looking for anyone’ at the time as she was relishing her independence.
Speaking in Metro‘s Guilty Pleasures column on Friday, she explained: ‘I ended up meeting someone in lockdown which is strange… I quite enjoyed doing it that way.
Candid: Jade Thirlwall said she ‘enjoyed’ finding love with Jordan Stepens in lockdown as she admitted on Friday that she’d been relishing her independence before she met him
‘We had real dates and really got to know each other. I wouldn’t say I was looking for anyone at the time.
‘I was happy to be in lockdown because I am independent. I think you can still strive in your singleness in lockdown.’
Jade, who split from her ex Jed Elliott after three years together last July, said it was ‘really important’ to her to be with someone who supported her and felt she was a ‘good match’ with Jordan.
Independent: Jade gushed about meeting the Rizzle Kicks star earlier this year, saying she hadn’t been ‘looking for anyone at the time’ before they went on socially distanced dates
In a conversation with iconic drag queen, RuPaul Charles, for Cosmopolitan Magazine, in October, Jade gushed over her ‘perfect’ boyfriend’s love of drag culture which she said cemented her affection for him.
She said: ‘It’s really important for me that whoever I find relationship-wise loves drag culture.
‘When I first started talking to my boyfriend, I discovered he did a movie where he played a drag queen and I was like, right, that’s it.
‘He’s perfect. Sign me up! A straight man who’s willing to dress in drag and loves being queer and feminine.’
Her love: In a conversation with iconic drag queen, RuPaul Charles in October, Jade gushed over her ‘perfect’ boyfriend’s love of drag culture, saying it cemented her affection for him
She said: ‘When I first started talking to my boyfriend, I discovered he did a movie where he played a drag queen and I was like, right, that’s it’
Jordan plays young queer performer Faith in new drama, Tucked. Faith is befriended by Jackie (Derren Nesbitt), who is a stalwart of Brighton’s gay scene with the pair forming a heartwarming bond.
Jade and Jordan were said to have their first socially distanced date in May.
A source told The Sun at the time: ‘Jade has been open to dating for a while now but it can be hard to find the time to meet people usually.
‘While stuck at home she started messaging Jordan and they have been getting on but it’s still really early days.
Must-see: Jordan plays young queer performer Faith in new drama, Tucked. Faith is befriended by Jackie (Derren Nesbitt), who is a stalwart of Brighton’s gay scene with the pair forming a heartwarming bond
‘They met up for a walk on Tuesday afternoon to chat and get to know each other which was nice but nothing has happened between them yet.’
The source added with lockdown in place, Jade and Jordan are going to have to take things slow since they are not even allowed to kiss.
A representative for Jade declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline while Jordan’s representatives were also contacted at the time.
Love: Jade and Jordan went public with their relationship at the Black Trans Lives Matter march in London in July (pictured)
The date marks the first hint of a new romance for the Little Mix singer since she split from her ex Jed, the Struts frontman is now living in the US with his new girlfriend Ginny Gardner.
Jordan was previously dating Paolo Nutini’s ex girlfriend Amber Anderson although they are believed to have gone their separate ways earlier this year.
In July, Jade and Jordan went public with their relationship at the Black Trans Lives Matter march in London.
Jordan was pictured wrapping his arm around Jade as they watched a demonstration take place.
Exes: The date marks the first hint of a new romance for the Little Mix singer since she split from her ex Jed Elliott after three years together last July (pictured February 2019)