Jessie J: Stroke made me who I am

Singer Jessie J says having a minor stroke made her the artist she is today. The Who You Are hitmaker — who suffered a stroke at the age of 18 — says dealing with her health problems gave her the courage to be herself in the music industry.

“I think what happened to be with my health in the past – when I was younger I had a minor stroke – it made me realise that you can’t guarantee life every day,” she said.

“However old you are, however much you love life, however happy you are, however healthy you are, it doesn’t matter, nothing’s guaranteed. And I think it made me want to take that risk to expose myself as me and not as a version of myself.

“I don’t become Jessie J. I might put a nice pair of heels on and a cooler outfit but I’m still that naughty girl who likes a slice of cheesecake on my day off.

“Music is my drug and the only drug I’ll ever want. The clean living thing is a bit drastic — I won’t say I’ll never have a glass of champagne to say well done or whatever. I’m not someone who’s anti, I just can’t depend on it.

“To be honest, ask my girlfriends and they’ll all tell you I’ll have half a shandy and I’m done.”

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