Little Mix star Perrie Edwards - who is from Weymouth - has welcomed her first child with footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The singer shared the news on Instagram, posting a black and white close-up photo of the baby’s hand on its face, and another of the child’s foot resting on her partner’s hand.
She wrote: “Welcome to the world baby 21/08/21.”
Edwards, 28, announced she was pregnant in May, sharing a photo of her bump on Instagram alongside the caption: “So happy to be on this wild journey with my soulmate. Me + Him = You. We can’t wait to meet you baby Ox!”
A second photo showed Oxlade-Chamberlain, who she has been in a relationship with since early 2017, cradling her from behind.
He wrote on his own page: “Anyone got any advice on how to change nappies? so grateful and excited to become a dad. bring on the sleepless nights.”
Edwards confirmed their romance in February 2017 after weeks of speculation, sharing a photo on Instagram showing them kissing in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
She captioned the shot: “Him.”
Perrie Edwards’ celebrity lifestyle may seem worlds away from rural Dorset.
But the Cannonball and Wings singer, named after Steve Perry from rock band Journey, spent her younger days attending Radipole Primary School in Weymouth.
She honed her dance moves at June Hornby’s Weymouth Dance Studio – mastering tap and ballet at the Derby Street studio.
Since Perrie first took to the X Factor stage in 2011 as part of Rhythmix – as Little Mix were originally known on the show – support from the Weymouth community has been strong.
Her aunt and cousins, who still live in Weymouth, and the Radipole school community voted to keep Perrie and the band in the competition each week.
Little Mix formed on The X Factor in 2011 and have become one of the country’s biggest-selling girl bands.
Perrie auditioned for X Factor as a solo singer but was asked to form a group with three other hopefuls – Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jesy Nelson.
Little Mix went on to become the first girl band – and group – to win the ITV singing show.
They left Simon Cowell’s Syco Music for the RCA label in November 2018.
Jesy Nelson left the group last December, saying the high-profile role had “taken a toll” on her mental health.
Speaking to the Echo in 2014, Radipole headteacher Veronique Singer said: “There are a few members of staff still here who were at the school when Perrie was here.
“Some people have got photos of when she was here in reception.”
Perrie’s mum Debbie Dufty said: “We used to live in Dorchester Road and Perrie and her brother Jonnie went to Radipole Primary School, they both went to Whizz Kids activity club at the United Reform Church.
“I had to move back to South Shields as I couldn’t get a job in Weymouth but all my family are still there and we visit regularly.”
Perrie said: “I loved living in Weymouth. I would go on the beach with my mum and grandfather and cousins and mum would bury us in the sand and make us into sand mermaids and stuff.”
Pre-covid, Perrie was a regular visitor to Weymouth for the resort’s famed New Year costumed celebrations.
She dressed as a rocker to welcome in 2012 in Weymouth and brought then-boyfriend 1D singer Zayn Malik to town to see in 2014.
She said: “I love Weymouth and like to come down as often as I can. I have friends there and like spending time there. And I always get recognised. Although I spent more time in South Shields I can walk round and no one knows who I am, but in Weymouth people are always coming up to say hello.”
Perrie's bandmate Leigh-Anne Pinnock is also expecting a baby, with footballer fiance Andre Gray.
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