Jesy Nelson And Zion Foster Split After Twins’ Diagnosis

Jesy Nelson, the former Little Mix star, has confirmed her split from fiancé Zion Foster, marking the end of a four-year relationship that has recently weathered both personal and public storms. The news comes on the heels of Nelson’s emotional revelation that the couple’s eight-month-old twin daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, have been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1—a rare and severe genetic disorder that attacks muscle strength and can drastically affect a child’s ability to move, swallow, or even breathe.

The couple’s separation, first reported by multiple outlets including Metro, The Sun, and Daily Mail, was confirmed after Nelson appeared on the ITV program This Morning on January 7, 2026, without her engagement ring. Observers quickly noted the absence of the sparkling diamond that had been front and center in the couple’s September 2025 engagement announcement. The split, while undoubtedly difficult, comes with a silver lining: Nelson and Foster remain “fully united in co-parenting,” as a source told The Sun. “She and Zion remain friends and are fully focused on their daughters. Their priority continues to be the well-being of their daughters.”

The timing of the breakup is particularly poignant. Just weeks earlier, Nelson had shared the devastating news that their twin girls were diagnosed with SMA Type 1. As she explained in a heartfelt video to her 9.7 million Instagram followers, “The girls have now been diagnosed with a severe muscle disease called SMA type one. For those of you who don’t know what SMA type one is, it’s a severe muscular disease that a baby can get. It’s done for spinal muscular atrophy, which can affect, well, it does affect every muscle in the body, down to legs, arms, breathing, swallowing.” According to BBC and the NHS, SMA Type 1 is the most severe form of the disorder, with symptoms typically appearing in infancy. These include extreme muscle weakness, difficulties with swallowing, and respiratory challenges. Without intervention, the disease can be fatal in early childhood.

The diagnosis followed a turbulent pregnancy for Nelson. The twins were born prematurely in May 2025 after Nelson endured months of hospital monitoring and underwent emergency surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, a rare and life-threatening complication. Despite the ordeal, both babies survived, but it soon became clear that something was amiss. Nelson recounted, “At first, since the doctors had told me that they were born premature, so they would not hit the same milestones as other babies, I was not worried. However, after my mother pointed out their symptoms again and again, I finally went through a lot of doctor's appointments, after which my daughters were finally diagnosed.”

Ocean Jade and Story Monroe are now under the care of Great Ormond Street Hospital, one of the UK’s leading pediatric centers. There, the twins received a one-off, NHS-approved gene therapy infusion. As Nelson explained on This Morning, “They've had treatment now, thank God, that is a one-off infusion. It essentially puts the gene back in their body that they don't have and it stops any of the muscles that are still working from dying. But any that have gone, you can't regain them back.” She stressed the importance of early intervention, noting that untreated SMA Type 1 can drastically shorten life expectancy. “I just want to reiterate that if this is caught from birth, it's just life-changing.”

Nelson’s openness about her daughters’ diagnosis has sparked a wave of public support and ignited a new campaign. She is now advocating for SMA Type 1 to be included in the NHS newborn blood spot screening test, commonly known as the heel prick test. Currently, the test screens for nine rare but serious health conditions, but not SMA. “I have this platform, and I almost feel like I've got a duty of care to raise awareness about it,” Nelson told This Morning. “A little part of me feels—it feels selfish to keep this to myself and not potentially save a child's life.”

Her campaign has already gained traction, with Scotland announcing plans to add SMA to its screening program from the spring. The UK National Screening Committee, meanwhile, is reassessing its position in light of new treatments. Foster, for his part, has publicly praised Nelson’s advocacy. In a recent Instagram post, he wrote, “Jesy addressing a huge flaw in our healthcare system is the definition of a superwoman. Reality is, it's indefensible and needs to be changed, simple. Test kids at birth for SMA in the UK now that there are revolutionary treatments available.”

The couple’s journey—marked by love, music, and now, shared adversity—has played out in the public eye. After years of friendship, Nelson and Foster began dating in January 2022. Their relationship, though not without its ups and downs (including a brief split in 2023), culminated in a romantic beachside engagement in September 2025. They celebrated their partnership both personally and professionally, even releasing the R&B track “Mine” following Nelson’s departure from Polydor Records.

Yet, as life threw new challenges their way, the couple’s focus shifted entirely to their daughters. Foster recently shared a self-written poem reflecting on the realities of parenting children with SMA. “They said it's unlikely you'll walk, you may not be able to talk, probably won't be able to hold your head up, that's what me and Jesy heard—SMA Type 1. And it became so clear, doctors only go near what they can measure, so what's certain?... Honestly, my worry isn't the milestones, isn't forcing life to live a different way. My worry is quieter than that, deeper. It's about accepting you, loving you for who you are right now, without conditions. No matter what tomorrow brings, and no matter what yesterday was.”

Despite the end of their romantic relationship, both Nelson and Foster remain resolute in their commitment to their daughters. “They are fully united in co-parenting. Their priority continues to be the well-being of their daughters,” reiterated a source to The Sun and Daily Mail. The couple’s story is a testament to resilience, love, and the fierce determination that comes with parenthood—especially in the face of unimaginable odds.

As Nelson continues her campaign for SMA screening and adapts to her new reality, she has become a powerful advocate for families facing similar challenges. “When you know that there is something that can be done about it and it is life-changing to your child, that's the part that I cannot accept and that is why I'm going to shout to the rooftops about this,” she said. For Nelson and Foster, the future may look different than they once imagined, but their shared commitment to their daughters—and to raising awareness for SMA—remains unwavering.

With their story shining a spotlight on both the struggles and strengths of modern families, Jesy Nelson and Zion Foster’s journey continues to inspire, reminding us all of the power of unity, even in the face of heartbreak.