Songfacts®:

• Jade Thirlwall's "It Girl" is the kind of pulsing, high-energy electro-pop number that feels like it could single-handedly power a small city. Behind the boisterous beats, though, lies a sharp commentary on her journey through the music industry and the prickly, paradoxical nature of fame.
• For those unfamiliar with Jade's origin story, she auditioned for The X Factor three times before finally earning a spot in Little Mix during her third try aged 18. Recalling her stint on the talent search program, Jade said she didn't know anyone who came away from the show without "some sort of mental health issue." This experience fuels the lyrics, a searing critique of what it means to be a woman in the spotlight:
  
  Sign on the line for me
  Baby, smile, but don't show your teeth
  Say 'Goodbye' to autonomy
  Now your body belongs to me
  
  And just in case the message isn't clear, she signs off with a jab worthy of the X Factor stage itself:
  
  It's a no from me
  
  If that phrase rings a bell, it's because it was Simon Cowell's signature dismissal on the show. Jade doubles down on her critique of the industry, having previously poked at its exploitative nature in her debut solo single "Angel Of My Dreams" with the line:
  
  Sellin' my soul to a psycho
• "It Girl" isn't all about settling scores. As Jade told The Independent: "There's still so much people don't know about me, so I was eager to surprise people, poke the bear a bit. I have to write about my experiences – I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It is, you know, my reality."
• Jade co-wrote the song on February 9, 2023, with songwriters JHart and Lauren Aquilina, and producers Cirkut and Lostboy.
  
  James John "JHart" Abrahart Jr. is a British songwriter, producer, and arranger based in Los Angeles. He has worked with many popular artists, including Justin Bieber, 5 Seconds of Summer and Cher. JHart previously co-wrote the Little Mix tracks "Power," "Your Love," "The National Manthem" and "My Love Won't Let You Down."
  
  Lauren Aquilina is a Maltese-English singer and songwriter with credits on songs by the likes of Becky Hill, and Rina Sawayama. She co-wrote the Little Mix tracks "Love (Sweet Love)" and "Cut You Off."
  
  Henry Walter, known professionally as Cirkut, is a Canadian producer who has worked with artists like Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Maroon 5 and The Weeknd.
  
  Peter Rycroft, known as Lostboy, is a British songwriter and music producer. He has worked with artists such as Tiësto, Tom Grennan, and Ellie Goulding. He produced and co-wrote Kylie Minogue's "Padam Padam," for which he won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Pop Dance Recording.
• Originally, "It Girl" was titled "That's Showbiz, Baby" until fans suggested otherwise.
• The "It Girl" visualizer was directed by Fa & Fon and shot in London on June 29, 2024. We see Jade gleefully smashing plates in a china store while dancing in front of an unimpressed man. The chaotic, theatrical imagery matches the song's themes of defiance and reclaiming control.