**Jamelia has revealed how a soap storyline gave her a strength to leave an abusive relationship. **
The 35-year-old confessed that the violence still affects her now, during a discussion on ITV’s Loose women.
Singer Jamelia said: “I have been in a domestically abusive relationship in the past and effects are lifelong – over 15 years and I still to this day suffer from that relationship. I support anything that goes to break that cycle.”
Jamelia confessed Little Mo's storyline in EastEnders helped her
She and her fellow panelists were talking about new measures that will see those found guilty of domestic violence counselled through their issues.
Addressing the 2002 EastEnders storyline involving Little Mo and her abusive husband Trevor, Jamelia continued: “That was what gave me the strength to get out of that relationship.
“I had a small baby and I thought, ‘That can’t be me’.”
She added: “You loose your self-esteem, it’s like you can’t function, and it needs to be on the map, it needs to be discussed, it needs to be out there – people need to be able to speak out and get support.”
Mum-of-two Jamelia previously opened up about the relationship, admitting the fear of the man – who she started dating when she was 18 – stopped her from leaving.
She told the Mirror: “I think he was stupid and cowardly for making me suffer… He could’ve killed me, of course.
“The scariest thing was leaving. The psychological fear is much worse than being hit.”
Jamelia and the former partner share daughter Teja, now 12, and it was their daughter who gave her the final push she needed to take herself out of the abusive situation.