Lady Leshurr – Recruit Number 9
Category: Press Pack ArticleMelesha O’Garro, better known as Lady Leshurr, is an award-winning British rapper and singer, who has become a trailblazer in the grime scene. Known for her sharp lyrical skills and fierce delivery, Lady Leshurr's career has seen her win multiple MOBO Awards, including Best Female Act in 2016, Best Rap/Grime Act in 2019, and Best Solo Female in 2020. Her influence in the UK rap scene is undeniable, and she has become one of the genre’s most respected figures.
In addition to her music career, Lady Leshurr has made a significant impact in other areas, becoming the first British Black woman to lead an Olay commercial, as well as competing in Dancing on Ice, where she reached the semifinals in 2021.
However, Lady Leshurr's journey has not been without its struggles. After a highly publicised wrongful accusation and a year-long legal battle, she found herself at a crossroads both personally and professionally. The challenges, including the loss of her sister to cancer in 2019 and the trauma of a wrongful arrest, have shaped her into the woman she is today. Despite the setbacks, she remains determined to rebuild her life and career, stepping out of the shadows with renewed strength.
With a background that spans musical accolades, personal hardships, and newfound spiritual growth, Lady Leshurr is now focused on re-establishing herself in the music industry. “I’ve lost everything that once defined me, and now I’m ready to come back strong. It’s time to step out of the shadows and feel something again. This journey is either going to make me or break me,” she says. “But I’m ready. I have to be.”
Why did you want to take on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins?
I choose to take part in TV shows that I know I'm going to get something out of. I was in a point in my life where I'm getting older and I don't want to get too old when my joints aren't working and I can't run too good. So I thought this was the best time for me to go on the show and just develop myself and become the best version of myself.
What did you hope to get out of the experience?
I've always been petrified of heights and water. That's my biggest thing. And that's what SAS is all about. So I wanted to take on some of my fears. I felt like I had something to prove to myself. I had to prove to myself that what I was telling myself wasn’t as bad as it seems, so jumping off something from a great height, I’m going to be OK. It was about building my character.
Did you do any preparation ahead of filming?
I was going to the gym at the time, and I hate the gym. But I was just doing things in my life at that period where I was trying to push myself to be the better person.
I also went back and watched old episodes of the series to remind myself what I was getting into.
How did you get on with the other recruits?
I just felt like everyone was really supportive of each other. That's one thing I noticed. There were times I thought I was slowing everyone down and was thinking I should step aside. But Troy, Conor and Adam would literally be like, ‘Don’t quit, are you stupid? Keeping moving’. That just made me focus. They were so supportive. To be honest, the person that I really bonded with was Conor. He’s got great banter and is a lot of fun to be around. It just made me realise you can’t judge people by what you see of them on TV.
Did you learn anything from the DS?
Did I learn anything? I think it was just to not give up. They were trying to get into my head because that's what they have to do. They have to see if you are at make or break, basically. A lot of the time they were shouting and screaming, but I came from a background where that happened a lot so that's not something that's going to put me off.
What challenged you the most, the physical or mental side of the course?
I think it was both. But as much as it might just look like the physical, a lot of the mental was playing on me because I was laying there sometimes when everyone else is sleeping and I was just thinking about the outside world and I was just like, damn, I’m missing my family and stuff. I would get really emotional and that’s tough to deal with on top of all the physical stuff you’re doing all day.
How would you sum up your SAS experience?
It was the best experience. I left that show feeling like I was ready to take on the world. That's how it made me feel. It was one of the best shows I've been on because it tested my patience and it made me become a powerhouse inside. I wouldn’t change a single thing about it.