Keisha Buchanan, the last original member of Sugababes to leave the band in 2009, later reunited with co-founders Siobhán Donaghy and Mutya Buena, successfully reclaiming the group's name a decade later. Despite persistent speculation about behind-the-scenes friction, the vocalist has now opened up about the personal challenges she has faced in recent years.
Widely rumoured to be the Masked Singer finalist "Moth", Keisha revealed that much of her life went unreported. “I've dealt with a lot of personal struggles since 2016. A lot of depression and anxiety and things of that nature,” she said.
The 41-year-old described herself as a perfectionist, admitting she started and shelved multiple projects during her time away from the public eye. “There have just been a lot of things that have impacted my mental health for many, many years. And from 2016, it became more apparent that there was something that didn’t feel right about me,” she explained.
Keisha also alluded to a damaging relationship that affected her wellbeing, revealing someone close to her “was greatly impacting” her mental state. Reflecting on that period, she added: “I think it’s important that when you are not feeling like yourself or are in difficult situations—whether in friendships, in business, whatever it is—it’s important just to take care of yourself.”
Keisha co-founded Sugababes with Donaghy and Buena in 1998. Their debut single, Overload, reached number six on the UK Singles Chart in 2000 and earned a BRIT Award nomination for Best Single.
Donaghy left the group the following year amid reported tensions, while Buena departed in 2005 after struggling with postnatal depression and the pressures of touring and recording. Keisha herself left in September 2009, later stating it was “not her choice” and that “a breakdown in communication and lack of trust can result in many different things.”
The band continued to find commercial success with a new line-up, but the original trio reunited in 2011 and formally reclaimed the Sugababes name in 2019. Since then, they have released one album—2022’s The Lost Tapes, featuring material recorded between 2011 and 2013.
Looking ahead, Keisha expressed excitement about making new music with her bandmates after a challenging period. “I decided that I was going to take care of myself. I had so many wonderful things happening. Me and the girls got the name Sugababes back, and we were able to launch music and do some amazing things that we never thought were even on the radar,” she said.
She admitted, however, that ongoing “personal issues” have made it difficult to fully embrace the group’s resurgence. “My vulnerability and my open heart have led to opening doors to people and things that could definitely destroy a person,” she explained.
Keisha also revealed that she is experiencing single life for the first time in years and has drifted from some long-term friendships. Despite this, she remains optimistic: “I'm looking forward to everything this new chapter brings.”
