Why I’m a Celebrity 2024 contestant Tulisa left the spotlight after The X Factor
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Tulisa Contostavlos is one of the 10 well-known personalities taking on the challenges of the Australian outback in the 2024 edition of I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
The 36-year-old N-Dubz vocalist was announced as a participant last week, joining Coleen Rooney and Danny Jones from McFly. You can check out the complete lineup for I’m a Celeb here.
"I'm quite sensitive and I tend to be emotional," Contostavlos shared about her expectations for the experience in the jungle. "I imagine I’ll have a tough time during the initial days, as taking on something like this is a significant challenge for me."
"I haven't found myself in the spotlight like this for a long time, and I've been steering clear of it due to some unfounded fears," she said. "I expect to feel the most emotional when I first step in. It might take me a little time to adapt, but I'm confident that I'll overcome it."
Contostavlos gained widespread attention when the hip hop group she formed with her cousin Dappy and their friend Fazer won the Mobo award for best newcomer in 2007. That same year, N-Dubz signed a contract with Polydor, and their first album achieved double platinum status, featuring four singles that made it into the UK top 40, such as "Ouch," "Papa Can You Hear Me?" and "Strong Again."
The trio's achievements kept growing. In 2009, N-Dubz launched their second album, "Against All Odds," which went platinum and featured their first top-10 hit, "I Need You." That year, they also scored their first UK number one by collaborating with Tinchy Stryder on the song "Number 1."
Not long after the release of N-Dubz's third album in 2010, Contostavlos secured a prestigious position as one of the judges on ITV’s The X Factor, joining Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh, and Kelly Rowland for the 2011 season. She achieved her first win with the girl group Little Mix, which brought even more public scrutiny her way. Reflecting on the experience in 2018, she admitted, “I wasn’t ready for that level of fame, and it was truly overwhelming.”
During the peak of her popularity, Contostavlos' former partner, Justin Edwards, made a public leak of a sex tape they had recorded a decade earlier. The N-Dubz singer faced intense criticism and mockery on the internet, leading her to upload a video on YouTube to address the situation.
"When you're experiencing a close moment with someone you love, care for, and trust, it never crosses your mind that any of those private moments could end up being shared with the rest of the UK or people worldwide," she explained at the time.
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In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, she mentioned, “The release of the sex tape was devastating back then, but it has helped shape who I am today. I’ve come to terms with it.”
A year later, undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood from The Sun on Sunday claimed that Contostavlos had arranged a drug deal for him after a complicated and costly deception lasting several months. In truth, the singer had only ever used marijuana, and the following year, the case was dismissed. Mahmood, who is also known as the Fake Sheikh, was convicted of conspiring to obstruct justice.
Contostavlos has shared that she considered taking her own life during that tough time. She mentioned to The Guardian, "I wasn't fully ready to take that step yet, but I was moving in that direction. That was my lowest point... Just three days later, I found myself back in a training session, eager to hit the studio."
The artist released a book focused on her trial, starting to write it as soon as she found out about the charges against her. "I was completely shut out of the music scene and felt helpless, so I had to just wait it out. But instead of being idle, I decided to use this time to write. Even if I end up in prison, at least I can earn some income from the book," she explained.
Contostavlos hasn't released any solo music since her only album, The Female Boss, came out in 2012 and did not receive positive reviews. In 2022, she reunited with N-Dubz for a tour and a new album. While it excited fans looking back on the past, it didn't do well in terms of sales or reviews.
Although some suggest that Contostavlos is participating in I'm a Celeb to relaunch her career, the ex-X-Factor judge expressed her desire to leave the entertainment scene completely by the time she reaches 40 in four years. "All I want is to enjoy a tranquil and joyful life, surrounded by people I care about and who care about me. That’s all I truly desire," she shared.
While Contostavlos is now fit to participate in all the challenges of I'm a Celeb, she was diagnosed with Bell's palsy back in 2020, a condition that causes temporary weakness on one side of the face. For the past 12 years, the singer has suffered from severe health problems unrelated to that condition, describing in an interview a strange feeling like ants crawling on her face. Just last month, she shared that one of the many doctors she has consulted discovered "three chronically infected cysts" in her cheek.
As she prepares for her appearance on the ITV show, Contostavlos shared her thoughts about being cast in I'm a Celeb: "My main goal is to be completely genuine. If showing my true self resonates with a lot of people, then I must be on the right track in life."
Get to know all the contestants of I’m a Celebrity for 2024 right here.
