Tragedy behind Tulisa's decade-long disappearance from spotlight

I'm A Celebrity star Tulisa Contostavlos, who was third to be eliminated from the show, had been away from the spotlight for many years

I'm A Celebrity star Tulisa Contostavlos has been a hit with fans after appearing in the Australian jungle for the latest series of the ITV programme.

Unfortunately, the N-Dubz star was the third person to be eliminated after Loose Women's Jane Moore and radio star Dean McCullough. After leaving the jungle, she removed all traces of her experience on the show from her social media feed and left the JW Marriott hotel where all the evicted campmates and the stars' family members were staying.

A spokesperson for Tulisa told the Mirror that the decision to return to the UK, whilst the other evicted campmates remain in Australia ahead of this weekend's final, had been taken for "welfare reasons". 

The statement confirming her absence also dismissed recent reports of a "huge row" between Tulisa and her pal Michelle McKenna. Tulisa herself previously spoke out over the suggestion, saying she had "no issue" with Michelle or Daniel Johnson, who came to Australia to support her.

In a post shared on social media, Tulisa also said she was feeling "overwhelmed" from the attention after being away from the spotlight for so long. "I was getting a lot of attention, a lot of bombarding - in all the most positive way, but because it's been a bit of a while for me, I can get overwhelmed quite easily and I just started to feel a little bit overwhelmed. And I was like, do you know what? I need to just take a little bit of time for me and just chill. This is all just feeling a bit much at the moment," she said.

In the same video, she later added: "But I just really wanted to clear up the reasons why that I did that and just be honest - it's OK to feel a little bit overwhelmed. I've been out of the spotlight for a long time and I'm still trying to overcome those things, I've got my demons. It doesn't mean I'm going to hide behind a rock for another ten years it just means I need a little bit of time to process it and get right with my thoughts. Thank you to ITV and I'm A Celeb for being really understanding. Mental health is really important and I am super grateful for the love and support that I've had."

Tulisa had been away from the spotlight for close to a decade. N-Dubz, consisting of Tulisa, her cousin Dappy and her ex Fazer, had success with hits such as Strong Again and Number 1 with Tinchy Stryder. The popular group parted ways with their record label in 2011 due to creative differences and gave their final performance together in September of that year before going their separate ways.

She went on to have a solo career and was also a judge on The X Factor in 2011 and 2012, where she helped mentor Little Mix. However, her life was rocked by a scandal when a sex tape featuring her and her ex-boyfriend Justin Edwards was cruelly leaked online. Speaking in her BBC Three documentary, Tulisa: The Price of Fame, she said: "The first year [on X Factor] was a very happy time. I think it was the tape where it all went wrong for me.

"When the tape came out I felt like I had lost control again. This isn't how I wanted to be portrayed and afterward going back out there it was the thought of facing the audience, the crowd. Even though I was a judge, I was being judged. More than anyone, more than the contestants. The judges get judged the most. I just found it so hard to face people again."

When she released her solo album, The Female Boss, it received scathing reviews. One year later, she faced another scandal when she was arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs. It was part of a sting operation by undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood - known as the Fake Sheik - and he claimed she's brokered a deal to sell him drugs while he was posing as a wealthy film producer.

The case went to court but Tulisa's trial sensationally collapsed, with Mahmood being accused of tampering with evidence. He was later tried on related charges and sentenced to 15 months in prison. After the charges against her dropped, Tulisa, who always denied the charges, said: "Let me be perfectly clear, I have never dealt drugs and I have never been involved in taking or dealing cocaine. This whole case was a horrific and disgusting entrapment by Mazher Mahmood."

In 2013, she ended up back in court after being accused of attacing Vas J Morgan at V Festival. She claimed he insulted her mentally ill mother. She was convicted of assault and ordered to pay a £3,000 fine. She also lost an appeal against the conviction. Following a difficult few years, she took a step back from the spotlight.

She only reappeared for a few guest appearances on The X Factor and tried to re-launch her solo career in 2016. But then, in 2020, Tulisa suffered another blow when she was discovered she had Bell's Palsy. The condition is a type of paralysis that temporarily affects the ability to control the facial muscles and Tulisa says she was diagnosed after sustaining nerve damage due to a horse riding accident.

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