Tulisa – Same FAULTs, Different Jungle (Interview and Cover shoot)

Tulisa X FAULT Magazine

Photography: Jack Alexander

Fashion: Ahmad Alek

Hair: Ross Kwan at A-Frame Agency using Color Wow and Dyson Hair Pro

Make-Up: Krystal Dawn using Huda Beauty

Fashion assistant: Soumya Gahlot

Words: Fabio Magnocavallo 

With a career spanning nearly two decades, entertainer Tulisa Contostavlos has left an imprint on British pop culture in more ways than one.

After rising to fame as the stand-out vocalist of rap trio N-Dubz, her real girl persona and the group’s unique blend of hip-hop, R&B, and pop on early material, such as “Better Not Waste My Time,” “I Swear,” and “Ouch,” ushered in a loyal fanbase and gained Tulisa a legion of followers who wanted to emulate her style. Achieving three platinum albums, sold-out arena tours, and a near total of 200 weeks on the singles chart at the height of N-Dubz’s success, Tulisa eventually blossomed into a household name when she ventured into television and became a judge on The X Factor UK. During her first year, she famously mentored Little Mix and led them to victory, helping them make history as the first group to win the show. Let’s also not forget her iconic arm gesture that would show off her The Female Boss tattoo every Saturday night! When N-Dubz decided to go their separate ways, Tulisa launched a solo career and struck gold when her debut single, “Young,” went straight in at No. 1 on the charts. 

With success often comes the ugly side of fame. Well documented in the press, Tulisa has faced her fair share of personal challenges and media scrutiny over the years. In an industry that can chew you up and spit you out, Tulisa’s resilience has kept her in the spotlight, but most importantly, undefeated. When she and N-Dubz band members Dappy and Fazer decided to reunite in 2022, the group’s legacy was stronger than ever when their first tour in over a decade proved to be in high demand. A fourth album, titled Timeless, would later follow and marked the group’s fourth top-10 album.

After keeping a fairly low profile over the past few years, Tulisa is jumping out of her comfort zone and has signed up for this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! As she prepares to grace our screens and entertain the nation every night, FAULT exclusively speaks to the star ahead of the new series.

Why is now the right time for you to enter the jungle?

I’ve never wanted to. I actually was at a point where I was like, ‘I would never, ever do this.’ We’re all forever evolving and growing and I got to a point in my life where I was just in my ‘fuck it’ era. I was like, ‘Does it seem really uncomfortable?’ Yes. ‘Is it super exciting?’ Yes. ‘Are you gonna have a crazy rollercoaster journey?’ Yes. So do it! All the things surrounding the fear around it, I’m just like, ‘So what! Just let it go. Do it!’

The lineup is pretty strong this year. Who are you looking forward to bonding with?

I don’t know, I’ll have to get in there and find out. I don’t know them to know who I’m gonna love but it seems like a good bunch. It seems like good energy.

What do you think their first impression of you will be?

Well, I’m just like Marmite across the whole of the UK, aren’t I? So it’ll either be like, ‘Oh, I love Tulisa,’ or they’ll be like, ‘Oh, Jesus, this will be fun.’ Suck it up, buttercup!

Is there anything you’re not looking forward to participating in?

The eating trial I prefer to the critters. I’m not great with critters. My biggest fear about going on the show is being thrust so far back into the spotlight again. That’s the biggest fear that I’m going to overcome. But then at the same time, I’ve done this all my life. Like, why am I letting bad experiences in the past make me feel terrified to be on television or do an interview or get photographed by paparazzi? And that’s kind of the place that I’ve been in for the past few years. And I noticed it on the N-Dubz tour. I could get on stage for N-Dubz, but anything else involving promo interviews, press, or being photographed by paps, I literally felt nauseous.

You’ve been vocal about not loving the glitzy side to your job and that you can easily wave goodbye to it. What is it that you don’t like about it?

Showbiz is just contrived, isn’t it? When you want to be a peaceful person and live in your authentic energy, anything that feels contrived you just kind of want to steer away from. It’s just that contrived energy that just kind of bugs me in the place that I’m in.

What would you say your relationship with the British press is like now? It felt like everything to do with the N-Dubz comeback was positive.

This is the thing. It’s got to the point where it’s a me problem. Even when it comes to writing positive stories, I just have this unexplained fear about it. It just makes me super uncomfortable. Being written about, being photographed. It is obviously some kind of PTSD from what was going on from the trial and all the rest in the past. I know it’s not real. It’s irrational, this fear that I’m feeling. And I’m like, ‘You know what? This is ridiculous.’ Like, I am famous and I need to get a grip. I’m fully aware of that. I know the industry I stepped into, so I just need to throw myself balls deep. I’m hoping that when I come out the other side of the jungle, hopefully this fear will be eradicated because I couldn’t be in a more public, vulnerable, exposed situation. But once it’s done and everyone kind of knows who you really are, there’s a sense of freedom in that. You’re just like, ‘Ah, there you go. There’s all the rumours put to bed.’

Do you feel any pressures surrounding social media?

I feel the pressure to post more than I do. I’m an off-the-grid kind of person. I’ve had my account deactivated for around two to three years before N-Dubz came back. Sometimes I get conflicted. Sometimes I want to just deactivate. And other times I’m like, it’s part of what I do as I also like connecting with N-Dubz fans and with people.

The X Factor elevated your career massively. The show was such a machine and was so highly documented in the press. What was the biggest lesson you learned from being a judge on the panel?

Peace over power. Peace over success.

If you were to go back, what would you do differently?

I wouldn’t try to fit the narrative. Back then, I 100% was like, ‘Oh, I’ve got a show to put on.’ I’d always be over-animated and feel like I had to be doing something even if I didn’t really have anything to say, which is why they probably wouldn’t book me for a show like that now because I’m not going to exaggerate my emotions towards something.

What about anything else in your career? Would you do anything differently there?

No. I believe everything that I’ve experienced and done has got me to the exact place that I’m in now. I wouldn’t want to be in any other place. And if I were to change something, then that might change where I am. And so for that reason, I wouldn’t change a single thing.

What’s the plan after your journey in the jungle is complete?

Well, I’m going into property development. Then there will be another N-Dubz album and tour. However, if something came along that sat right with my soul and felt right for me, I’m open to opportunities, but I don’t have a plan to do so. My plan is to go into property and remain doing N-Dubz and that’s it. I couldn’t see myself becoming a TV presenter or something. That would be my worst nightmare.

Is there less pressure on everything you do now?

There is less pressure as I am less bothered. All of showbiz is pressure if you allow it to be. If you want to take on board everyone’s opinion and what everyone’s going to think, then it is. It’s just perspective. There’s no pressure for me now because I’m not engaging in the pressure. Let’s do something and let it go. What will be, will be. It is what it is. I used to be an overthinker. I would always worry about stuff like that. I’ve spent the whole 10 years, after all the drama, trying to redeem myself from all the crap. Eventually, I just got to a point where I let it go. That’s when you get happy.

What do you think is the biggest misconception of you?

I have no idea. I think people think I’m less soft than I am. I think people think that I’m maybe more aggressive than I am. With what I’ve been through, you either fight or you fall. And I just always choose to fight. So when people say it’s hard to do it, you don’t know what you’re capable of. At that moment in time, you are put in that predicament and so for me, it was as if I had no other choice. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Listen, the past 10 years have been a nightmare. And that’s the truth of it. But they’re over now, and I’m just happy to be in the place I’m in. I’m very grateful and very blessed. I’m just looking forward to enjoying this more peaceful time. Except for this month. This month’s gonna be crazy. But once that’s over, it’s gonna be good.

I think your appearance on I’m A Celebrity could remind the public why they loved you on The X Factor.

I have no idea. You just don’t know. It could go either way. You don’t know how you’re going to be edited or what situations are going to arise in there. I don’t know how I’m going to respond in the trials. So for me, I’m just like 50/50. I know at the end of it, I’m definitely going to come out a lot more enlightened. I can’t go wrong in the end. I’m going to come out more grateful and humbled. For me, it’s quite a spiritual experience.

What is your FAULT?

I say ‘sorry’ a lot.