Tulisa | |
|---|---|
Τουλίσα | |
 Contostavlos in July 2014 | |
| Born | Tula Paulinea Contostavlos (1988-07-13)13 July 1988 (age 36)[1] Camden Town, London, England |
| Occupations |
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| Relatives | Dappy (cousin) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | N-Dubz |
Musical artist | |
Tula Paulinea Contostavlos[4] (Greek:Τούλα Παυλίνα 'Τουλίσα' Κοντόσταυλου; born 13 July 1988),[1] known professionally asTulisa, is an English singer, songwriter, rapper, and television personality. As a part of theR&B/hip hop groupN-Dubz with her cousinDappy and friendFazer, they gained four platinum-certified albums, fiveMOBO awards, aBrit Award nomination, thirteen top 40 singles, seven silver-certified singles, two gold-certified singles, two platinum-certified singles, and threeUrban Music Awards.
From 2011 to 2012, Tulisa was a judge on the television talent showThe X Factor UK. In 2012, she released her debut solo studio album,The Female Boss, which produced the UK number one single "Young", and the UK top-twenty singles "Live It Up" and "Sight of You". In 2024, Tulisa appeared as a contestant on thetwenty-fourth series of the reality television showI'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! which she finished in tenth place.
Tulisa was born as Tula Paulinea Contostavlos on 13 July 1988[1] inCamden Town, London. HerIrish mother, Anne Byrne, was born inChurchtown, Dublin. Anne and her three sisters went on to form the 1980sbig band andswing band Jeep.[5][6] Tulisa's father, Plato Contostavlos, isGreek Cypriot and at one time was keyboardist withMungo Jerry.[7] Plato's brother, Byron Contostavlos, was bassist with Mungo Jerry and later became manager ofN-Dubz.[8]
When Tulisa was five, her mother, who hasbipolar disorder andschizoaffective disorder, wassectioned under theMental Health Act.[9] The 2010 BBC programme,Tulisa: My Mum and Me, described Tulisa's life looking after her mother before joining N-Dubz.[10] At age 14, with support from her uncle, Byron Contostavlos, she enrolled atQuintin Kynaston School[9] inSt John's Wood but later attendedHaverstock Secondary School where she did not sit herGCSE examinations.[9]
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Dappy andFazer, who had already started rapping together, decided they wanted a female voice in the group, which was called the Lickle Rinsers Crew at the time, and so invited Tulisa to be part of the group. They started performing together as a group aroundCamden from young ages. Performing as the Lickle Rinsers Crew, they released the singles "Bad Man Riddim" and "Life Is Getting Sicker by the Day", which became hits onpirate radio stations.[11] After Lickle Rinsers Crew, they then became NW1, after the area they hail from, making their first music video in 2005 for the track "Everyday Of My Life", which received airplay on Channel U, recording more demos as NW1 such as "Don't Feel Like Moving", "Girl On Road" and "Livin Broke". Their first single to be released was "You Better Not Waste My Time", which was available for download only until their 2006 self-released single, "I Swear", which gained them their first mainstream notice. In 2007, the group appeared on the UK charts with "Feva Las Vegas" (also self-released), peaking at number 57.[12]
On 6 August 2008, it was announced that the group had leftPolydor Records and had signed toAll Around the World records. The press release stated that the label would be releasing "Ouch" as the group's first single on the label in September 2008.[13] The group's first album,Uncle B, was released on 17 November 2008. "Strong Again" was touted as the third single to be released fromUncle B and charted for five weeks in theUK Singles Chart, peaking highest at number 24.[14] Due to the success of their debut album, the group embarked on their first headlining tour,Uncle B tour. The tour was supported byStevie Hoang andTinchy Stryder with whom N-Dubz collaborated on his number one single "Number 1". During one performance, Tulisa fainted on stage.[2][15]
The lead single from the group's second album titled "I Need You" was released on 9 November 2009 and charted at number five in the UK. The album,Against All Odds, was released on 16 November 2009,[16] and charted at number six in theUK Album Chart. It went platinum within approximately two months of release. The second single, "Playing with Fire", features R&B/pop musician,Mr Hudson, and reached number 15 in the UK charts on album downloads alone. In 2010, N-Dubz toured their album,Against All Odds, starting on 31 March and finishing on 20 April.
After much speculation, it was confirmed that US labelDef Jam signed the group. The first release was N-Dubz's third studio album,Love.Live.Life. It was released in the UK on 29 November 2010. The group began recording the album following the success ofAgainst All Odds.[17] "We Dance On" was released on 20 May 2010, as the album's lead single. It peaked at number five in the UK. The song was also included on the soundtrack to the filmStreetdance 3D. "Best Behaviour" was released on 17 October 2010 as the second single from the album. It peaked at number 10 in both the UK and Scotland and became a top 40 hit in Ireland. "Girls" was released as the album's third single on 12 December 2010. It reached number 19 in the UK.[18]
N-Dubz parted ways with record label Def Jam in August 2011 due to creative differences.[19] The band performed their final gig together in September, with Dappy releasing his solo single "No Regrets" soon after.[20]
In 2011, Tulisa replacedCheryl Cole as a judge for theeighth series ofThe X Factor.[21][22] Joining the show aged 23, Tulisa was and remained the youngest judge ever to be on the panel. In this series, Tulisa mentored theGroups category, which included 4-piece girlbandLittle Mix (formerly known as Rhythmix). Despite three of her four acts being eliminated in the first five weeks of the competition, Little Mix went on to become the most successful girl group inX Factor history, avoiding the final showdown every week and eventually becoming the first band ever to win the competition.[23] Tulisa returned for theninth series in 2012.[24] Tulisa mentored the "Girls", a category made up of female contestants aged 16–27, which includedLucy Spraggan andElla Henderson. Contrary to her previous success in 2011, in this series, Tulisa became the first judge to lose all her acts in the live shows, although Henderson did achieve a record deal and successful music career after leaving the competition.[25] Tulisa did not join thetenth series of the show in 2013 and was replaced by original judge,Sharon Osbourne.[26] Tulisa briefly returned toThe X Factor for itseleventh series in 2014 asLouis Walsh's guest judge during the judges' houses stage of the competition, joining him inBermuda.[27] She also appeared on the first night of the series' final, temporarily filling in forMel B who was ill.[28]
In March 2012, a six-minutesex tape of Tulisa and her former boyfriend Justin Edwards emerged on the internet.[29] Tulisa was granted an injunction that legally blocks the distribution of the tape.[30][31] In the aftermath she recorded a video response on herYouTube account,[32][33] stating that she was both heartbroken and devastated by Edwards' release of the video.[29][34] In July, she settled with Edwards but continued to pursue action against Edwards' former managerChris Herbert, who had his job as a consultant onThe X Factor suspended.[35]
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Tulisa released her solo album,The Female Boss, on 3 December 2012, for which she began working on earlier that year. She described the album as having "a track for every mood," with songs meant for parties, big ballads and "UK urban music."[36] The first single released from the album was "Young", released in April and accompanied by a promotional video filmed inMiami. The song charted at number five on theIrish Singles Chart and number one in the UK. September saw the release of the second single "Live It Up".[37] The song debuted at number 11 in the UK.[38] Around this time, Tulisa released an autobiography titledHonest: My Story So Far. Tulisa's third solo single "Sight of You" was released together with the album to mostly negative reviews and charted lower than expected at number 18.[39] The album itself received negative reviews and charted at number 35.[40] In January 2013, Tulisa stated that the album campaign had finished and that no further singles would be released.[41]
Released in November 2012Britney Spears andwill.i.am's single "Scream & Shout" was originally co-written by Tulisa with Jean Baptiste and recorded under the title "I Don't Give a Fuck". The track was intended for Tulisa's debut album.[42] However, the producer of the track, Lazy Jay, did not want Tulisa to have the song and gave it to will.i.am, who re-wrote the song with Spears in mind.[43] The song became a hit, peaking at number one in the UK and number three in the US. Despite Tulisa's vocals still being heard on "Scream & Shout", she was not credited with co-writing the song upon its release, which prevented her from collecting any royalties.[42] Tulisa filed a lawsuit against will.i.am and won in 2018, entitling her to 10% of publishing rights.[42]
Tulisa began working on a second album in 2013, and continued to record throughout 2014[44][45][46] The single, "Living Without You", was initially planned for release in December 2014,[47] but was eventually released in January the next year. The single peaked at number 44 in the UK. That single was followed two years later by "Sweet Like Chocolate", which featured rapperAkelle.
In 2016, Tulisa signed with an agent in an attempt to begin a career as a film actress,[48] and as of 2018, was committed to star as Sista C in the feature filmDiva.[49] She had earlier acted with roles such as the role of Laurissa, a cocaine addict who is in R&B group, in the television seriesDubplate Drama (2007–09), Shaniqua in the straight-to-DVD British comedy,Big Fat Gypsy Gangster (2011), and Amber in the British slasher filmDemons Never Die (2011).[50]
In April 2019, Tulisa released her first single in three years, "Daddy", after signing to Xploded Records, which was founded by the co-founders of All Around the World.[51] Another single, "Sippin'" was released two months later. In the same year, Tulisa performed at various gigs, includingManchester Pride.[52]
In 2022, Tulisa reunited with N-Dubz for new music and a tour.[52] They released their fourth studio album,Timeless, in August 2023. In November 2024, Tulisa was confirmed as a contestant on thetwenty-fourth series ofI'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, and was the third contestant to be eliminated, finishing in tenth place.[53]
During her career, she has appeared on the cover of numerous lifestyle andfashion magazines such as UK'sGlamour,[54]Cosmopolitan,[55]Company,Fabulous,FHM,Notebook,Stella andThe Times magazine. Her first fragrance, "The Female Boss" was launched in October 2011, saying: "I want The Female Boss to be a big brand. Next I want to launch a clothing line."[56] In October 2012, she launched a fashion line with Bank Fashion called "TFB by Tulisa."[57]
Tulisa was named the "Ultimate TV Personality" atCosmopolitan Ultimate Women Of The Year Awards on 30 October 2012.[58]
Despite being baptised in her father'sGreek Orthodox faith, Tulisa later became a practisingRoman Catholic.[59][60]
On 4 June 2013, Tulisa was arrested by police on suspicion of supplyingclass A drugs[61] and bailed to a date in July 2013. Two residential properties had been searched as part of the investigation.[61] She was formally charged on 9 December with "being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs" and appeared atWestminster Magistrates' Court on 19 December where she denied being involved with the supply of 13.9 grams of cocaine. She was granted unconditional bail and then appeared atSouthwark Crown Court on 9 January 2014.[62] The trial date was set for 14 July 2014.[63] The case was dismissed as the judge believed prosecution witness and undercover journalistMazher Mahmood had lied to the court.[64] Mahmood was later sent to prison for 15 months.[65][66] In July 2014, her documentaryTulisa: The Price of Fame premiered onBBC Three to a moderate success, attracting 615,000 viewers (3.8% of the audience within its time slot).[67] In April 2015, JusticeNicholas Kearns, President of the IrishHigh Court, described her as having been "cruelly deceived in a shabby sting operation", but dismissed her attempt to sue theIrish Sun fordefamation.[68]
Following the collapse of her drug trial,The Guardian'sSuzanne Moore discussed her reputation, and wrote that "Tulisa is famously a working class girl made good, though of course made good is never what she is allowed to be".[69] In Moore's opinion, "Tulisa has been branded by the media as achav and therefore almost anything can be said about her".[69]
On 9 March 2020, Contostavlos revealed she suffered fromBell's palsy.[70]
In 2024, Contostavloscame out asdemisexual, and said she had beencelibate for the last three years.[71]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–2009 | Dubplate Drama | Laurissa | Series 2–3 |
| 2010 | Tulisa: My Mum & Me | Herself | Documentary |
| 2010–2011 | Being... N-Dubz | ||
| 2010–2012 | Alan Carr: Chatty Man | Guest; 3 episodes | |
| 2010–2016 | Celebrity Juice | 10 episodes | |
| 2011 | Before They Were Dubz | Documentary | |
| Wall of Fame | Guest Panellist | 1 episode | |
| 2011–2012, 2014 | The X Factor | Judge | |
| 2012 | Britain's Got Talent | Performer | 1 episode |
| The Talent Show Story | Herself | ||
| 2012–2020 | Loose Women | Guest; 5 episodes | |
| 2013–2015 | Sweat the Small Stuff | 5 episodes | |
| 2014 | Tulisa: The Price of Fame | Documentary | |
| 2016 | Hoff The Record | Cameo appearance | |
| Off Their Rockers | Guest Prankster | Series 4, episode 6 | |
| 2018 | Don't Hate the Playaz | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2024 | I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! | Contestant |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Demons Never Die | Amber |
| Big Fat Gypsy Gangster | Shaniqua |
The High Court President, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns said Tulisa Contostavlos, had been "cruelly deceived in a shabby sting operation" and there was no doubt it had caused her grave upset. But he said he was astounded that a more rapid reaction to initiate legal proceedings did not take place. He said he was satisfied that there should be no extension of time for the case. It is understood the singer, who was not present in court, is now considering appealing the High Court decision.
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| National | |
| Artists | |
