Tulisa, also known as Tula Paulinea Contostavlos, is a well-known British actress, singer, and songwriter. When Tulisa released her debut single, named “Young,” in 2012, she immediately gained worldwide attention. The song was extremely popular and peaked at number one on the “UK Singles Chart.” She then released her debut album, titled “The Female Boss,” a few months later. This album was also a huge hit, reaching its top position of number 35 on the “UK Singles Chart.” Tulisa is a vital part of the well-known British hip-hop group “N-Dubz,” and she has earned a gold album, a few platinum records, three silver singles, five MOBO awards, and nominations at numerous award ceremonies. She has made appearances in a few feature films and television programs as an actress and television personality, including “Demons Never Die” and “The Xtra Factor” (spin-off). Tulisa was also embroiled in a number of scandals, including those involving sex recordings and narcotics.
Early Childhood & Life
On July 13, 1988, Tulisa Contostavlos was born in Camden, Northwest London, England. She was born into a family of musicians because her mother Ann Byrne was a part of the band Jeep. Her brothers Brian and Mick Byrne were a part of the pop-folk ensemble “Emmet Spiceland,” which Ann’s sisters made up the rest of. Plato Contostavlos, Tulisa’s father, was a member of the rock band Mungo Jerry, which peaked in the early 1970s.
Unsurprisingly, Tulisa had a natural affinity for music from the start. Almost everyone would participate actively as family gatherings frequently evolved into musical performances. Tulisa credits her mother’s music for continuing to influence her singing. Music was a big part of her youth.
Childhood memories of Tulisa were greatly impacted by her mother’s illness. Ann Byrne, who had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disease in her late teens, later acquired bipolar disorder and was institutionalized under the 1983 “Mental Health Act” when Tulisa was only five years old. Tulisa’s upbringing was directly affected by this, which led her to turn to drinking and drugs for comfort.
Tulisa was enrolled at the “Quintin Kynaston School” when she was 14 years old by her uncle Byron Contostavlos. She eventually attended “Haverstock Secondary School,” but due to her preconceived rebellious outlook, she did not show up for her GCSE exams.
Career in Music
Tulisa began her professional life when she was still quite young. She joined the music group “N-Dubz” after being encouraged to join by her cousin Dappy, who was a member of the group. Tulisa began performing in and around Camden throughout her early adolescence as a member of “N-Dubz.” ‘Everyday Of My Life,’ the group’s debut music video, was released in 2005 and quickly gained popularity among music fans.
The third single by “N-Dubz” from 2007—”Feva Las Vegas”—broke into the top 60 on the “UK Singles Chart.” The group gained more traction on social media after releasing the music video for “Ouch” in 2008. Within a few days of its YouTube release, “Ouch” garnered more than 4 million views, making “N-Dubz” a social media sensation. The debut album by “N-Dubz,” titled “Uncle B,” was released on November 17, 2008, and it featured a number of well-known songs, including “Strong Again.”
When ‘N-Dubz’ released its second album, ‘Against All Odds,’ in 2009, Tulisa was given the opportunity to play a solo song for the band. Within two months of its release, the album, which peaked at number six on the “UK Album Chart,” was certified platinum.
2010 saw ‘N-Dubz’ go on a tour and appear at 17 events. The group published a book named “N-Dubz – Against All Odds” that same year, claiming it to be the response to the queries raised by their detractors.
Tulisa revealed that she was composing her own album in 2012. Her first solo album, titled “The Female Boss,” was published on December 3, 2012, following the release of a few singles. Unfortunately, the album was badly regarded by critics and did poorly on the charts.
The media reported in March 2013 that Tulisa has begun production on her second solo album. She released the song “Living Without You” on January 4, 2015, and it peaked at number 44 on the “UK Singles Chart.” She released another song titled “Sweet Like Chocolate” on September 2, 2016. She also made a significant declaration, revealing that she had contracted an agency to launch her acting career.
Theater and television
The six-part documentary series “Being… N-Dubz” featured Tulisa. It debuted on “4Music” on June 21, 2010. Tulisa had previously participated in a TV series called “Dubplate Drama,” in which she played Laurissa, a singer who is addicted to cocaine. This, however, was not Tulisa’s first acting role. She then made an appearance in the 2011 comedy “Big Fat Gypsy Gangster,” which was published straight to DVD. In the same year, she made her big-screen debut in the British slasher movie “Demons Never Die,” where she played Amber Johnson.
On May 30, 2011, Tulisa had a significant breakthrough when she agreed to participate as one of the judges for the eighth season of the renowned reality TV music competition, “The X Factor.” Tulisa acted as a coach on the program for musical ensembles like “The Risk,” “Nu Vibe,” “2 Shoes,” and “Little Mix.” Little Mix went on to become the most prosperous girl group in reality television history. Tulisa was once more asked to join the judging panel for the program’s ninth season in 2012 as a result of her success as a mentor and judge. She worked with a group named “Girls” this time, which featured vocalists including Lucy Spraggan, Ella Henderson, and Jade Ellis.
A documentary named “Tulisa: The Price of Fame” had its world premiere on “BBC Three” in July 2014. The documentary attracted 615,000 viewers, which is considered a moderate success. ‘The X Factor’ producers announced in August 2014 that Tulisa would return to the program as a guest judge for its upcoming eleventh season. She then made an appearance in the ‘The Xtra Factor’ spin-off of the program. In a few other documentaries, such as “Tulisa: My Mum & Me” and “Before They Were Dubz,” Tulisa has also made an appearance.
Personal Life & Disputations
A sex tape with Tulisa and her ex-boyfriend Justin Edwards appeared online in March 2012. Later, Tulisa posted a video in which she expressed her shock and heartbreak. She said that because Justin Edwards made the video public, she had filed a lawsuit against him.
Tulisa Contostavlos was detained by law enforcement on June 4, 2013, on suspicion of distributing 13.9 grams of cocaine, which is regarded as a “class A drug” by British law. The judge ultimately dismissed the case after numerous trials because he thought the prosecution witness had lied in court.
Tulisa was detained in 2015 on suspicion of drunk driving. She entered a guilty plea and was given a £1,185 fine. Additionally, she received a 15-month driving prohibition.