The excitement surrounding ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’ this year isn’t just about jungle trials or iconic campfire moments. Among the line-up, one name stands out, sparking curiosity and admiration alike: Tulisa Contostavlos.
The former N-Dubz star and X Factor judge has captivated fans, not just for her music and talent but also for her courage in stepping back into the spotlight after years away.
For Tulisa, her absence from the public eye wasn’t merely a retreat from fame.
Instead, it was a battle fought largely in silence—a fight against a condition that not only affected her health but also left a visible mark on her appearance.
While speculation around her changing looks has often been the subject of public scrutiny, Tulisa has always maintained an air of mystery about her journey, until now.
Recent appearances and revelations have shed light on the heartbreaking health challenges that pushed her toward cosmetic interventions a decision she says was rooted in necessity, not vanity.
The turning point came when Tulisa experienced her first attack of Bell’s palsy, a neurological condition that causes temporary facial paralysis.
Speaking about the onset, she recalled how it started with an alarming burst of inflammation on her cheek that resembled an abscess.
“I went straight to a doctor,” Tulisa said, “They gave me antibiotics, steroid injections, so it went down. But then my whole face just dropped.”
This was only the beginning of a harrowing ordeal. The facial paralysis persisted for seven months, leaving her unable to move parts of her face.
The impact went beyond physical discomfort. For months, Tulisa stayed hidden, unwilling to face the world while grappling with the changes to her appearance.
“I didn’t go out, I just hid in the house,” she admitted in a candid conversation on ‘Loose Women’ in 2020. While she sought medical help and tried to address the condition, the road to recovery was anything but smooth.
In 2020, she was officially diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a condition that the NHS describes as causing temporary weakness or lack of movement in one side of the face.
For Tulisa, the diagnosis came with added complications, as flare-ups of inflammation often made her face appear swollen and asymmetrical.
In her quest for normalcy, she turned to fillers to address the imbalance caused by the paralysis. “That was very stressful, and my face still wasn’t right, so I started getting fillers to balance out the symmetry,” she explained.
This approach, however, led to what she calls a “vicious cycle.” Over time, Tulisa’s condition seemed to stabilize, but in 2022, she experienced another flare-up, marked by sensations she described as “little ants crawling” across her face.
The recurrence led to further exploration, culminating in a significant discovery earlier this year. Doctors found three chronically infected cysts in her cheek area, which were surgically removed.
“I came out of the operation instantly less swollen,” Tulisa revealed, though she acknowledged that some inflammation still lingers. Her journey through this complex condition hasn’t been without emotional scars.
Tulisa reflected on how her appearance fluctuated during interviews and public appearances, saying, “In some interviews, I looked fine; in others, you’d ask, ‘What the hell is going on with her face?’” Despite the challenges, Tulisa has found the strength to embrace her journey.
The choice to dissolve her fillers and start anew marked a turning point, one that symbolizes resilience rather than defeat.
Speaking candidly on Olivia Attwood’s ‘So Wrong It’s Right’ podcast, she shared how these decisions were about finding balance amid chaos.
As Tulisa braves the jungle in ‘I’m A Celeb’, fans are not only seeing the return of a beloved star but also witnessing a story of triumph over adversity.
Her honesty about her struggles with Bell’s palsy and the toll it took on her self-image serves as a powerful reminder of the strength required to navigate life in the public eye.
In a poignant statement, her friend Rylan called for compassion, urging fans to respect her journey. “Tulisa has been through a lot health-wise the last few years, so let’s not make sh*t jokes about her on Twitter, yeah?”
It wasn’t until much later that the heartbreaking truth behind her changing appearance became clear.
The combination of Bell’s palsy and recurrent inflammation left Tulisa with no choice but to undergo cosmetic procedures to restore her facial symmetry.
For Tulisa, this is more than a return to television—it’s a reclaiming of her narrative. Fans may have known her for her music and reality TV stints, but now they know her as an inspiration.
Featured Image Credit: (Instagram/@tulisacontostavlos)
