Tulisa Contostavlos opened up about her sexuality during an episode of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
The ITV series is well underway with stars quickly getting to know each other better while living in the Australian jungle.
While sat around the campfire in last night’s episode, conversation turned to romantic relationships.
In a discussion about dating apps with fellow singletons Alan Halsall and Dean McCullough, Tulisa, 36, revealed that the only one you’ll find her on is Raya.
The highly-exclusive app vets every member, who has to be referred by at least two users. Despite the tough criteria to get on Raya, which is often favoured by celebrities, the N-Dubz singer hasn’t been very active.
‘I’m not really a dater, even though I’ve been on there, I’ve never gone on an actual date with anyone on there… I’m proper guarded,’ she shared.
As the chat progressed, Tulisa explained that she is demi-sexual.
‘I feel like I’m demi-sexual, I need to have a really close emotional bond with someone,’ she stated. ‘I need actual depth.’
What is demisexuality?
Demisexuality is when a person experiences sexual feelings and attraction only after developing a close emotional relationship and not on the basis of first impressions or physical characteristics.
This can apply to anyone regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.
Tulisa then revealed: ‘I’m a slow, slow burner, I’ve been celibate for over three years.’ Celibacy means to abstain from sexual intercourse and marriage.
As Dean quizzed her on what it’s like being celibate, Tulisa responded: ‘I’m not an overly sexualised person. For me, it’s all about the connection and the emotions that I feel with someone and then wanting to express them in that way.’
Explaining the thought of going out and meeting someone to sleep with ‘genuinely makes me feel physically sick’ she joked: ‘This is my temple, you cannot enter!’
As the campmates laugh, Alan joked: ‘It sounds like a Bushtucker Trial where you’ve gotta find a key to Tulisa’s temple!’
After the humurous exchange, Tulisa’s friend Michelle McKenna appeared on Lorraine. When the host suggested that there could be potential between Tulisa and Alan,42, she teased: ‘You never know!’
As Tulisa continues her journey down under, let’s take a look back at who she has dated…
Fazer
Mixing work and pleasure, Fazer and Tulisa were romantically involved while building their career as N-Dubz, leaving her cousin Dappy as the ultimate third wheel.
The pair dated on and off throughout their teenage years and as their band found success. Although they largely kept their relationship private, Tulisa did tell The Mirror in 2011: ‘I’m really happy and have the best boyfriend- he’s really supportive in what I’m doing.
‘He’s my rock – he’s been there for me throughout the past few months. I couldn’t be doing what I’m doing without him.’
However, one year later, Tulisa, and Fazer, real name Richard Rawson, ended their relationship. After their breakup, the pair were able to remain on good terms, and have continued working together including on N-Dubz’s comeback in 2022.
Justin Edwards
Former boyfriend Justin Edwards caused her pain after a video of them being intimate was shared online. Although they split in 2010, the video surfaced in 2012.
The rap artist, professionally known as MC Ultra, initially denied responsibility, but eventually apologised at London’s High Court.
‘It hit me like a train. I couldn’t stop crying. It was like my whole world was ending,’ the former X Factor judge recalled of the time in her autobiography Honest, My Story So Far.
‘I would try to put the whole thing out of my mind but it would creep back – it was pretty much all-consuming.’
Speaking recently on the So Right It’s Wrong podcast, she said: ‘It was like a form of virtual rape. The shame, the judgment—it was unbearable.’
Jack O’Connell
Skins actor Jack O’Connell provided comfort for Tulisa during the difficult time and they dated for three months.
‘As soon as I saw him, everything started to feel better, easier. For the next three weeks he never left my side. And as time went on I started to feel stronger,’ she said.
It was alleged that ‘incompatible work schedules’ was the reason for the split. Tulisa wrote on X: ‘4 the record I didn’t dump any1, it was a mutual decision with no hard feelings n that’s all there is 2 it.’
Tulisa is then said to have started spending time with US music producer The Dream – real name Terius Youngdell Nash. A source was quoted by The Sun as saying: ‘They’ve been hooking up more and more and tongues have been wagging. He’s been telling his pals all about Tulisa and how talented she is.’
Jody Latham
Shameless actor Jody Latham starred in the music video for Tulisa’s single Sight of You in 2012. The TV star played a cheating boyfriend, who Tulisa’s character struggled to forgive.
It’s reported they then began dating but this isn’t something either party confirmed.
She was also linked to Mark Wright around this time, which she denied, with a tweet: ‘I have sumthin 2 say 2day. 1.people make me sick the things they do 4 cash,disgustin. 2.why am I meant 2 b bangin every guy Im seen with? 3.I have DEFFINITELY NOT shagged mark wright and I can swear that on my uncle B’s GRAVE!’
Danny Simpson
In 2013, Tulisa dated premier league football player Danny Simpson for eight months.
Tulisa claimed that putting a pair of £1,000 Christian Louboutin shoes into a Tesco carrier bag, made him furious and the row ultimately ended their relationship.
‘He was a fan. He was obsessed for six years. He had a massive crush on me. Finally he found somebody who knew me,’ she scathed at the time to The Sun.
‘He wasn’t a celebrity until he met me. He was a famous footballer but not a celebrity. As soon as he got with me, he became a celebrity footballer.’
Further twisting the knife, Tulisa claimed he was fake, adding: ‘He’s not as intelligent as me. And he’s very shallow and I’m very real.’
Costas Panayiotou
In the summer of 2014, Tulisa is said to have enjoyed a romance with Costas Panayiotou, the son of property tycoon, Andreas Panayiotou.
A source told The Mirror at the time: ‘They really hit it off. They have a lot in common and share several friends and interests, as well as a Greek-Cypriot background.
‘Costas is a bit younger but that doesn’t seem to matter. It’s exciting. They’ve had a great time.’
By autumn, Tulisa said: ‘I was seeing someone but we’re not together now.
‘I’m not looking for love. Right now I’m not thinking to the future, I’m just married to the music.
‘I do sometimes get a lot of attention from guys but I’m just enjoying doing my own thing. I’m 26 and I’m loving life.’
David King
In 2017, it was reported that Tulisa was dating Cher’s nephew David King. The music producer and Tulisa were working together in the studio when they are said to have grown close.
At the time an insider told the Mail Online: ‘They’ve been spending a lot of time together and are both currently staying at Cher’s Malibu home.
‘Things are going really well.’
They added that Tulisa was ‘very happy’. It is not known when the connection fizzled.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! continues tonight at 9pm on ITV1.
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