N-Dubz star Tulisa Contostavlos, who recently joined the cast of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! alongside Coleen Rooney and McFly’s Danny Jones, has candidly spoken about a long-standing health condition that has deeply impacted her life.
The 36-year-old singer, who is one of 10 campmates competing for the crown in the Australian jungle, shared her battle with Bell’s Palsy, a condition that has caused significant facial swelling and paralysis.
Tulisa’s Journey with Bell’s Palsy
Speaking on Olivia Attwood’s So Wrong It’s Right podcast before entering the jungle, Tulisa recounted her first encounter with Bell’s Palsy at age 24.
“I had my first Bell’s Palsy attack when I was about 24,” she explained. “I had a massive burst of inflammation, my whole face dropped—eye, everything. I couldn’t move it, and my face stayed like that for seven months. I didn’t go out; I just hid in the house.”
After seven months, her face began to recover, but the lingering effects prompted her to use fillers to balance out the facial asymmetry caused by the inflammation.
The Ongoing Struggle
Tulisa revealed that while she had two years without any attacks, the condition eventually resurfaced with “low-level swelling” and tingling sensations.
“It started to get worse, and it felt like ants crawling in my face,” she said, adding that the inflammation often made her cheek feel as though it was “on fire.”
To manage the effects, Tulisa relied on steroids to reduce the swelling, which led to noticeable differences in her appearance during interviews.
“You might see one interview where I look normal, and another where you’re like, ‘What the hell is going on with her face.’”
A Turning Point
This year, Tulisa sought further medical help and underwent an ultrasound, which revealed three chronically infected cysts in her cheek. Some of these cysts have been surgically removed, and she is awaiting further treatment to address the remaining issues.
Tulisa clarified that the cysts were unrelated to the fillers she used for facial symmetry and expressed hope that the final surgeries would help alleviate her symptoms.
Entering the Jungle with Resilience
Despite her health challenges, Tulisa is determined to make the most of her time in the jungle. Fans of I’m a Celebrity have already expressed admiration for her openness about her condition and her strength in facing personal struggles.
With her characteristic resilience and honesty, Tulisa is quickly becoming a favourite in the camp as she shares her story and bonds with fellow contestants.
I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! continues nightly on ITV1 and ITVX.
