N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos has broken her silence on the emotional and mental challenges she faced during her time on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!. Speaking on Paul C Brunson’s “We Need To Talk” podcast, the singer revealed the often hidden struggles behind her brave front in the jungle.
Anxiety and Night Terrors Behind the Scenes
While viewers witnessed Tulisa confidently taking on daunting tasks, such as jumping from a plane, there was much that wasn’t captured on camera. These unseen moments included “night terrors” and persistent anxiety attacks during her early days on the show.
“Some of the things you didn’t see, I had night terrors for the first four days. I was waking up out of my sleep, and I was having anxiety attacks,” she shared. “Those parts, not everyone knows, so it wasn’t completely smooth sailing for me at all. But I have a great poker face.”
Describing the challenges, Tulisa opened up about pressures to remain composed, saying, “The last thing I wanted to do was go in there and be the hot mess. If anything, I’m going to be the biggest soldier there is.” However, behind closed doors, she admitted to struggling. “I might sit and cry under the sleeping bag—that’s also part of who I am.”
Solitude as Sanctuary
Tulisa, who describes herself as a “massive introvert,” often took refuge from the bustling camp life by spending time on her own. Whether going for walks or hiding in the dunny (the camp’s toilet), she would frequently step away to cope with feeling overwhelmed.
“I spent 90% of my time alone,” she said, explaining her need for solitude amidst the constant presence of campmates and cameras. Even her fellow contestants noticed her absence, joking about her having “gone to the Airbnb.”
The agoraphobia she developed further intensified her feelings, coupled with the impossibility of avoiding constant observation. “I felt so exposed… nowhere to hide, nowhere to run… this underlying fear—probably irrational—of being watched,” she explained, describing her experience as emotionally exhausting.
Leaving the Jungle Early
Although many contestants stayed for the final few days of the show, Tulisa chose to leave Australia and return to the UK early. She removed posts shared by family from her social media accounts during her time on the show, explaining that she needed to process her emotions before reflecting publicly.
“I did what I signed up for, but I came out, I processed, I was feeling the way I was feeling,” she said. “It’s like, ‘You want me to be there out of principle when I’m having a breakdown right now?’ I needed to go home and process.”
Tulisa praised ITV for their support, stating, “They were brilliant and supported me knowing what I needed to do for myself.”
Coping Post-Jungle
After leaving the show, Tulisa spent time alone, away from her phone and social media, to recharge and balance her mental health.
“It was overwhelming coming out—just the overload of it all,” she reflected. She also spoke candidly about her battle with depression during the coronavirus pandemic, during which she faced personal struggles, including her dog’s cancer diagnosis and reliance on sleeping pills.
Reflection and Strength
Despite the challenges, Tulisa expressed gratitude for the joyful moments in the jungle and the bonds she formed with her campmates. Although the experience tested her limits, she viewed it as a “psychological experiment” for personal growth.
While she has largely stayed out of the spotlight recently, Tulisa’s candidness about her struggles sheds light on the hidden difficulties of reality TV and underscores the importance of mental health and self-care.
Tulisa’s bravery serves as a reminder that while we may perceive celebrity lives as effortless, the challenges they face are deeply human. Her willingness to share her mental health struggles stands as a testament to the strength it takes to be vulnerable.