I’m Famous star Tulisa Contostavlos has revealed her real name – and it’s not ‘Tulisa’.
The N-Dubz star, 36, shocked fans with his birth nickname just before heading into the jungle and confirmed fans have been saying it all wrong.
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Tulisa Contostavlos was not named ‘Tulisa’ at birth Credit: Rex
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The I’m Famous star revealed her real name before taking to the jungle Credit: ITV1/UNPIXS
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Fans have been mispronouncing Tulisa’s name since 2007. Credit: PA: Press Association
Since gaining fame in 2007, Tulisa has been known to the public as just that – Tulisa.
But speaking to Olivia Attwood for her So Wrong It’s Right podcast just before flying to Australia, Tulisa revealed it wasn’t her name.
The music star and former X Factor judge is actually called Tula.
Olivia asked, “Tulisa isn’t your real name?”
She replied, “No, it’s not. You’re the first person to ever mention that. I love it. Fresh energy!”
Acting excited, Olivia said, “That’s Tula?”
Using a Greek accent, Tulisa explained: “Tula. My grandmother’s name is also Tula, so I was named after her.
“So ‘Tulisa’ means ‘little Tula’ in Greek, because I’m half Greek.
“Then if you say Tulisa in British it’s ‘Tu-lisaa’.”
Laughing, Olivia said, “Let’s just butcher him!”
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Tulisa continued, “Yeah, that was my nickname growing up in Greek anyway.”
Together with her cousin Dappy and his best friend Fazer, Tulisa formed N-Dubz when she was just 11 years old.
It took seven years for the hip-hop and grime group to break into the mainstream music industry.
In 2011 and 2012, Tulisa – then aged just 22 – won a spot on The X Factor as a judge.
But even then, her name was announced as ‘Tulisa’ every week while the show had millions of viewers.
On Sunday, Tulisa took part in this year’s competition I am famous…Get me out of here! like a camp.
Fans, however, are already wondering if there is a feud between the star and another camp friend.
During Monday night’s episode, the celebs cooked up a camp dinner for the second time, with keen amateur chef Tulisa stepping down to give Danny Jones a shot.
I am a celebrity in 2024
As the hit ITV series enters its 24th series, it looks like a new batch of famous faces will re-enter the Australian jungle to face the terrifying Bushtucker Trials and live among the creatures in the camp to come out on top and be crowned King or Queen jungles. The Sun’s Jake Penkethman looks at the stars going down this year…
Coleen Rooney – Arguably the most famous name heading into the camp, the leading WAG, famous for her marriage to Wayne Rooney, will return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four has bagged a deal worth more than £1.5m to go to the camp this year, making her the highest-paid contestant ever.
Tulisa – The pop star and former X Factor judge looks set to make a triumphant return to TV by signing up for this year’s I’m A Celeb after years of avoiding TV shows. Famous for being a member of trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV’s The X Factor in a multi-million dollar deal.
Alan Halsall – The actor, known for his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs in ITV’s Coronation Street, was originally signed to host Down Under last year, but surgery knocked out his planned appearance. Now he will be hoping to become the latest Corrie star to win over both viewers and his fellow celebrities when he arrives at the camp.
Melvin Odoom – Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after making a name for himself with leading roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. He’s already been on the Strictly dance floor and hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015, but now he faces his biggest challenge yet – the Australian jungle.
GK Barry – Britain’s biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has turned her TikTok fame into a lucrative career. In addition to her popular social media channels, she hosts a weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and appears regularly on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even endorsed popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers.
Dean McCullough – A rising star among this year’s celebrity crowd, Dean first came to notice with his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was selected to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has been featured ever since. He has enjoyed a move to ITV over the past year thanks to a guest appearance on Big Brother spin-off show Late & Live.
Oti Mabuse – professional dancer has signed up for her latest TV show after working her way through the biggest programs on the box. She originally rose to fame on Strictly Come Dancing, but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer, as well as her current role on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
Danny Jones – The McFly star was added to the program at the last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle, after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he is now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice, alongside bandmate Tom. A Jungle insider said: “As well as bringing some of the group’s stars with them, they’ll be providing some serious-type candy for camp friends and viewers at home.”
Maura Higgins – The Irish TV beauty first shot to fame on Love Island where she had a brief fling with dancer Curtis Pritchard. Since then she has competed in Dancing on Ice, as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty pageant, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been building her career in the US by being a social media correspondent and host of Love Island USA’s Aftersun show. She even guest starred in an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, last year instead of Maya Jama.
Jane Moore – The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist will be braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge – she recently separated from her husband. It will be Jane’s first foray into reality TV with the TV favorite who has always said no to reality shows in the past.
Barry McGuigan – Former professional boxer Barry will become the latest martial arts champion to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a difficult few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danica to breast cancer. He told The Late Late Show in 2021: “She was such an integral part of the family that it hurts every day.”
Rev Richard Coles – Former BBC radio presenter Rev Richard Coles is ready to go on I’m a Celebrity – and he’s ready to let go of his old employer. The former Communards and Strictly star, 62, said the BBC didn’t know his girlfriend from his elbow last year. An insider said: “Senior Coles will have all kinds of stories to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, to his appearances on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth.”
But Tulisa couldn’t help but swing wildly as she watched from afar.
McFly star Danny and his sous chef Melvin Odoom started cooking crocodile tail, and Tulisa got updates all the time.
She admitted to the Bush Telegraph: “Part of me was really frustrated. I just wanted to hang up and say ‘let me do it’ or ‘just give it to me’.
“But then another part of me was like, ‘Can you do this for me, please?'”
As Danny and Melvin prepared a meal in a storm, Tulisa asked, “Are you guys heating the oil in that pan?
“If it sits on that flame, it’s just going to start smoking.”
The scene cut to Melvin in the Bush Telegraph, who said: “I could see Tulisa looking from afar and looking for things and nodding if it’s a good idea or staring if she thinks something doesn’t sound right.”
Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan wrote: “Can someone tell Tulisa this? Girls, Danny Jones was a finalist on MasterChef.”
I’m a celebrity…Let’s get to know you from here! continues tonight at 9pm on ITV1/ ITVX
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Tulisa joined N-Dubz when she was just 11 years old Credit: Dan Kennedy – The Sun
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She was an X Factor judge in 2011 and 2012. Credit: Ray Collins – The Sun
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Fans are already wondering if there is a feud between Tulisa and Danny Jones
