Tulisa Contostavlos says N-Dubz bandmate Fazer was “the person that loved me” and he is the one memorable romantic relationship she had growing up.

I’m A Celebrity star Tulisa has given an in-depth interview discussing her rollercoaster life including caring for her sick mum growing up and also discussing her early relationships with men. Looking back she says Fazer is the “only one who means something”.

The singer said: “My safe space was Fazer, like my safety blanket. He was the person that loved me, he was the only person that deserved it, because that is real. That’s real to this day.

“We love each other like family. It doesn’t matter if it’s not romantic anymore. That’s my family, that’s my soul family and the person that I’ve become doesn’t want anyone in my life other than my soul family, especially not when it comes to intimacy. He’s the only person, looking back that means something now.”

Tulisa, 36, became famous in 2008 with her band N-Dubz. N-Dubz – made up of Tulisa, her cousin Dappy and ex Fazer – enjoyed success with Top 10 singles and albums and were signed to the US label Def Jam by 2010. They released another album in 2022 and sold out London’s O2 for four nights last year on tour.

Asked why it didn’t work with Fazer longer term, Tulisa added: “We just were incompatible. There’s a lot of love there. I feel as if it was inevitable. You have two people that are so close, they’re like family close, they’re like friendship close and they have an attraction there and they’re constantly around each other. They can’t get away from each other. It’s inevitable, so we just had to go through it to grow through it. But after being in a relationship we’re very different human beings, very, very different, and that’s really what it comes down to.”

Tulisa quickly left Australia after I’m A Celebrity

Tulisa also tells the Paul C Brunson We Need To Talk podcast that she lost her virginity at 14 and was later sexually assaulted after her drink was spiked. She has been celibate for several years now and identifies as demisexual – meaning she has to form a strong emotional connection with someone before feeling physically attracted to them

Asked what she would tell her 14-year-old self now, she said: “The same thing every goddamn time. Keep your shit together, survive, you’re gonna get through this. Don’t fear anything. There’s nothing for you to be scared of. I always say you’re the biggest demon in the room.

“Not that I walk around as a demon, but it’s the inner beast that is there to tap into if you need it and that’s always my motto or what I tell people.”

Tulisa recently competed in I’m A Celebrity but after coming out of camp left Australia and didn’t stay for the final. Explaining what happened, she said: “I was hyperventilating, crying. It was too much. Is this about a fear I have of being in the spotlight? Or is the person I’ve become just not the kind of person that wants fame any more?”