English singer, songwriter, rapper, television personality, actress, and former X Factor judge, Tulisa Contostavlos, has shared details of her 12-year battle with Bell’s palsy, revealing how the condition impacted her appearance and caused ongoing health struggles.
The 36-year-old N-Dubz singer returned to TV on Sunday with ‘I’m A Celebrity‘, sparking discussions among viewers about her new look.
Forestalling criticism, her friend Rylan urged kindness on social media, posting: “Before people start going for appearance, Tulisa has been through a lot health wise the last few years, so let’s not make s**t jokes about her on Twitter yeah x.”
Ahead of the show, Tulisa had her lips and eyebrows tattooed, topped up her lip fillers, and added long eyelash extensions for a fresh look.
But, behind her glamorous appearance lies a painful health journey.
Tulisa was first diagnosed with Bell’s palsy in 2020, a neurological condition causing facial paralysis or weakness due to nerve damage.
Speaking on Olivia Attwood’s podcast ‘So Wrong It’s Right‘, she revealed how the disorder triggered a cycle of facial swelling, pain, and cosmetic procedures.
The issues peaked in 2022 during N-Dubz’s comeback tour.
After consulting various doctors, an ultrasound uncovered “three chronically infected cysts” in her cheek.
Tulisa explained: “I’ve no idea what they were caused by; they weren’t filler, they were just self-occurring. But I came out of the operation and instantly my face was less swollen.”
Tulisa admitted that her first Bell’s palsy attack at 24 led her to use fillers to “balance out” her appearance, which worsened the swelling.
Even though the condition was manageable for two years, she began experiencing tingling sensations and severe swelling again, describing it as “like little ants crawling in my face.”
She shared: “I constantly felt like my cheek was on fire. I’d have good days and bad days, and on some days, I’d take steroids, which would bring it down.”
Meditating on her struggles during the N-Dubz tour, she said: “When I was doing that N-Dubz run, it was at its worst. You might see an interview where I look normal, and then another where it’s like, what the hell is going on with my face?”
Despite the challenges, Tulisa continues to work on her health and appearance while embracing her resilience through her journey.
(LLB. Photos: Tulisa, ITV/Shutterstock, Tulisa/Instagram)