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Evening Standard
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Lisa McLoughlin

I’m A Celebrity's Tulisa Contostavlos’ dating history explained as she comes out as demisexual

Tulisa Contostavlos labelled herself demisexual during Tuesday night’s I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of here!

The N-Dubz star explained that she needs a “really close emotional bond with someone” and revealing she has been celibate “for over three years”.

Speaking to her campmates, she revealed she had a profile on exclusive dating app Raya, but it had never resulted in a meet up, describing herself as “not really a dater” and “proper guarded” in her love life.

“I feel like I’m demisexual. I need to have a really close emotional bond with someone,” the 36-year-old said. “I need actual depth… I’m a slow, slow burner, I’ve been celibate for over three years.”

Demisexuality is an umbrella term used to describe those who may only feel sexual or romantic attraction after forming an emotional connection or bond.

When quizzed about her celibacy, Contostavlos said: “I’m not an overly sexualised person.

“For me, it’s all about the connection and the emotions that I feel with someone and then wanting to express them in that way.”

As Tulisa’s jungle adventure unfolds and the campmates continue to tell all about their lives, let’s take a trip down memory lane to revisit her past relationships.

Fazer

(Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Tulisa and her N-Dubz bandmate Fazer, real name Richard Rawson, once mixed business with romance. While climbing the charts together, the two dated on and off during their teenage years.

While they largely kept their relationship under wraps, Tulisa opened up in 2011, telling The Mirror: “I’m really happy and have the best boyfriend – he’s so supportive of what I’m doing.

“He’s my rock and has been there for me through everything. I couldn’t do this without him.”

However, just a year later, they called it quits. Despite the breakup, they remained on good terms and reunited professionally for N-Dubz’s 2022 comeback, proving their bond as collaborators has endured.

Justin Edwards

(AFP via Getty Images)

Tulisa endured significant distress after an intimate video with her ex-boyfriend Justin Edwards was leaked online. Although the couple had split in 2010, the video emerged two years later in 2012.

Edwards, also known by his stage name MC Ultra, initially denied any involvement but later admitted responsibility and issued an apology at London’s High Court.

Recalling the ordeal in her autobiography Honest: My Story So Far, the former X Factor judge wrote, “It hit me like a train. I couldn’t stop crying. It felt like my whole world was collapsing.

“I’d try to push it out of my mind, but it kept creeping back—it was completely all-consuming.”

Jack O’Connell

(Getty Images)

Tulisa had a short-lived romance with Skins actor Jack O’Connell, which lasted three months, following her split from Edwards.

Reflecting on their connection, she praised the actor for being her rock.

She shared: “As soon as I saw him, everything started to feel better, easier. For the next three weeks he never left my side. And as time went on I started to feel stronger.”

Their breakup was reportedly due to clashing work schedules.

Addressing the split on social media, she clarified on X, then Twitter: “4 the record I didn’t dump any1, it was a mutual decision with no hard feelings n that’s all there is 2 it.”

Jody Latham

(Getty Images)

In 2012, Shameless star Jody Latham appeared in the music video for Tulisa’s single "Sight of You," portraying her on-screen boyfriend who was unfaithful, leaving her character torn about whether to forgive him.

Rumours soon surfaced that their on-screen chemistry had sparked a real-life romance, though neither Tulisa nor Jody ever confirmed the speculation.

However after their reported romance ended, a friend of Latham told The Sun he felt "like an idiot" following the reported break-up.

The source claimed: “He would have done anything for her, but then she just turned cold on him.

“From getting 30 text messages a day from her, he suddenly only started to get a couple.”

Danny Simpson

Danny Simpson leaves court (Jon Super/PA)

In 2013, Tulisa had an eight-month relationship with Premier League footballer Danny Simpson.

Reflecting on their split, she claimed that an argument over putting a pair of £1,000 Christian Louboutin shoes into a Tesco carrier bag led to the breakdown of their relationship.

Speaking to The Sun at the time, the Young hitmaker didn’t hold back, stating: “He had been a fan for six years and had a massive crush on me. Eventually, he found someone who knew me.”

She went on to suggest that their relationship boosted his public profile, saying: “He wasn’t a celebrity until he met me. He was a famous footballer but not a celebrity. As soon as he got with me, he became a celebrity footballer.”

Tulisa also criticised his personality, adding: “He’s not as intelligent as me. And he’s very shallow and I’m very real.”

Costas Panayiotou

(Getty Images)

In the summer of 2014, Tulisa was reportedly involved with Costas Panayiotou, the son of property mogul Andreas Panayiotou.

Although their romance was short-lived, a source told The Mirror back then: “They really hit it off. They have a lot in common and share several friends and interests, as well as a Greek-Cypriot background.

"Costas is a bit younger but that doesn’t seem to matter. It’s exciting. They’ve had a great time."

David King

Tulisa’s most recent public relationship was with David King, a music producer and nephew of legendary singer Cher.

In 2017, the two reportedly connected while collaborating in the studio.

A source told MailOnline that same year: “Things are going really well. They've been spending a lot of time together and are both currently staying at Cher's Malibu home.

“They met earlier this year - he's a music producer and he was working on tracks with Tulisa in the studio for her upcoming project.”

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! continues at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX

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