N-Dubz's Tulisa Contostavlos: 'I'm a musician, if I wanted to take my clothes off, I would have been a stripper’
By Anna Jury 21/11/2010
Heroine of controversial band N-Dubz Tulisa Contostavlos is flying above the mean streets of Popville, ready to top the charts in a single bound, knock out villainous boyfriends, and bring justice to the world!
Tulisa is standing semi-naked in the middle of the floor, with four women crouched at her feet pouring talcum powder into her trousers before dragging the super-skintight red latex catsuit up her legs, inch by squeaky inch.
Tulisa, 22, is texting on her phone, seemingly oblivious to the struggle around her nether regions. However, she only has herself to blame. She was the one who came up with the idea of being a superhero for todays shoot.
But it only gets worse once she is hoisted into the air for a spot of fierce flying the eye-wateringly tight harness bites around the crotch as she dangles mid-air. I feel like such a plum, she laughs, somewhere between hysteria and tears.
Far from the feisty, mouthy bird we were expecting in Tulisa, (what with N-Dubz constantly surrounded by controversy, from trashed hotel rooms to drug scandals), she is sweet, polite and smart.
Unlike many of her peers in the music business, she wont do gratuitous flesh-flashing for photo shoots.
No, I dont do bikinis, she confirms. But this is a girl who really sticks to her guns, turning down a quarter of a million quid to pose naked for Playboy. Respect to her.
If a girl wants to be a glamour model Ive got totally nothing against her, its just not for me. Im a musician, if I wanted to take my clothes off, I would have been a stripper.
Its that honesty thats won Tulisa a solid fan base and its not just stripping off which inspires her famous straight-talking.
Having grown up on a North London council estate and cared for her mentally ill mother since she was nine, shes always been impressively open about the battles she had with depression, self-harm and bullying during that time.
While were not surprised this has won her a legion of fans who are struggling with similar problems, Tulisa herself seems taken aback by it. It shocks me when people contact me telling me about their problems, but eventually it becomes the norm and you realise you have a responsibility.
Its looks like its only her love life Tulisa keeps tight-lipped about. Having been engaged twice since the band came into the public eye, she squirms when we ask if shes seeing anyone new.
Ive made a decision not to comment on my love life any more, she says apologetically, but firmly. It just causes dramas. Its hard enough getting to know a person in a relationship without having the world involved. Well, that doesnt sound like a no.
Relationships aside, it sounds like 2011 is going to be an exciting time for N-Dubz.
Its going to be the American journey, says Tulisa.
TULISA ON WEARING A RUBBER CATSUIT
I cant lie about the catsuits, I do feel a bit sexy in them. My favourite is the grey one, I like my bum in it. Today is the first time Ive had my boobs inflated though. The red catsuit was so tight it crushed my actual boobs, so they had to inflate the air boobs.
'Usually I would have been paranoid about a shoot like this but Ive lost weight recently. I didnt mean to, it just happened but Im probably at the slimmest Ive been in a good year so I didnt feel too bad in the catsuit.
'Wearing a catsuit in the harness was interesting. Ive been in one before but Id forgotten how painful they are. It gave me a massive wedgie!
TULISA THE SUPERHERO
What superpower would you like?
'Invisibility. I could walk around the crowd at my shows and hear what people are saying. But maybe thats not such a good idea, because if I heard any negative comments the person would feel a hand coming out of nowhere to slap them.'
Whos your favourite superhero?
'My favourite kick-ass character is Alice in Resident Evil shes brilliant in the fight scenes. Id love to play a character like that and kick some ass, itd be my dream role. One day.'
If you were a superhero what injustice would you fight?
'Skanky men, any men around the world deceiving their wives or girlfriends. Being invisible would be useful, Id come up behind them and beat them up. Ive got some ex-boyfriends whod get that treatment, oh yeah. '
If you ruled the world for a day what rule would you introduce?
'Everyone must listen to me. (Laughs.) I could make world peace, thered be no crime. Id sort so much stuff out.'