Tulisa: X Factor is like my family

Tulisa Contostavlos has thanked The X Factor for her “fresh start”.

The former N-Dubz star returns to the ITV show as Louis Walsh’s guest coach during the judges’ houses round this week, which comes after she was caught up in a cocaine sting and the subsequent collapsed trial.

“I owe so much to X Factor. I feel like I’m home. Everyone has my back,” she told the Daily Mirror.

“I lost touch with a lot of my friends, people I’ve known for years, when things were at their worst. They disassociated themselves from me and that really hurt. This industry is extremely cut-throat and people just cut you off like that. It’s good to know my X Factor family have not disowned me.”

Tulisa, who left her judge’s seat on the X Factor panel in 2013 after two series, credited the show’s creator Simon Cowell and her pal Louis for their support.

“Louis was one of the people that stuck by me all the way. He’s a true friend. He openly supported me, not caring at the time what people thought,” she continued.

“I’d really like to thank the whole of X Factor, including Simon Cowell, for being so supportive of me. This is a fresh start for me. I have changed so much over the past year so it’s about finding a way to show the general public that this is the new me.”

The 26-year-old singer admitted to having doubts about returning to the show, after laying low for more than a year. She makes her grand entrance in a white bikini, like Bond girl Ursula Andress in Dr No.

“I was terrified,” she said. “When I heard the plan, I thought it was a ballsy thing to do. I just didn’t take it too seriously. I wasn’t showing off, just having a bit of fun.”

Meanwhile, Simon took his final six contestants to see One Direction in concert.

He told The Sun’s TV Magazine: ” They were at a concert with 60,000 people watching a group who came from X Factor. It probably was a bit daunting. It’s a lot to live up to, but it is proof that you can do something from this show.”

Source Article from https://uk.news.yahoo.com/tulisa-x-factor-family-101902281.html

Tulisa: X Factor is like my family