Tulisa Contostavlos has opened up for the first time about her difficult year, which saw her go to court over accusations about supplying drugs, before the case was thrown out in July. The former X Factor judge, who will stand in for ill Mel B on the talent show's final on Saturday night, spoke to chat show host Jonathan Ross about the tough time she experienced.
"Where I'm at now, I would describe it as the kind of life experience that you can't buy," said Tulisa. "It felt like I fit 10 years into one… I feel like I've taken a lot of positives from it and I've had a real journey, learnt a lot of life lessons in the year that I've had and I feel like I've grown and changed in ways that I wouldn't have if it hadn't have happened."
Tulisa, who was arrested after allegations about her supplying Class A drugs appeared in UK newspapers, said she had ups and downs throughout the year.
"I had moments when I woke up in the morning and I was like 'I can do this, I'm gonna get through this . I'm gonna come back bigger and better than ever’," she said. "And then there were days when I was literally crying my eyes out on the bathroom floor. It really did vary on the day and the moment but I would say my overall approach to the situation was to stay strong and I knew in my mind I had to stay strong, I didn't really have a choice.
"I am a religious person," added Tulisa. "And I am spiritual and for me it did feel like it was just one big test that God was throwing at me to give me a bit of a wake up call, a year of enlightenment and put my life into perspective."
Tulisa channeled her energy into recording new music, recently performing her first gig in 18 months.
"I had to prepare myself like I was going to come back from this and that meant going to the studio," she said. "I started gymming it, training, exercising, things that I’d never [do]… and I was just having lifestyle changes and it was a bit turn around for me."
Camden-born Tulisa also set the record straight about rumours that she has undergone plastic surgery.
"To clarify, I haven’t had surgery," she said. "Surgery is 'going under the knife,' breaking bones, adding stuff in. I simply just had cosmetic enhancement, it's just a little bit of filler which I put a little bit in my cheeks and in my lips.
"Now I just have it in my lips," she added. "I like having my lips done, it's my personal thing, it makes me happy. I'm honest about it, I could lie, at least I'm telling the truth!"