Tulisa Contostavlos has revealed how she almost quit showbiz.

Tulisa Contostavlos
(Ian West/PA)

The N-Dubz singer and former X-Factor judge admitted she was on the verge of leaving the industry, prior to her being caught up in a drugs sting where she was found innocent, because she had “lost her fire”.

“I considered packing it all in before my awful year. When the rumours about X Factor started, saying I was sacked when I wasn’t, I’d had enough,” she told the Daily Mirror.

“I didn’t want to make music, I didn’t want to be on TV, I didn’t want to do anything. I’d lost my fire.

“But this year has done the opposite. It’s brought me back. Now it’s all I want to do. I’ve learnt to be a bit more positive, to spread love and to embrace it. I’m in control now.”

Tulisa Contostavlos
Tulisa Contostavlos (AATW/Universal)

Tulisa – who also had to deal with a leaked sex tape – said getting her career back on track motivated her to stay strong.

“That was the one thing it would 100% affect. If I didn’t have a career, I would have nothing,” she said.

“When I accepted what was happening, I just focused on the fact that it would eventually come to an end. If I’d let myself believe I was finished forever, then I would have been. I just thought I will come back, bigger and better.”

Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh on a beach
Tulisa Contostavlos appeared on The X Factor with Louis Walsh (Handout)

The 26-year-old singer, whose new single Living Without You is released December 14, credited her celebrity friends for supporting her through her ordeal.

“Rochelle Humes was so lovely. Niall Horan was great too. Rylan Clark tweeted about how it was all bulls***,” she continued.

“My X Factor family supported me too. They knew what was going on the whole time, that’s why they got me back on the show and I embraced the comeback with open arms. Plus I couldn’t say no to going to Bermuda, I needed a holiday.”

And Tulisa, who previously dated Jack O’Connell and her N-Dubz bandmate Richard ‘Fazer’ Rawson, is still holding out for Mr Right.

“All girls say they don’t need a man, but I actually don’t. I am comfortable single. I’ve always craved relationships, but now I’d rather be on my own until I meet The One,” she said, adding: ” If you aren’t The One, I’m not interested. I will only do 100% serious.”