She is the multifaceted singer, model and presenter who, at every turn, lights up the entertainment industry with seemingly effortless style. She is Rita Ora.
Rita Ora’s journey from a little-known artist to an international superstar is a tale of talent, hard work and versatility.
Born in Pristina, Kosovo (then Yugoslavia), in 1990, her family moved to London when she was just a child, and the capital sparked a passion for performance.
Bursting onto the music scene in 2012 at the age of 22, she quickly became a household name with her debut album, Ora, topping the UK charts. Her catchy tunes and dynamic presence endeared her to fans worldwide, with three of the singer’s first five singles becoming chart toppers, (How We Do (Party), RIP and I Will Never Let You Down), and all three of her albums have either gone platinum or made the top 10.
“I think a lot of my career has been about being in the right place at the right time,” she begins. “So much of the industry is timing and I’m grateful for the luck I’ve had.
“I still realise it could have been so different because there are so many incredible artists out there who don’t get the breaks they deserve.”
Apart from her musical achievements, the now-35-year-old has also appeared in several films, including the popular Fifty Shades of Grey series, playing Mia Grey, the adopted younger sister of Jamie Dornan’s Christian. Yet would she have achieved the same success and fame had she not grown up in the UK?
“Being, in essence, a refugee who moved to the UK – I’ve seen my dreams become reality.
I think a lot of my career has been about being in the right place at the right time.
“Without the chance to relocate to London and my parents’ courageous decision, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to engage with my idols, much less create music.”
The BRITs and MOBO award winner, who is married to the New Zealand writer, filmmaker and actor Taika Waititi, continues: “I stand by the fact that if you invest yourself into a project and a life and a dream, you give yourself a chance.
“It is only a chance, and along the way you need good people around you, but if I can inspire others to go after what they want with energy and optimism, that’s a wonderful gift as well.”
Ora also serves as an ambassador for Kosovo, using her platform to promote her homeland and contribute to its cultural and social development; yet her heart is in London.
“This is the country that took me and my family in, gave us hope and inspiration; and if there is one place I want to pay that back, it is here.”
