Singer Rita Ora stated she is "proud of being an immigrant" and reflected on her journey as a refugee who achieved international stardom. Ora, 35, is currently working on her fourth album and recently reprised her role in the "Descendants" franchise.
Born in Pristina, Kosovo, Ora's family fled the region in the early 1990s due to the persecution of ethnic Albanians. Upon arriving in the UK, her parents, a doctor and an economist, learned English and rebuilt their lives. Her father managed a pub in London, while her mother retrained as a psychiatrist.
In a recent interview with The Times, Ora discussed her upbringing and the discourse surrounding immigration in the UK. "All I know is I'm always grateful for the education I received and proud of being an immigrant," she said. Ora suggested that immigrants often possess a distinct energy, possibly fueled by imposter syndrome, which drives self-improvement. She noted that many successful artists have family histories that include immigrant experiences.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008, making it one of the world's youngest countries and the youngest in Europe.
Mentioning her personal life, Ora expressed enthusiasm about potentially appearing in a film directed by her husband, filmmaker Taika Waititi. "Absolutely. I'm surprised it has taken this long!" she stated, emphasizing that any collaboration would depend on the script and story. The couple, married for nearly four years, are both described as "fire signs" who tend to make spontaneous plans.
Ora also discussed her proactive approach to health, including freezing her eggs in her twenties and preparing for menopause. After experiencing physical shifts around age 30, she adopted an "athlete" mindset towards her fitness. She clarified that her focus is on how she feels, rather than solely on appearance. Her interest in menopause was partly influenced by her mother's experience with early menopause following breast cancer treatment. Ora has also drawn insights from television personality Davina McCall.
Having frozen her eggs twice, at ages 24 and 27, Ora feels secure about her fertility health. She recalled a doctor's advice at 24 to preserve eggs, a decision she now views as beneficial as she navigates her mid-thirties.