Singer Rita Ora has expressed pride in her identity as an immigrant, reflecting on her journey from growing up as a refugee to becoming a successful global artist. Ora, 35, recently discussed her upbringing and how it has shaped her perspective.
Born in Pristina, Kosovo, Ora and her family relocated to the UK during the 1990s amid the persecution of ethnic Albanians. Her parents, a doctor and an economist, rebuilt their lives in the UK, with her father taking over a pub and her mother retraining as a psychiatrist. Ora stated in an interview with The Times that she is grateful for the education she received and is proud of being an immigrant.
"I think a lot of immigrants have a special energy: maybe a touch of imposter syndrome that makes them ready to improve themselves," Ora said. "Even if they're not first generation, you look back at so many great artists, and there's an immigrant story in their family history."
Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008, making it one of the youngest countries in Europe.
Career and Personal Life
Ora is currently working on her fourth album and recently reprised her role as the Queen of Hearts in the Descendants franchise. She also expressed a desire to collaborate with her husband, filmmaker Taika Waititi, on screen. "Absolutely. I'm surprised it has taken this long! It all has to be about the script, the story and it just has to make sense but that is one of our dreams," she said regarding appearing in one of his films.
The couple, married for nearly four years, are known for their spontaneous approach to life, attributing it to their shared astrological fire signs.
Health and Future Planning
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Ora has been proactive about her health, including freezing her eggs in her twenties as a precautionary measure. She described her thirties as a period of significant physical changes, leading her to adopt an athlete-like approach to fitness. Ora emphasized that her health journey is focused on well-being rather than appearance.
Her interest in menopause awareness was influenced by her mother's early menopause due to breast cancer treatment. Ora has educated herself on the subject, drawing insights from figures like Davina McCall. Having frozen her eggs at ages 24 and 27, Ora feels prepared for future family expansion, noting that this decision provided her with a sense of security.