Rita Ora

Rita Ora is a British singer, songwriter, and television personality who rose to prominence in the early 2010s. Known for a series of chart hits in the United Kingdom and a presence across pop and dance music, she has also built a parallel career as a television presenter, coach, and actress, becoming one of the most visible British pop figures of her generation.

Early life

Ora was born on November 26, 1990, in Pristina, in what was then Yugoslavia and is now Kosovo, to an ethnic Albanian family. Her family left amid political instability and settled in London when she was a small child. She grew up in the Notting Hill area of west London and attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School. She began performing while a teenager, appearing in small acting and singing roles, performing at local venues, and entering talent competitions as she developed her voice and stage presence.

Career

Ora signed with Roc Nation and gained widespread attention in 2012, when she was featured on DJ Fresh's single "Hot Right Now" and released her own singles "R.I.P." and "How We Do (Party)," both of which topped the UK Singles Chart. Her debut album, "Ora," was released in 2012 and reached number one in the United Kingdom. Over the following years she scored additional UK hits including "I Will Never Let You Down," "Black Widow" with Iggy Azalea, "Doing It" with Liam Payne, and "Anywhere." During this period she also became a fixture in the British music and fashion scenes, while a contractual dispute with her label slowed the release of new material.

Recent work

Ora released her second studio album, "Phoenix," in 2018, which included the singles "Your Song," "Anywhere," and "Let You Love Me"; the run of hits contributed to her record number of UK top-ten singles by a British female solo artist. She later released the album "You & I" in 2023. Alongside music, Ora has expanded into television, serving as a coach on "The Voice UK" and "The Voice Australia," and as a host on "The Masked Singer" in multiple territories and on the fashion competition series "America's Next Top Model." She has also pursued acting, appearing in films including the "Fifty Shades" series and "Pokémon Detective Pikachu," and has undertaken business ventures in fashion, beauty, and spirits. Ora has performed at major events and benefit concerts, has been involved in charitable causes, and has used her platform to highlight her Kosovan Albanian heritage. She married the New Zealand film director Taika Waititi, further raising her profile in entertainment circles, and continues to balance recording, touring, and television work across multiple countries.