Rita Ora

ABOUT

Rita Ora is an internationally renowned singer, songwriter, and actress from the United Kingdom. Born on November 26, 1990, in Pristina, Kosovo (then part of Yugoslavia), she moved to London with her family at a very young age. Ora initially gained recognition with her debut single “Hot Right Now” in 2012, a collaboration with DJ Fresh, which topped the UK Singles Chart. She has since established herself as a formidable force in the music and entertainment industry, known for her dynamic voice, eclectic style, and charismatic personality.

BEFORE FAME

Rita Ora's passion for music blossomed early in her teens. She attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London, where she honed her skills in performance arts. Ora made her first professional leap into the music scene by auditioning for ‘Eurovision: Your Country Needs You’ to be the United Kingdom's contestant for Eurovision 2009. Although she withdrew from the competition, the exposure provided a crucial stepping stone that led her to be discovered by Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s record label, where she signed a deal in 2009.

TRIVIA

• Rita Ora's debut studio album, ‘Ora’, released in 2012, debuted at number one in the UK and produced chart-topping singles such as “R.I.P.” and “How We Do (Party)”.
• Apart from her music career, Rita has acted in several films, including the ‘Fifty Shades’ series and 2019's ‘Pokémon: Detective Pikachu’.
• She has served as a reality TV judge, appearing on shows like 'The Voice UK', ‘The X Factor UK’, and 'America's Next Top Model'.
• In 2019, she established her own fashion line in collaboration with the German sportswear brand, Adidas.

FAMILY LIFE

Rita Ora was born to Albanian parents, Vera (née Bajraktari) and Besnik Sahatçiu. Her mother is a psychiatrist, and her father is an economist and a pub owner. She has an older sister, Elena, and a younger brother, Don. Her family moved to London when she was a child due to political unrest in her home country. Ora maintains a close relationship with her family, often crediting them for their support and influence in her pursuit of a career in entertainment.

ASSOCIATED WITH

Throughout her career, Rita Ora has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry. She has worked with artists like Iggy Azalea on the hit single “Black Widow”, Chris Brown on “Body on Me”, and the late DJ Avicii on “Lonely Together”. She is also known for her association with Roc Nation, Jay-Z's record label, which played a pivotal role in the early stages of her career. Ora continues to be a prominent figure in the global music scene, known for her versatility and wide range of musical collaborations.