Rita Ora biography, husband, nationality, age, height, family 2025

Biography of Rita Ora

Rita Ora's rise from refugee daughter to global superstar is nothing short of extraordinary – by thirty, she'd conquered music, film, and fashion through sheer talent and relentless drive.

Childhood and Youth

Rita was born in Pristina, then part of Yugoslavia and now Kosovo's capital. When ethnic conflicts erupted in the early '90s, Rita's Muslim parents fled their homeland for London.

One-year-old Rita and her older sister spent weeks in a children's home while their parents navigated the refugee process. Despite the rough start, life gradually stabilized. Her father opened a pub, her mother started working as a psychiatrist, and soon they welcomed a baby brother named Don.

Rita was a born entertainer who loved singing and performing from an early age. In elementary school, she performed in the school ensemble and later joined Sylvia Young's theater school. Weekends meant helping dad at the pub – and treating customers to impromptu performances.

Music Career

At sixteen, Rita landed her own manager, Martin Terefe, who introduced her to popular British musician Craig David. They collaborated on the singles "Awkward" and "Where's Your Love," and Rita also appeared in one of David's music videos.

Where's Your Love - Craig David and Rita Ora

In 2008, Rita showed interest in competing in Eurovision Song Contest 2009 but pulled out before the final selection round. A few months later, her manager connected her with a rep from American record label Roc Nation, who arranged a meeting with rapper Jay-Z, the label's founder. In December 2009, Rita flew to New York and quickly inked a deal.

Initially, she sang backup vocals for Jay-Z and rapper Drake. But by the end of 2011, her song "Hot Right Now" with DJ Fresh dropped. The video exploded on YouTube, racking up over 50 million views in record time and landing top spots on the British charts when the single dropped in February.

DJ Fresh ft. Rita Ora - Hot Right Now

In spring 2012, Rita Ora hit Z100 radio alongside Jay-Z to debut her solo track "How We Do." A few months later, her debut album "ORA" dropped, featuring her solo work plus collaborations with Drake, Kanye West, and other major artists.

Rita Ora: I Lived With Constant Anxiety…After Being Signed By Jay-Z At 18

The album received positive reviews from both critics and listeners, and the singles "How We Do" and "R.I.P." topped global charts for several months. By the end of 2012, she had been nominated for multiple prestigious awards, cementing her status as a major force in the music industry.

At the end of 2018, her second studio album "Phoenix" dropped, featuring 12 tracks, including a collaboration with the late Avicii and the song "Girls" with Bebe Rexha and Cardi B.

Rita Ora - Girls ft. Cardi B, Bebe Rexha & Charli XCX

Film Career

Rita has also made her mark in the film industry. She first hit the screen as a teenager with a small role in the movie "Spivs" (2004). In 2013, she appeared in the sixth installment of the action franchise "Fast & Furious," followed by a cameo in the TV series "90210."

In 2015, she landed the role of the main character's sister in the erotic drama "Fifty Shades of Grey," which generated as much buzz as "9½ Weeks" did back in the day. She also appeared in the second and third parts of the trilogy, which came out in 2017 and 2018.

Rita Ora talks Fifty Shades of Grey at KISS FM

In 2019, she appeared in the family movie "Pokémon Detective Pikachu."

Other Achievements

Rita's left an undeniable mark on the fashion world. Her striking appearance and natural grace caught the eye of Karl Lagerfeld, who invited her as an honorary guest to the annual Grace Kelly Foundation charity ball in Monte Carlo. She's successfully collaborated with global brands like DKNY, Rimmel, and Roberto Cavalli, and became the face of Escada's ad campaign in 2019.

In 2014, Rita launched her own clothing line

In 2014, Rita teamed up with Adidas to launch her own clothing line, which continues to sell well in stores across Europe and America.

Rita's become a familiar face on TV, serving as a judge on the UK versions of "The Voice" and "The X Factor," and hosting the reality show "America's Next Top Model" since 2016.

Rita Ora's Personal Life

Rita Ora's personal life is just as vibrant and eventful as her professional career. She has been linked to American singer Bruno Mars, reality TV star Rob Kardashian, Scottish musician Calvin Harris, Ricky Hil, the son of fashion mogul Tommy Hilfiger, and producer Andrew Watt.

Rita even had to shut down romance rumors with Jay-Z, calling the rapper and his wife Beyoncé her "second family."

Since late 2018, Rita was publicly linked to actor Andrew Garfield, the star of the superhero film "Spider-Man." Despite their busy schedules, the couple tries to spend as much quality time together as possible.

But it was New Zealand director Taika Waititi who ultimately won her heart. They first met in 2018 at a party at Waititi's house, started dating in 2021, and tied the knot in 2022. Rita actually popped the question, and Taika said yes immediately. The intimate wedding took place at their Los Angeles home with just a small circle of friends.

Rita Ora Now

In 2020, Rita was busy filming "Twist" alongside Rafferty Law in the lead role. The crime drama was released in January 2021.

In 2022, she landed a role in Disney+'s "Beauty and the Beast" prequel, though the project was eventually shelved. Meanwhile, Rita joined the cast of the thriller "Revenge Games" starring Jamie Foxx and Robert De Niro.

As for new musical creativity, Rita's third studio album "You Only Love Me" was released in January 2023.

Rita Ora - You & I Official Video

Vicki Rogers

I just wish this girl to settle down and find a «prince on a white horse» at last! And stop singing, Rita Ora, no one is interested anymore..

2021-05-10 13:22:16
Pedro Brown

Rita Ora has good tracks, she collaborated with Jay Z and Drake themselves! This is a direct success. And Rita herself is incredibly beautiful and sexy.

2021-04-20 16:15:20
Melissa Bridges

I am delighted with Rita`s creativity. Her songs give me energy for the whole day!

2021-04-17 21:53:28
Donald Nelson

I had no idea that Rita Ora is Albanian. But what a colossal success this girl has achieved. To spite all the haters :)

2021-03-28 18:25:23
Karen Mason

For some reason, I very much remember the Tezenis ad with Rita Ora. She is a really cool ambassador of this company, very beautiful :)

2021-03-24 18:02:53

Photos: Rita Ora