How Rita Ora and Dua Lipa have mirrored each other over the years – from a similar sense of style to the same taste in men
Rita Ora and Dua Lipa are two of the world’s most famous chart-topping pop stars.
And it turns out Rita, 32, and Dua, 27, both of Albanian descent, have mirrored each other in many other ways over the years.
It was recently revealed the pair even have the same taste in men, with Dua reportedly now dating Rita’s filmmaker ex-boyfriend Romain Gavras.
From romance to fashion sense, MailOnline takes a look at the similarities between Rita and Dua’s lives.
Similarities: Rita Ora and Dua Lipa are two of the world’s most famous chart-topping pop stars, and it turns out they have much more in common
Love life
Dua is reportedly dating Rita’s filmmaker ex-boyfriend Romain Gavras.
The singer, 27, was spotted leaving Netflix’s annual BAFTA Awards afterparty at the Chiltern Firehouse in London with Romain, 41, last week.
He was seen keeping some distance behind her with the hood of his black top pulled up as they left the venue.
They were seen climbing into a chauffeur-driven car together before heading off after the bash.
A source told The Sun : ‘Dua and Romain have been quietly getting to know each other for several months.
‘They have been enjoying spending time together. The pair met each other’s close circles over the festive period and have lots in common.
‘Dua knows how important it is to find someone who understands her industry. She feels Romain totally gets it. They’re both really creative people.’
Romain dated pop star Rita for six months before their split was confirmed in March 2021.
Rita is now happily married to acclaimed film director Taika Waititi
Looking back: Romain dated pop star Rita, 32, for six months before their split was confirmed in March 2021 (Romain and Rita pictured in August 2020)
Heading home? Singer Dua was spotted leaving Netflix’s annual BAFTA Awards afterparty at the Chiltern Firehouse in London with Romain (left) last week
Growing up
The pop stars’ families, both of Albanian descent, were friends while living in Kosovo decades ago before fleeing to England in the Nineties to escape war there.
Their grandfathers can be seen enjoying a drink in Kosovo in the 1960s in a throwback image, which has been circulating social media.
In the image posted by Dua’s father Dukagjin Lipa, 52, in 2019, Rita’s grandfather Besim Sahatçiu, a film, TV and theatre director, and Dua’s grandfather Seit Lita, a historian and intellectual, sit together drinking.
Duka added a caption on the throwback snap, reading: ‘My dad, Seit Lipa and Mr. Besim Sahatçiu. Grandfathers of @dualipa and @ritaora having a drink in 1960s city of Peja. #grandfathers #friends’.
Rita and Dua then attended the same performing arts school in London and while growing up lived just a few miles from each other, with Rita in Notting Hill and Dua in West Hampstead.
Rita was born in Pristina, Yugoslavia (present-day Kosovo), to Albanian parents. Her mother, Vera, née Bajraktari, is a psychiatrist and her father, Besnik Sahatçiu, is a pub owner, who studied economics.
The singer was named Rita after Besim’s favourite actress Rita Hayworth.
Dua was born in London and is the eldest child of Kosovo Albanian parents Anesa, née Rexha, and Dukagjin from Pristina, FR Yugoslavia (present-day Kosovo). On her maternal grandmother’s side, she is of Bosnian descent.
When asked about Rita in the past, Dua replied: ‘Our parents kind of know each other, and I sort of know her sister.’
Wow! Dua and Rita’s grandfathers (left and right, respectively) can be seen enjoying a drink in Kosovo in the 1960s in a throwback image, which has been circulating social media
Rita’s family history
Rita was born on November 26, 1990 in Pristina, Yugoslavia (now Kosovo)
Her father is Economics graduate and pub owner Besnik Ora and mother psychiatrist Vera Sahatçiu
She has a sister Elena and brother Don
Rita spent the first year of her life in a small flat in Kosovo before her parents fled persecution, war and genocide
Kosovo was then part of Yugoslavia and brutal dictator Slobodan Milosevic was beginning his oppression of ethnic Albanians like Rita’s family
Her grandfather Besim, who died in 2005, was well-respected in his field and in 2018, Kosovo’s Ministry of Culture posthumously honoured him with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Cinematography
That year, a street in the city Prishtina was named after him.
Dua’s family history
Dua Lipa was born on August 22, 1995 in London
Her father is Albanian rock star turned marketing executive Dukagjin Lipa and mother Anesa Lipa
She has a sister named Rina and a brother named Gjin
Her parents, ethnic Albanians from Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, had migrated to Europe to escape violence and oppression in the 1990s
After Kosovo declared independence in February 2008, where she learned more about the Albanian language
Her grandfather Seit passed away in 1999 and was renowned for his work as a historian, acting as head of the Kosovan Institute of History from 1990 to 1995
Career
Rita made a name for herself in the music industry when she scored her first No1, Hot Right Now, in 2012.
She went on to land a string of hits with 13 UK top ten singles, including four No1s.
Dua’s chart debut came in 2015 and two years later she released the first of her three No1s, New Rules.
The pair also have several famous mutual friends, as well as collaborators in common – including Rita’s ex boyfriend Calvin Harris.
Calvin, who was reportedly to blame for ex Rita scrapping her second album, worked with Dua on two hits including No1 single One Kiss.
Dua became the face of Adidas in 2018, four years after Rita signed to represent the sportswear brand.
Rita then took up actin when she starred in three Fifty Shades movies alongside Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson.
Dua is now pursuing a career as a Hollywood actress as she’s landed a role in the upcoming spy movie Argylle, also featuring Superman star Henry Cavill and Samuel L. Jackson.
Talent: Rita made a name for herself in the music industry when she scored her first No1, Hot Right Now, in 2012
Pals: The pair also have several famous mutual friends, as well as collaborators in common – including Rita’s ex boyfriend Calvin Harris
Fashion
There’s no denying Rita and Dua both have incredible (and similar) taste when it comes to fashion.
The pair often show off their toned figures by posting sizzling bikini shots on Instagram.
Rita and Dua have also been pictured on stage in similar shimmering silver bodysuits, as well as revealing skin-tight catsuits on the red carpet.
Nowadays, they live just two miles apart in London, with Rita in a £7.5million Victorian mansion in Primrose Hill and Dua residing in a strikingly similar mansion worth £7million.
Fashionista: There’s no denying Rita and Dua both have incredible (and similar) taste when it comes to fashion
Wow! The pair often show off their toned figures by posting sizzling bikini shots on Instagram
Incredible: Rita and Dua have also been pictured on stage in similar shimmering silver bodysuits, as well as revealing skin-tight catsuits on the red carpet
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