Five years ago, I wrote an article that asked the world to see Rita Ora beyond the tabloid headlines. Last year, we republished it on ROARA, as the platform it was originally on, shut down. And while that piece debuted my journalism career, today, I am giving you the sequel. As I already said back then, it’s not about what you can find scrolling on the internet – it’s about the quiet power behind her name that only real ones can see.
Back then, I wanted to challenge the perception the public had of her due to the clownery that is tabloid media. I wanted to remind people that there was far more value behind her name than the press was willing to acknowledge. Looking back now, I wouldn’t change a single word of what I wrote. If anything, the years that followed have only reinforced my belief that Rita Ora remains one of the most misunderstood and underestimated women in entertainment.
When someone asks me who Rita Ora is to me, it’s hard to explain it in simple words. Not because I don’t have much to say – quite the opposite – but because her impact on me personally and professionally became the blueprint for who I have become, shaping my path and changing my life for the better. How do you explain the depth of it all to someone who hasn’t lived it? You can’t. But if you know me, you definitely know her.
I have been fortunate enough to get to know Rita personally and each time we met, she has shown me genuine love, kindness and appreciation. When she enters a room, you are instantly captured by her warm aura (pun intended) and the kind of comfort that feels healing. And that feeling stays with you long after that.
When people talk about Rita, it’s often about what they see and hear – her music, her fashion, her appearance – but rarely about how she makes people feel. As her mum once said, her heart is bigger than her body, and that couldn’t be more true. Her energy, her kindness – it goes beyond anything that can be measured in numbers, charts or headlines.
The real legacy she is building isn’t just in awards or achievements – it’s in the bonds she has made possible and the lives she has changed along the way. People who never would’ve met now walk through life together, because her light made space for them to find each other.
Now, reading that might make you wonder how much more there is to Rita than you were made to believe online – either by trolls on the internet or nobodies who are financially profiting from their false portrayal of a woman they have failed to show the respect she deserves. Let’s be honest, they have never even given her a chance to win in the first place.
Five years into my journalism career, I have seen the impact the fans perspective can have and the power you hold when you give it a place to shine. When I got my first article published – rewriting the narrative around Rita’s name – I never imagined it would become the foundation of my professional purpose. It made me discover a niche in journalism no one has touched before and I made the decision to become the change I wanted to see.
The drive to pursue that path stemmed from watching Rita be a force across multiple industries, working her hardest and never giving up despite countless efforts to dim her light and drain her power. She carried on through every hardship, every obstacle that seemed impossible to overcome and never let the outside noise be louder than the beat of her heart or her strong self-belief. The general public might not see beyond their own perceptions, but I strongly advise you to take a moment to understand: she is only human too and she feels such as deeply as we do.
Countless times over the years, Rita put a bandaid over my fragile heart and gave me the strength to keep going. At my lowest points, she has somehow always been there to help me back up, oftentimes without even realizing it. No words could ever describe the difference that has made in my life and how much it means to me.
I can only speak from personal experience when describing who Rita Ora is, but it is a truth that needs to be amplified. There is more to her story, more to the way she presents herself and more to the woman that does it all. To some, she is their favorite artist and/or favorite entertainer, to others she is known as the Queen Of Hearts in the Descendants franchise or a judge on the Masked Singer US. And if you are into hair care, she might be known to you as the co-founder of TYPEBEA. Rita has worn many hats throughout her career, but when we talk about her presence, we need to talk about every aspect of it.
So as we just recognized, Rita’s influence spans multiple industries – from music to fashion, television, and business. We’ve seen her do it all. Her story is one of persistence, vision, and heart. She is a living proof that when you combine hard work with passion and dedication, dreams stop being abstract and start becoming achievable. She has led by example – not just through her outstanding accomplishments, but through who she is behind it all. She has shown our generation that nothing is out of reach. That embracing who you truly are – fully, unapologetically – is your greatest power. She has broken barriers, exceeded expectations, and built a name for herself across the globe, all while remaining grounded, gracious, and authentically herself .
That is the power of her presence: not just in what she does or who she appears to be, but in how she makes others believe they can do it too. Just by watching her work ethic and drive, we found the courage within ourselves to pursue our own careers. And that is a testament to the incredible person Rita Ora is, if you care enough to notice.
I don’t think there is anyone I could talk more about than Rita, apart from myself I guess. To be honest, there might be enough stories and thoughts to put into a book some day, who knows. Not everyone will understand the love and gratitude I feel towards her and why she is a fundamental character in my life’s story, and that’s okay. Nevertheless, I will continue to use my voice to amplify hers.
So what has happened in the last five years? Rita took on even more creative projects and has always given us something to look forward to. The only thing she has yet to present us – in its entirety – is her fourth studio album. The anticipation is high, our patience is low and our expectations have been in limbo, awaiting more details to work with. What hasn’t changed but deepened is my connection with Rita and for that I am eternally grateful.
As we are reaching the end of this sequel, I simply want you to keep an open mind when it comes to women like Rita Ora. Because at the end of the day, she has always been more than a tabloid headline, and if there is one thing I have learned being part of her journey, it is that the more she is underestimated, the further she rises beyond expectation. And if you don’t catch that wave now, you won’t ever see the magic that could be unfolding on the horizon.
ROARA Magazine 