Being a refugee should not be seen as something that limits you. It should be seen as a testament to what you have endured to get to where you are today.
Our ‘Influential Refugees’ series aims to demonstrate not only the range of people who can find themselves in need of asylum, but also the great things that people of a refugee background can go on to achieve in their lives.
Influential Refugees: Rita Ora
Born in 1990 in the city of Pristina, in what is part of present day Kosovo, Rita Ora and her family fled to England when she was only a year old because of the persecution of ethnic Albanians.
Growing up in London, Ora began her music career in 2007, and quickly went on to collaborate with major artists including TInie Tempah, Iggy Azalea and DJ Fresh. In 2012 she became the artist with the most number 1 singles for the year, after having three consecutive singles reach the top of the charts.
Since then she has received numerous awards for her music, become an honorary ambassador for the Republic of Kosovo, appeared in films and television series and become a judge on the popular TV show The X Factor.