Rita Sahatçiu Ora was born in in Pristina, Kosovo to Kosovar-Albanian parents. She was named after her film director grandfather Besim Sahatçiu's favorite film star, Rita Hayworth.
Her mother Vera fled the war-torn family home in 1991, bringing one-year-old Rita with her. Her father Besnik joined the family later and bought a pub, the Queens Arms in Kilburn, North London. Rita began singing from an early age, including some gigs in her dad's pub.
Rita's childhood idols were the Spice Girls. "I just remember watching them - not even meeting them - and I was completely mesmerized," she told Elle about the '90s girl group.
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