Marie Claire UK - 10.2019

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HAIR BY SHON HYUNGSUN JU AT THE WALL GROUP USING L’OREAL PROFESSIONNEL. MAKE-UP BY MARIE BRUCE AT EIGHTEENMANAGEMENT USING DIOR CAPTURE YOUTH AND DIOR BACKSTAGE COLLECTION. NAILS BY CHISATO YAMAMOTO AT DAVID ARTISTS USING TOM FORD. PRODUCTION AND BOOKINGS BY JESSICA HARRISON

Cover Story

I was brought up. It was always

work, work, work,’ she says. ‘So I don’t

know how else to think. I just

don’t know if it’s possible, for me as a

person,to take time out. But I’m a girl

andI definitely want to have a big

familyand stuff, so maybe then it’ll

be,“Alright Rita, stop for a second!”’

Shedoes let herself reflect on the

highlights of the last decade, though:

The Oscars, Glastonbury, ‘big moments

that I’m like, wow, that was a really

good memory.’ She recalls Sasha and

Malia Obama being ‘super excited at

the White House. It was a Christmas

party on TV. I had to sing and was so

nervous. Your throat tightens up, you

feel sick, you get pins and needles in

your hands – these are all the symptoms I get before I go on stage.

But I felt like I deserved to be there.’ She felt the same way singing

forPrince Harry earlier this year. ‘Every time we see each other,

I’malways surprised how much he remembers about the other

conversationswe’ve had, because he must meet so many people.

But he’s a proper laugh, and he listens,’ she says.

So,you don’t get imposter syndrome? ‘I’m not gonna lie, I’m

human, everyone has insecurities. Performing at the Oscars in

frontof...’ she casts her mind back remembering Meryl Streep

and Julia Roberts. ‘It was basically Madame Tussauds, but in

real life. I can’t tell you how

overwhelmed I was. And at the

after-parties, when everyone is

there and you’re like, “What am I

doinghere?” Because I don’t have

myfriends with me at those events.

IfI had my girlfriends who grew up

withme on Portobello Road, I’d be

like, fuckit, this is so cool. Don’t

getme wrong, it’s not that I’m not

having a good time. But there’s

a party and there’s a PARTY.’

This is what I love about the

indomitable Rita Ora – she’s not

a party girl, she’s a party woman,

and knows how to do it properly.

She turns 29 in November and

is already planning a huge

celebration for her 30th next year, at which point she will not be

confessing that her rise to fame was wasted on anxiety and

self-doubt, like so many pop stars now do. ‘Oh no, I basked in

everyfucking moment. I was living life to the fullest. I still am.’

Aftersaying our goodbyes, I nip across the road to the shop.

I mean, it’s only polite. And I do as instructed, telling the staff

it’s my birthday and that Rita told me to come. ‘Oh, Rita,’ they

swoon. ‘You’re the third person she’s sent in here today.’■

The Escada x Rita Ora capsule collection will be available in store

and online on 1 October. Ora’s latest album,Phoenix, is out now

‘THE OSCARS

WAS BASICALLY

MADAME

TUSSAUDS,

BUT IN REAL

LIFE. I WAS

OVERWHELMED’

Dressand

boots, both

Escada;

rings,Diane

Kordas