Vogue Australia: Why Rita Ora has no regrets

Singer Rita Ora has spoken about her boyfriend, director Taika Waititi, and why she has learnt the power of privacy in a revealing new interview.

Singing superstar Rita Ora has opened up about her relationship with New Zealand director Taika Waititi, and the burnout she suffered going at “150 miles an hour”.

“I wanted things to happen then and now,” Ora told Vogue Australia.

“I’ve realised that’s not how life works. I exhausted myself.

“This next phase of my life, I’m protecting myself. It’s all really about making the right choices and focusing really hard on my work and my health.”

After enduring a messy and verypublic break-up from ex-boyfriend DJ Calvin Harris in 2014, Ora revealed she is “in a great place” in her personal life and wants to keep her relationship with Waititi private.

Rita Ora is on the front cover of Vogue Australia. Picture: Ben Morris for Vogue Australia

“I’m in a great place in my life, that’s all I’m going to say about that,” Kosovo-born Ora, 30, said in an interview with Vogue.

“I just think, respectfully, privacy is important. Yeah … I learned a lot in my 20s.”

Ora has found a new audience Down Under as a coach on Seven’s rebooted The Voice Australia, mentoring girl group G-Nat!on to the finals.

Dressed in a plunging Prada crop top and skirt, Ora and Thor: Love and Thunder director Waititi walked the cream-coloured carpet at Met Gala in New York last week.

“I’m her date and I really wanted to do something that looked chic and nice and just complements her,” Waititi said at the Anna Wintour-hosted event.

The new issue of Vogue Australia is out on September 27. Picture: Ben Morris for Vogue Australia

Rita Ora, right, attended the Met Gala in New York with boyfriend Taika Waititi. Picture: AFP

Ora and Waititi were linked romantically earlier his year when Ora was in living in Sydney and Waititi was directing Marvel movie Thor: Love and Thunder.

Wearing a Bottega Veneta skivvy and skirt, Ora appears on the cover of Vogue Australia’s upcoming music-themed October issue.

The British singer wears a Miu Miu bodysuit in Vogue. Picture: Ben Morris for Vogue Australia

Bang Bang singer Ora said she felt “extremely trapped” when the Covid pandemic put live performances on hold.

“I feel extremely trapped when I don’t perform on stage, because it’s part of my identity,” Ora told Vogue.

“I never really pictured what it would be like to not be able to do it. I lost a lot of my adrenaline.”

Wearing Prada, Rita Ora attended the Met Gala in New York, which was themed around In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion. Picture: Getty Images

The Bang Bang singer channelled old Hollywood glamour. Picture: AFP

Rita Ora is focused on work, her health and above all – happiness. Picture: Getty Images

Speaking to the magazine, Ora said she found her own voice – and confidence – through music.

“You put [music] on and you don’t feel alone,” she told the magazine.

“You’ve got something there that protects you, that gives you that shield of confidence, or that shield of sympathy, or whatever mood you need.

“It’s the only thing I rely on to bring me joy. It’s probably the one, [the] only thing I know I can rely on.”

Vogue Australia editor-in-chief Edwina McCann said: “The idea to make October a music-themed issue came about very organically”.

“We shot Rita Ora when she was here earlier this year filming The Voice Australia, so already had an amazing cover lined up, but the devastating resurgence of Covid in the middle of the year brought the plight of our talented musicians back into conversation,” McCann said.

Vogue Australia’s October issue is out on September 27.