Why Rita Ora’s ‘secret’ Aussie crush should surprise no-one
Rita Ora reveals her ultimate Aussie crush and what makes them so attractive.
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If there’s one thing us Aussie’s love, it’s adopting an international star as our own - Zac Efron? Since his jaunt in Byron, we’ve made him an honorary Aussie. Matt Damon? Always spotted out and about in Brisbane. Tyra Banks? She moved here last year and is now well and truly one of us. But one of our greatest adopted treasures has to be Ms Rita Ora.
“Anytime we [Rita and husband Taika Waititi] want to have adult time and a night out, we come to Sydney or Brisbane. And you guys definitely know how to party, which is my favourite thing in the world,” Rita Ora told news.com.au checkout.
Rita first started to call Australia home when she was filming The Voice in Sydney in 2021.
That’s also when she met her now husband Taika Waititi (who was in the country directing Thor). Since then, Rita has split her time between the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand. But Australia has a special place in her heart, as she says it’s where she feels the most “free.”
As soon as she touches down on Aussie soil, Rita says, “I exercise, I know it’s boring… but Australia is where I discovered getting healthy. When I came to do The Voice, everyone was just on a really healthy thing. Now I’m obsessed with it.”
But it’s not just the healthy lifestyle she’s obsessed with, Rita has also developed a celebrity crush - on Nicole Kidman. “I mean, she’s just drop dead gorgeous. Her work ethic is unbelievable. I met her a few times when I did The Voice with Keith. She’s so normal, so down to earth… They’re the perfect couple.”
When asked if any other celebrities have left her star struck, without hesitation Rita recounts being at the Oscars and seeing Mick Jagger, “I still get this thing in my belly because Rolling Stones, him, his whole style. Now I’m a friend of his, it’s just like, I just love him dearly.”
Here, the singer, songwriter, actress and now business woman (she co-owns Typebea, a haircare line she co-founded with Vida Glow’s Anna Lahey) shares the beauty products she can’t live without, a wild wax confession and the essentials she never travels without.
WHAT IS IN RITA ORA’S MAKE UP BAG?
“I like fluid, light coverage in the day, so I love the Laura Mercier classic, sheer foundation with SPF. She’s the dream.”
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Dewy with SPF 30, $50 at Amazon Australia
“I’m a Charlotte Tilbury girl. I’ve always loved the number two powder, medium Flawless Finish. It’s the best. It’s unbelievable.”
Airbrush Flawless Finish (2 / Medium), $73 at Charlotte Tilbury
“I love the Tom Ford Duo Highlight and Contour. It’s a classic. You have the illuminator on top and the brown on the bottom, Little known fact - Charlotte Tilbury helped create this before she created the Charlotte Tilbury brand.”
Tom Ford Shade And Illuminate Contour Duo, $154 at Myer
“The Victoria Beckham eyeliner is to die for. It’s so easy to smudge your whole eye. You can do a whole eye with one eyeliner.”
Satin Kajal Liner, $57 at Victoria Beckham Beauty
WHAT’S RITA ORA’S MUST-HAVE SKINCARE PRODUCT?
“I live for Skin Food by Weleda. Classic. I just think it’s so good for travel. You can put it on your hands, your face - anything - it’s so hydrating. There’s also a light version for the girlies that don’t want too thick a moisturiser.”
Weleda Skin Food, $28.95 at Adore Beauty
WHAT ARE RITA ORA’S TRAVEL ESSENTIALS?
“As a curly girly, [I think] it’s important to not have crisp weight and hold. For me, it was important our [Typebea] Sea Salt Texture Mist felt lightweight and hydrating. It took about two years for us to figure this out. And I’m really proud of it, as somebody who travels so much, I don’t want to feel like I have to do a maths equation to figure out how to do my hair. You just want to brush your hair out, put something in it and get moving, right? That’s exactly what we’ve done here.”
TYPEBEA S.2 Sea Salt Texture Mist, $40 at Sephora
“I do love a silk sleep mask. They’re just fabulous. Good on the skin and super easy.”
Lanham Silk Eye Mask, $41.99 (down from $59.99) at Sheridan
“I like noise cancelling anything because I don’t want to be interrupted in my sleep.”
Bose QuietComfort SC Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, $349 (down from $499.95) Amazon Australia
“I have to have a sheet mask that covered my whole face. The eyes and the mouth.”
Hada Labo Moisturising Facial Sheet Mask, $5.95 at Priceline
“I think it’s so important to stay hydrated on a flight, so I have to have a lip balm.”
Weleda Skin Food Lip Balm, $10.36 (down from $12.95) at Amazon Australia
“Oh my goodness and a little sachet of electrolytes.”
Hydralyte Effervescent Electrolyte Tablets Orange, $18 at Amazon Australia
“And then I have this little red light from my facialist and you literally just put it on your face on the plane.”
LightStim for Wrinkles: LED Light Therapy, $409 at Adore Beauty
ONE ITEM WE’D BE SURPRISED TO FIND IN RITA ORA’S BATHROOM
“There are so many things I have in there. But facial wax strips?! Like I’m Albanian. Hello. Let’s not forget the eyebrows, the moustache, the whole thing.”
Nad’s Facial Wax Strips, $7.15 (down from $9.95) at Amazon Australia
More Coverage
“I’ve also just started doing tongue scraping. It’s definitely a must. It’s a must.”
Y-Kelin Dual Sides Tongue Scraper, $5.27 (down from $7.59) at Amazon Australia
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