In a refreshingly candid revelation about her personal life, global pop sensation Rita Ora has described her experience of becoming a stepmother as a 'real eye-opener' that fundamentally shifted her worldview. The 35-year-old singer, who married acclaimed director and actor Taika Waititi in 2022, opened up about this transformative role during a rare interview discussing her family dynamics.
A New Family Dynamic
Rita became stepmother to Waititi's two daughters – Te Kāinga o te Hinekāhu, aged 13, and Matewa Kiritapu, aged nine – following her marriage to the 50-year-old filmmaker. Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Ora revealed that while she finds the stepmother role 'really easy', it has profoundly expanded her understanding of what matters in life.
'We wake up, we work out together with the kids running on the treadmills, it's a family affair,' she described, offering a glimpse into their daily routine. 'I have to say it's been a real eye-opener to understand that sometimes there's more to life than what you care about in that moment. I've realised there's so much more.'
The Foundation of Friendship
The couple's relationship is built on a solid foundation of friendship that predates their romance by five years. Rita previously credited this strong friendship as the key component to their successful marriage, telling Hunger magazine last year: 'Taika and I are basically just best friends and we wanted to just live in that element for ever, I guess.'
Their journey to marriage began when Rita bucked tradition by proposing to Waititi. The pair tied the knot in a secret Los Angeles ceremony in August 2022, though they didn't publicly confirm their marriage until a year later. Rita later described the wedding to Grazia as something they 'winged with zero planning', reflecting their unconventional approach to their relationship.
From Friendship to Family
Waititi shares his two daughters with ex-wife Chelsea Winstanley, also 50, from whom he separated in 2018 after seven years of marriage. Rita and Taika began dating in March 2021 before going public with their relationship that August.
Reflecting on finding the right partner after what she described as her 'messy twenties', Rita explained that when she and Taika got together, it finally felt 'right and safe'. This sense of security has clearly extended to her new role within their blended family.
Previous High-Profile Relationships
Before her relationship with Waititi, Rita Ora's romantic history included several high-profile figures from the entertainment world:
- She dated Bruno Mars at age 18 before either had achieved fame, describing it as 'love at first sight' when they met in 2009 while he was writing songs for her
- A brief two-month relationship with reality star Rob Kardashian in October 2012 ended due to conflicting work schedules and lifestyles
- Subsequent relationships included DJ Calvin Harris, musician Andrew Watt, and Ricky Hilfiger (son of designer Tommy Hilfiger)
- She also enjoyed shorter flings with rapper A$AP Rocky, actor Andrew Garfield, and rocker Travis Barker
This context makes her current settled family life with Waititi and his daughters particularly noteworthy, representing a significant evolution in both her personal journey and public persona.
Rita Ora's willingness to discuss her stepmother experience provides a rare window into how celebrity relationships navigate the complexities of blended families, demonstrating that even for global stars, family dynamics can provide the most meaningful perspective shifts of all.
