Rita Ora Opens Up About Early Egg Freezing and Family Planning
Singer Rita Ora has publicly detailed the deeply personal reasons behind her decision to undergo egg freezing procedures in her twenties, citing both medical guidance and her mother's health history as pivotal factors. The 35-year-old music star also shared that her close friend and television personality Davina McCall frequently encourages her to begin building a family.
Medical Advice and Proactive Family Planning
Ora, celebrated for chart-topping singles like Hot Right Now and I Will Never Let You Down, completed two rounds of egg preservation at ages 24 and 27. In an interview with Women's Health UK, she recounted the counsel she received from a doctor during that period.
"A doctor told me it was a really good time to preserve the best quality eggs," Ora explained. "It was actually the best advice, because now I'm in my mid-thirties and I have a lot of friends really trying to figure it out. It will just be more of an expansion when the time comes."
Influence of Mother's Health and Davina McCall's Encouragement
The singer's mother, Vera, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 when Ora was just 13 years old. This experience profoundly impacted the artist, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder and health anxiety, as she previously disclosed on McCall's Begin Again podcast.
"My mother's breast cancer treatment stimulated menopause at an early age for her. So I'm trying to get ahead of it and learn about it," Ora stated, highlighting how her mother's condition influenced her proactive approach to reproductive health.
Additionally, Ora revealed that Davina McCall, her fellow judge on ITV's The Masked Singer for four years, actively urges her to pursue motherhood. "Davina is always like, 'Hurry up – you can do it,'" she shared, illustrating the supportive yet persistent encouragement from her friend.
Marriage, Cultural Connections, and Stepmother Role
In 2022, Ora married filmmaker Taika Waititi, director of acclaimed films such as Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Love And Thunder. Ora, who is of British and Albanian heritage, and Waititi, a New Zealander of Russian Jewish and Māori descent, found common ground in their backgrounds and values.
"Our common ground of our mothers being our everything was very important. And the idea of working hard," Ora remarked. "We have lots of similarities in our beliefs and morals and how we were raised – I didn't realise that Albanian and Māori culture are very similar. What works for us is the sense of respecting each other and just being mates and having fun."
Ora also embraces her role as stepmother to Waititi's two daughters, describing the experience with enthusiasm. "I don't know if anything really prepares you, you just have to figure it out in the moment," she said. "I've loved every second – the girls are just a dream. I think I got very lucky. We have a lot of fun – doing nails, going shopping. I love hanging out with them."
Career Achievements and Ongoing Legacy
Since launching her career in 2004, Rita Ora has secured four UK number one singles and one UK number one album. Her versatile talents extend to acting, with roles in major films like Fifty Shades Of Grey and Pokemon Detective Pikachu, solidifying her status as a multifaceted entertainer in the global spotlight.
