I’m a survivor

RITA BATTLES BEING ‘VICTIMISED CELEB’

RITA Ora says she feels victimised for being famous.

The singer has been on the receiving end of salacious headlines involving Conor McGregor and Beyoncé.

But she believes she has been misunderstood over the years.

Reets said: “I was a victim of a lot of scrutiny – I still am – it’s just the world I live in, it’s just what it is, but you can survive it, and you can come through it.

“I wanted to do this and be a female in this industry to have the capability of having a voice.”

A recent overseas trip put things into perspective for the star.

She explained: “I went to Africa and met kids who lived in villages that have no clue what goes on and other things, like eating and living with their family.

“And I just looked at life in such a completely different way.

“And so I just look at things differently and I wanted to be a voice to people.” Part of Reets giving back is a partnership with Absolut called The Open Mic Project – writing a song using fan lyrics.

She explained: “When they then told me it was from fans and people that usually don’t have a voice or the light to shine their stories on, I was like, ‘This is just perfect, because then I can write a tune, a song about their stories’.

“I did and it’s called Proud, and it’s an amazing record, and it comes out Grammys’ week.”

It was also a way for Reets to connect with real life after whisking herself across the globe. “I got even closer to my fans,” she said. “I could almost speak for them, which I found really powerful.

“This song is from real people’s stories that aren’t in the limelight, that probably have more inspiring stories than headlines that we read nowadays.

“And I feel like that is just so more important toward the world.”

I hope those fans all get a slice of the royalties!