Rita Ora 25th birthday: Singer's success story from Jay Z's Roc Nation to X Factor judge

She has conquered music, fashion and even acting, so it is hard to believe Rita Ora is only celebrating her 25th birthday today (26 November). Since bursting on to the scene less than five years ago, the RIP singer has become a household name in the UK while proudly flying the flag for the Brits on the other side of the pond.

Although she was introduced to the world via music in 2011, Ora has ventured into various other avenues of entertainment, not to mention all those lucrative endorsement deals she has secured. In celebration of her 25th birthday, IBTimes UK looks at Ora's rise to fame and success...

Humble beginnings

Ora was born in Kosovo but moved to west London with her parents and siblings at a young age. The singer graduated from the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School, whose previous students include late singer Amy Winehouse and X-Men actor Nicholas Hoult.

The music

After singing in open mic sessions at her father's pub, Ora got her first break when she featured on Craig David's track Awkward before working with the likes of Tinchy Stryder and James Morrison. However, her first big move came in 2009 when she flew to New York for a meeting with the owner of record label Roc Nation, Jay Z. The hip hop mogul wasted no time in signing Ora to the label and she made a cameo in the music video for his single Forever Young while also appearing in the visuals for Drake's Over in 2010.

Fast forward two years to 2012 and Ora hit the mainstream singing the hook on DJ Fresh's club hit Hot Right Now. The track soared to number one in the UK charts, propelling her into the spotlight and preceded her radio-friendly debut single How We Do (Party) and the edgy follow-up RIP, which boasted a verse from rapper Tinie Tempah.

Both singles topped the charts along and Ora earned her third solo number one single in 2014 with I Will Never Let You Down, which was written and produced by her then-boyfriend, Calvin Harris. Ora released her debut album ORA in 2012 and it became an instant hit, peaking at number one in the UK. So far, the singer has collaborated with the likes of Chris Brown, Iggy Azalea, Sigma and DJ Fresh and has supported Drake and Coldplay on tour.

The fashion

With her ability to pull off edgy outfits and classy red carpet gowns, Ora was immediately a draw in the fashion world. The Body On Me singer has appeared in campaigns for a range of high-profile brands including Rimmel, Adidas, Calvin Klein, Samsung, Coca-Cola and Roberto Cavalli.

The acting

Although Ora had initially intended on recording a song for the film's soundtrack, producers of erotic movie Fifty Shades Of Grey saw star quality in the singer and cast her in the role of Christian Grey's sister Mia. It is believed the Black Widow singer will also appear in the sequel, Fifty Shades Darker, which is scheduled for release in 2017.

TV

After leaving her role as a coach on the BBC's The Voice, Ora officially joined The X Factor panel in 2015 sitting alongside Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Nick Grimshaw. TV clearly suits the singer as she won TV personality at the Glamour awards for her appearance on The Voice.