12 things you need to know about Dua Lipa
British singer/songwriter Dua Lipa is the rising star of the moment. We're obsessed with everything from her mega vocals to her edgy style and cool beauty looks.
In just over a year, the 22-year-old Londoner has released six smash hits and had two top ten singles before topping the charts with her number one single, New Rules. She's collaborated with the likes of Sean Paul, Martin Garrix and Miguel and gained an army of loyal supporters - talk about making a badass entrance to the music industry.
But how much do you really know about her? Here are a few things you need to know about the music world's new 'it' girl...
REXShe has made Brit Awards history
Dua made history this year when she became the most nominated female at the Brits, ever. She has received five nominations including Best Album for her self-titled debut album, Due Lipa.
Getty ImagesHer rockstar dad inspired her to do music
"My father [Kosovo musician Dukagjin Lipa] was a musician so I’ve always been really inspired by him and living in a really musical household," she told GLAMOUR. "Those are the things that really inspired me and I feel like it was inevitable to fall into this as a career. My parents listened to a lot of Bowie, Bob Dylan, The Stereophonics and Sting - The Police, Radiohead.
Getty ImagesShe stared off on Youtube
Dua wasn't discovered on Youtube, but she did use it as a platform to kickstart her music career. "When I was 15 I was posting covers online but it was never one of those things that went viral, it was more of a way for me to use it as a portfolio," she said.
Getty ImagesShe lived in Kosovo as a kid
Born in London, Dua moved to Kosovo with her family at the age of 11 only t move back on her own four years later. Speaking to GLAMOUR, she said: "I moved back to London on my own when I was 15. It was kind of scary but I always had friends round. I’d always be on the phone to my parents. It was fun. I didn’t really enjoy the cooking or the cleaning part but otherwise it was really fun and it’s made me who I am today."
Getty ImagesShe went to the Sylvia Young Theatre School
Just like a whole host famous British musicians including Amy Winehouse, Dua attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London's Marylebone. "I'd go to school and then on Saturday's I'd go to the Silvia Young Theatre School. I made friends there and had people who were like minded," she revealed.
Getty ImagesShe got signed at the age of 18
At the age of 18, Dua was snapped up by Warner Music. "I remember calling my parents in Kosovo and telling them to catch a flight to London so they could come to the signing," she said.
Getty ImagesShe describes her own music as "dark pop"
"Most of my inspiration comes from sadness because it’s the emotion that sticks in the back of my mind and the easiest way to get things out is through music," she explained in an interview.
Getty ImagesShe has seven tattoos
Talking about her tattoos, Dua said: "I’ve got dancing thumbs [Keith Haring sick figures], which are my party trick because no one lets me do karaoke. I’ve got “Sunny Hill” on my arm (that’s my neighbourhood in Kosovo, and a palm tree on the back of my arm, which I got in LA.’
Getty ImagesShe used to work as hostess in a London nightclub
“I worked on a door at a nightclub and that was my worst job ever. I had management in my ear saying ‘yeah people can come in, people can’t’ and it came to the point where I had to turn down my own friends for wearing trainers. That was when I was like, ok I’m out.”
Getty Images/ Rex FeaturesRobbie Williams is her celebrity crush
"My mum had a crush on him when I was really young and I saw him at the iTunes festival and I was life yeah, he’s pretty fit," she admitted in a recent interview.
Getty ImagesShe’s a big Tupac fan
Dua once revealed that her go-to karaoke song is 'Changes' by Tupac.
Getty ImagesShe is a GLAMOUR Awards' winner
Dua Lipa couldn't have been nominated and won a better suited award. The singer was presented at the GLAMOUR Awards with the Next Breakthrough prize, for her rising career and accomplishments in the music industry.
