EXCLUSIVE: Rita Ora gives us the dirt on her new makeup collab, how she loves face masks and making spaghetti Bolognese

The first thing I notice about Rita Ora when we meet is her hair. In place of her usual blond waves, is a cropped, spiky, pixie cut very few could pull off. She looks completely different and yet at the same time, unmistakably herself.

In town to launch her latest collaboration with Rimmel London, we sat down to chat about beauty, body image and how becoming a role model has changed her perspective.

This is your second collaboration with Rimmel London. How are you feeling this time around?

It’s exciting, it’s amazing! I’ve been thinking about [doing a collaboration] for a while and my natural instinct was to one with an amazing, authentic U.K.-based brand. I really enjoy the fact that it embraces my background.

Best new product?

It’s actually what I’m wearing. Oh My Gloss! It’s a gloss on top of my red rouge and it’s amazing. It stays on for ages, and it feels and tastes nice.

What beauty products will you not leave the house without?

Definitely my lipstick and mascara. Also, face wipes! I love face wipes.

Can you describe your morning routine?

It’s pretty basic. Face wash, toner followed by a moisturizing cream. I suffer from dark circles so I do a lot of eye creams.

How do you stay in shape with such a busy schedule?

I tend to cut my portions in half or I try to kind of balance it out with a workout. Travelling so much kind of takes it out of you. I just do stuff in my hotel room. Usually 20 minutes total with like 10 minutes of sit-ups, and then whatever else.

Do you diet?

Not really but I try and keep away from milk and sugar in my tea. I don’t have any bread.

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Really, no cheating?

When I cheat I tend to just have a lot of cheese and wine. It’s my favourite combination. I’m a sucker for cheese and wine and crackers, and chutney and grapes. I love it all!

Tell me about this new hair cut?

My hair today is short but I tend to change it up a lot. I do a lot of treatments because, as all the blonds know – shout out to the blonds in life – being blond is not the most practical. I try and use hair-protecting spray all the time and shine spray to keep it looking healthy.

What’s your off-duty look?

When I’m off duty, I like to put on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I kind of don’t leave my house when I’m off. I’m really so lazy because I don’t really get a lot of time off so I just kind of lie down in bed.

(Photo by Josiah Kamau/BuzzFoto via Getty Images)

How would you describe your signature style?

I’m always blond with the red lip. I like to kind of always start there. Clothing and fashion-wise, I trend to really change it up. Some people may think it’s out there, some people may not like it. I’ve always been very free and not followed any sort of rule book.

What inspires you?

It varies from people I see every day while going to get a cup of coffee to my crazy, OCDness of collecting magazines and ripping things out. I love to make mood boards. Me and my team are always on a creative roll. When we’re not working, we’re on the plane reading and researching and coming up with the next theme, coming up with the next look. I know it kind of seems very mathematical but it’s not, it’s just that we all love discovering things so we try to kind of do it together.

How do you deal with criticisms around the way you dress?

I don’t necessarily care. I care more about the fact that me and my team have thought in depth about things. We have to stop caring otherwise it starts to effect our creativity.

Thoughts on trends?

I really try to not follow any trends. I’ve always been like that. Like I know that there’s always specific things that come in every season but I’ve just always been the type that I don’t really focus on those things. I just know what comes out and I just wear what I want. I really suggest that everyone should do that! Haha.

How do you wind down after a busy day?

I like to wind down with my friends. My company’s really important. I like to have good, honest, funny people around me. I try to cook for friends. Really, doing anything that normal people do every day that I can’t do because I’m travelling like cook food, you know?

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What’s your specialty?

I love to make spaghetti Bolognese or a really good Sunday roast dinner. I’m good at Bloody Marys, too!

Ever tried a Caesar?

No! I’ll have to try that while I’m here.

How do you deal with the pressure of being in the spotlight?

The pressure sometimes can get really intense you know because you hear somethings like, “she’s got weight issues” or “she’s too big, she’s too thin.” As women, I think it does make us feel really insecure.

I didn’t ever really expect to be a role model. But now I’m in the spotlight I feel like I just have to be even more natural to just kind of make people comfortable in their skin. You know, I see my fans at shows and they always talk to me about [body image] and I’m kind like, is this a common thing going on right now? Is everybody just in this wave of being insecure about their weight? I think that’s something I definitely want to change.

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How do you give yourself a break?

I need to make sure I’ve got a nice box set ready, haha! No, but seriously I have a lot of products I like to try when I have the time. I’m obsessed with toiletries, like creams and face masks and everything that makes me feel like I’m cleansing myself. I like self-pampering so that’s probably what I would be doing.

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What do you miss when you’re on the road?

I really miss is my wardrobe. Like my clothes and them not being in a suitcase!

What’s it been like working as a judge and mentor on shows like “The X Factor” and “The Voice UK?”

For me, it’s easier to perform than be a judge. And I say that because I love performing, obviously and it’s my job and I love being an entertainer but being a judge is definitely a challenge for me.

When I first started, all I wanted to do was help people. I went in with the intention of wanting to just give people constructive criticism to kind of make themselves better and the whole thing of discovering something amazing and brand new was so exciting to me. I just never knew it was going to be so difficult because you forget that these are real peoples lives, and it’s not just a TV show. You start to get personally attached to these people, getting to konw their families, their stories and what they’ve been through. That whole side has been tough.

If you weren’t in this industry, what do you think you would be doing?

I’d definitely be doing something creative. I’d probably start my own magazine or my own record label. Actually, ya! Record label and magazine.

Any secrets you can share from the “Fifty Shades” movies?

I play Mia Grey who was only in the first movie just for a brief moment. I mean, it was such a short cameo because she goes to boarding school in France. In the second and third novel, I evolve a lot. Ah, I don’t want to give too much away! I’m just excited to be part of this whole process and it’s such a massive deal. It’s really cool.

Okay, for these next questions, I want you to answer as fast as you can. The first thing that pops into your head.

Got it!

Lipstick or mascara? Oh, gosh! Lipstick.
Acting or singing? Singing.
Favourite neighbourhood in London? West London, Ladbroke Grove where I grew up.
Late nights or early mornings? God, late nights.
Sneakers or stilettos? Sneakers.
Jeans or couture? Couture.
Favourite TV show? Can I say my own? Anything reality.
Last movie you saw? Haha, “Inside Out.” It’s so good!
Beach or city? Beach.
Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat? Oh, if Instagram and Snapchat had a baby.
“Fifty Shades of Grey” or “Twilight?: [long pause] "Fifty.” I have no idea why I even had to think about that…