From carrying a cello bigger than herself to topping global music charts, Dua Lipa’s rise to fame is a remarkable story of resilience, talent, and ambition.
The British-Albanian pop star, born on August 22, 1995, in London to Kosovar refugee parents, has become one of the world’s most influential music icons.
Her early life was shaped by her family’s struggle to build a life in the UK after fleeing war-torn Kosovo. Her father, Dukagjin, and mother, Anesa, worked tirelessly to provide for their family. Dua’s love for music was evident from a young age—she began writing songs at just five and attempted cello lessons, though her small frame made it difficult.
“I would be carrying this massive cello on my back and it would either whack me on the top of my head or the backs of my legs,” she once recalled. Despite being rejected from her school choir for having too deep a voice, Dua’s distinctive tone later became a defining trait of her music.
After spending time in Kosovo, Dua returned to London as a teenager to pursue her dream. She stayed with a family friend and threw herself into the competitive music scene. Her break came in 2013 with a Sister Sledge cover for The X Factor promo. A year later, she signed with Warner Records, releasing her debut single New Love in 2015.
Her self-titled debut album dropped in 2017, and her second album Future Nostalgia reached No. 1 in 2020, defying the global pandemic’s impact on the industry. By then, Dua had become a pop powerhouse.
Taking full control of her career, she launched Radical22, a media and management company, with her father as her manager. She also acquired the rights to her music catalogue—an empowering move that solidified her independence as an artist.
Her third album Radical Optimism debuted at No. 1 in May 2024, further cementing her legacy.
Today, Dua Lipa is more than a chart-topper. She’s a symbol of cultural pride and perseverance. “I feel very proud to be from both places,” she says of her British and Kosovar roots.