WHERE Rihanna goes, Rita Ora was once sure to follow.
Rita, 29, has rarely passed up the chance to copy the global superstar from her sense of style to her sound and even her choice of friends. Their love lives overlap too, with Rita romantically linked in the past to Rihannas exes Chris Brown and Drake.
Now the tables have been turned on RiRis British mini-me.
The Bajan, 31, is dating Ritas ex, the American rapper A$AP Rocky. He wrote a sexually explicit diss track about Rita, Better Things, in the wake of their 2012 fling.
There has been bad blood between the two women ever since Rita signed for the same record label Jay Zs Roc Nation. Rita hinted in an interview the company saw her as a younger version of Rihanna.
We explore the ways in which Rita seems to have modelled herself on Rihanna.
Style
RITA has repeatedly been accused of pinching Rihannas look.
The Umbrella singer wore a red lacy Elie Saab Couture frock to the American Music Awards in November 2010.
Two years later she was reportedly furious when Rita turned up to the MTV European Music Awards in a near-identical Marchesa number.
A source said: She was even more annoyed when Rita went on stage using an umbrella as a prop.
Rihanna wore a flame-patterned leather outfit in London in 2012 and a bright jumpsuit the next day. Months later, Rita sported a similar PVC ensemble then donned a vibrant boiler suit for an interview.
Both have tattooed fingers and astrological ink behind their ears Pisces for RiRi, a bow and arrow for Sagittarius Rita.
Career
RAPPER Jay-Z signed Rihanna for Def Jam in 2004 when she was just 16. She later switched to his Roc Nation label.
Rita was noticed by talent spotters at Roc Nation in 2008 after trying out for the Eurovision Song Contest.
She said at the time: I think (Jay) definitely sees me as someone who could be as big as Rihanna. Shes a superstar now but they first knew her as a small-island girl and they want to repeat that.
Rihanna soon distanced herself from Rita, banning the British signer from her Met Gala after-party in 2015.
In 2015 Rita sued Roc Nation and accused the label of giving Rihanna first choice of songs.
A source revealed: Rihanna has never liked Rita and has used her power at Roc Nation accordingly. Songs that might be submitted to her are given to Rihanna, who may hold them for months before deciding she doesnt want them.
RiRi worked with Calvin Harris on 2016s This Is What You Came For. Rita dated the DJ for a year before they split in 2014.
Love life
CHRIS Brown violently assaulted then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009.
They split but briefly reconciled in 2013, when Rihanna told Rolling Stone mag: Even if its a mistake, its my mistake.
But in 2015 she was reportedly furious when Brown featured on Ritas single Body On Me.
A source said: Chris and Rihanna have a long history and she hit the roof when she heard about Body On Me, especially the (steamy) video.
Shortly after, it was rumoured that Rita was dating the R&B star following a cosy appearance together on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards.
Rihanna had an on-off fling with Canadian rapper Drake after they collaborated on singles Take Care and Whats My Name.
Their romance is said to have lasted from 2009 to 2012.
Drake originally wrote the song R.I.P. for Rihanna but after their split offered it to Rita.
She later appeared in the video for his song The Feeling Of Pain.
The working relationship turned romantic in 2016, when they were seen kissing at a gig in Newcastle.
Side hustles
BOTH singers bolster their bank balances via business ventures, modelling work and brand endorsements.
Rihanna has her underwear range Savage X Fenty, while Rita has been a brand ambassador for lingerie brand Tezenis.
Rihanna put her name to a range with Puma, while Rita collaborated with rival sports brand Adidas.
Rita launched a line of lipsticks and nail polish with Rimmel in 2013.
Not to be outdone, Rihanna launched her own Fenty Beauty in 2017. In 2012 the Bajan singer was paid a hefty 5million to switch on the Christmas lights at Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, East London.
Two years later, Rita kicked off the festive season there.
Rihannas acting credits include 2012 action film Battleship, playing herself in 2013 comedy This Is The End and appearing with Cara Delevingne in Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets in 2017.
Ritas film career began with Fifty Shades Of Grey in 2015 and she appeared in last years Pokemon Detective Pikachu.
Model mates
RITA and Cara Delevingne were almost inseparable for a time. In February 2013, Rita said: Shes officially mine. Ive taken her off the market. We call each other wifey.
But they reportedly fell out at Glastonbury in 2013. A month later Cara was pictured on a yacht with Rihanna in Monte Carlo. They had met that year at London Fashion Week.
Rihanna said: We get silly with each other. The first time we met was because she came up and slapped me on the bum. (We) are incredibly close.
Its portrayed like were just party buddies but theres much more to our friendship. She is very special to me.
Kate Moss and Rihanna became friends when the model asked for a selfie at the 2009 Met Gala. At a fashion show by mutual friend Stella McCartney they decided to schedule an S&M-themed photoshoot with snapper Mario Testino.
But in recent years Kate has been seen more often with Rita, who signed with Kates talent agency in 2018.
Last year, on Kates 45th birthday, Rita posted an intimate picture of the two lying in bed together.
- Credits: LUIMAGAZINE.FR
