Dua Lipa’s name made her feel unique during her younger years.
In an interview with Vogue France, the pop sensation candidly discussed how she stood out among her British peers, primarily due to her name.
“Yes, my name used to immediately highlight that distinctiveness,” the 28-year-old remarked when questioned about whether she felt different from others due to her childhood relocations.
“Regardless of how hard I tried to blend in, the moment I introduced myself, I would often hear questions like, ‘Oh, where does that name originate? What’s its significance?'” the Levitating hitmaker reminisced. “And this was even before I had to repeat or spell my name… This would often lead to conversations about Kosovo, even if most people were unfamiliar with the country.”
Dua then acknowledged that while she felt self-conscious about her name, she ultimately “came to value” her name in a professional context.
“Thank you, but I truly learned to appreciate it by envisioning it as my stage alias,” she responded when the interviewer praised her name. “I have always taken pride in my Albanian heritage, but as I’ve matured, I’ve developed a deeper appreciation for my family’s history.”
Dua was born in London to Kosovo Albanian parents Anesa and Dukagjin Lipa. She relocated to Kosovo with her parents at the age of 11 but returned to the British capital at 15. She was granted Albanian citizenship in 2022.