RITA Ora is regarded around the world as an all-around superstar.
But now another member of her family has also stepped into the limelight – her mum, Vera.
Who is Rita Ora’s mum Vera?
Vera Sahatçiu, an Albanian psychiatrist who now resides in London but was in Kosovo when her well-known daughter was born, was there at the time.
Elena, Rita, and Don are three of her children; she is married to Besnik.
Due to the political persecution of Albanians that began with the breakup of Yugoslavia, Vera and her family left Kosovo.
When Rita was a year old, the family moved to London, settling in Notting Hill.
Vera returned to the front lines of the NHS in March 2020 to assist A&E physicians during the coronavirus epidemic.
In a video on Instagram, she stated: “Vera Ora is my name, and I work as a psychiatrist.
“My job involves working with patients who have mental health issues, but due to the strain on the NHS, I will be asked to assist in A&E and other departments when I return to work on Monday.
“It’s a very risky time, and not everyone is staying safe and at home. We are overrun with patients coming in, putting everyone at risk.”
Vera had a mastectomy after learning she had breast cancer in 2005 at the age of 39.
When discussing the experience, she said: “The cancer-related anxieties that plague the entire family still exist. Rita experiences anxiety and occasionally panic episodes.”
Added her: “Rita briefly rebelled at the time by skipping a few weeks of school. Her mental retreat was this.”
Vera is the spokesperson for a line of post-mastectomy swimwear, it was disclosed in February 2019.
Future Dreams, a breast cancer charity, launched the collection that Melissa Odabash created for the Amoena brand.
Why she selected to face the campaign, she explained to Hello! “On vacation, it was challenging to conceal my scars after a mastectomy.
“I would try to cover up or put cloth into my swimming tops because I felt self-conscious. However, I later learned about the Amoena line, which is made just for ladies like me.
It’s very comfortable, flattering to the figure, and makes you feel great.
When Rita discussed her mother’s battle with breast cancer on The Voice Australia in April 2022, she brought tears to her eyes.
She uttered: “It was very strange to see your mother not act like the superhero you always imagine her to be. Because, you know what I mean, you never imagine your parents are going to kind of, like, cry in front of you?”
She added: “And then you have to sort of put them together … I can’t even speak.”
The singer described her beloved parent Vera as a “survivor”.
