International sensation Dua Lipa is set to dazzle viewers on ITV’s much-anticipated concert special this coming weekend.
The exclusive show, titled An Evening with Dua Lipa, will broadcast on Sunday at 8pm, showcasing the pop sensation’s performance at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall from October. The sell-out event featured Dua Lipa belting out her chart-topping tracks, accompanied by a grand 53-piece orchestra, a choir, her band, and an unexpected guest performance by the legendary Elton John.
In addition to providing fans with a virtual front-row experience of the concert, the ITV1 special offers a glimpse into the personal life of the London-born star through candid interviews.
While Dua Lipa’s stardom is unquestionable, those new to her music may be eager to learn more about her background – we take a closer look at her life beyond the limelight.
Early life
Dua Lipa was born in 1995 to parents of Albanian heritage, Anesa and Dukagjin Lipa, who had left Kosovo in 1992 amidst the Bosnian War. She grew up in London but relocated to Kosovo at the age of 11 when her father secured a job opportunity there, reports the Mirror.
At 15, she returned to London solo, determined to chase her musical dreams. Despite being on her own, she remained under the watchful eye of her family from a distance.
Reflecting on her accommodation upon her return to London, she shared with The Standard: “At first I lived in Camden with a much older friend who was doing a master’s degree, which made my parents feel safer. She was vaguely responsible but didn’t really check up on me.
“When it suddenly hit me that no one was going to clean up after me, that’s when I was like, ‘Oh no! What have I done?’ But as long as I stayed in school, they let me be here.”
While studying at the Parliament Hill girls’ school in Camden, she routinely posted singing covers on YouTube, which eventually led to her big break.
Rise to fame
Despite Lipa’s efforts to gain recognition through social media, it was an X-Factor television advert that resulted in her signing a contract with TAP management, who also represent stars such as Lana Del Rey and Ellie Goulding.
In the 2013 commercial, a 17 year old Lipa is seen as an aspiring X-Factor contestant performing Sister Sledge’s Lost in Music. The clip caused quite a stir when it resurfaced in 2021, sparking discussions among industry professionals.
BBC Radio presenter Greg James humorously commented on the video, stating: “I know Simon Cowell doesn’t need the money – but she [Dua Lipa] was right under his nose and he didn’t sign her.”
Cowell was not part of the UK judging panel in 2013, as he had moved to the USA version of the singing competition.
Just two years post her X-Factor stint, Lipa inked a deal with Warner Music Group and released Be the One, catapulting her into pop stardom. Since then, she has had a remarkable career, bagging three GRAMMY awards and seven BRITs.
Adding another feather to her cap, Lipa recently headlined at Glastonbury.
Viral meme
Dua Lipa’s ascent to stardom wasn’t without its hiccups. Back in 2018, her performance of the chart-topping New Rules at the BRIT Awards was a pivotal moment for her career.
However, despite the track’s success, some fans found her BRITs show underwhelming, prompting one viewer’s sarcastic remark: “I love her lack of energy, go girl give us nothing!”
This comment sparked an internet frenzy, turning into a widely circulated meme. In a candid interview with Rolling Stone in January 2024, Lipa opened up about the impact of the meme, admitting: “I did find that [the meme] really hurtful, and I found it really painful because I was like, ‘I’m finally getting to do something that I love to do, and I’m being shut down, that I just can’t seem to do anything right.'”
She also reflected on the relentless pace of her early career, saying: “Not only that, but I was also being thrown around the world. Lots of promos, lots of rehearsing, lots of everything, and not having really time to perfect anything.”
Lipa revisited the topic during her Saturday Night Live monologue in May, this time with a humorous twist, asserting: “I didn’t give you nothing. I gave you the greatest meme of all time.”
Years after the infamous YouTube comment, there’s a consensus among fans that her performance skills have significantly evolved. A user on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, commented: “I genuinely think ‘go girl give us nothing’ changed the trajectory of Dua Lipa’s life and career.
“Any live performance of hers now features several complex dance moves and energy. She saw the meme and said ‘this will not be my legacy.”
Who has Dua Lipa dated?
Dua Lipa is currently in a relationship with Callum Turner, star of The Boys in the Boat. The couple fuelled romance speculation in January after being seen getting close in London.
The singer later seemingly confirmed the romance with an Instagram photo carousel featuring multiple snaps of the actor, including a picture of them at Glastonbury.
The 29 year old also had a long-term relationship with Anwar Hadid, brother of model Bella Hadid, from 2019 to 2021. She has also been linked to US rapper Jack Harlow and French film director Romain Gavras.
An Evening With Dua Lipa airs on Sunday (December 8) at 8 PM on ITV1 and ITVX