X Factor judge Rita Ora was today named an honorary ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo.
Ora, 24 - who was this week in Manchester with Nick Grimshaw, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Simon Cowell for the first round of the X Factor auditions - received the title from the country’s president Atifete Jahjaga at the embassy in London.
Jahjaga described Ora as “Kosovo’s most successful artist” before the singer took to a podium to make an emotional speech.
“This is amazing. Thank you madam president for this honour,” the Poison singer said.
"I am so emotional. This is so incredible for me.
“I will wear this title of honorary ambassador with great pride and responsibility.”
Rita Ora made honorary ambassador of Republic of Kosovo
She continued: “I didn’t come into this world with any expectations.
"I didn’t expect to be a role model, least of all being ambassador, but I’m not going to say no. This is beyond what I thought was going to happen.”
Ora - who was born in the Kosovan capital of Pristina - spoke about her move from the city to London.
“My parents brought us - my elder sister and younger brother - to this country with the hope and the dream that we could get a decent education, which is so important for our hopes and values and for what we want to achieve in our lives,” she said.
“I grew up in Britain, a country that has given me so much for which I am grateful, but I will always have a special place in my heart for my home town and Kosovo.”
She was joined at the event by her parents Vera and Besnik Sahatciu, and former British prime minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie.
Ora - who looked stunning in a navy dress - said that she was “overwhelmed” by the honour and pledged to help the youth of Kosovo.
