British pop star Rita Ora has claimed that it is harder for women to make their way in the music industry than it is for men.

Speaking to the Mirror, the 24 year old singer was asked about her appointment to the panel of ‘The Voice’, when she said: “Without pulling the whole female card, I think it has always been harder for females in all aspects. Whenever we have an opinion it always seems to be taken out of proportion.”

Rita Ora
Rita Ora believes it's harder for females to prove themselves in the music industry

“As a woman in this industry it has always been a bit about proving yourself, so I’m proud to be on a panel with such successful men,” she added. “I think people take the word feminist really seriously and I think people are scared to use that word. In this industry, all the heads of labels are men.”

“But every artist has to prove themselves, regardless of their sex. I have always been very vocal about the women sticking together. That’s my opinion.”

If anyone’s proven themselves, it’s her. She’s pretty hot property right now, having scored her third Number 1 single ‘I Will Never Let You Down’ during 2014, and reportedly she turned down a £1 million offer to join Simon Cowell on ‘The X Factor’ in favour of BBC’s ‘The Voice’.

She’ll be following in the footsteps of Jessie J and Kylie Minogue as the only female panellist on the show, but she’s not feeling any pressure and is determined to put her own stamp on the job. “I’m not going to deny it. If someone is hot, I’m going to say they’re hot, male or female, but it doesn’t mean I am going to go somewhere,” she says. “It is just paying them a compliment.”

In 2015, Ora will be making her big screen bow as Mia in the upcoming movie adaptation of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’. She’ll also be releasing her second album, which is as yet untitled, to follow up 2012’s Ora which spawned two UK Number 1 singles.

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