'The Economist', for Albanian stars: What do Dua Lipa, Rita Ora and Ava Max have in common?

The prestigious British "The Economist" has dedicated an article to Albanian artists who are conquering the world in the field of music; Rita Ora, Ava Max and Rita Ora.

" Until recently, the most famous ethnic Albanians were Mother Teresa, and the communist dictator Enver Hoxha. "Now the singers must be added to the saint and the sinner" , - the British magazine begins its article.

Dua Lipa has 55 million listeners on the music platform Spotify, Bebe Rexha has 24 million, Rita Ora has had five hits in first place in Britain and has been a mentor on 'X Factor'. Era Istrefi sang at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Njomza Vitia, a singer and songwriter, and Labinot Gashi, a rapper, also have a global audience.

Ava Max's sexy single, "Sweet but Psycho" is considered worldwide more entertaining than Hoxha's literary offer: " Albania challenges Khrushchev's revisionism ".

In 2016, with an unusually serious style, Rita Ora performed in Rome to celebrate the consecration of Mother Teresa.

All these stars of Albanian origin, except Era Istrefi, grew up in the diaspora. Lipa, Max, Rexha and Vitia were born in London, Milwaukee, Brooklyn and Stuttgart. Only Max has roots in Albania, the rest are originally from Kosovo, except BeBe Rexhe, whose family comes from Northern Macedonia.

Diaspora stars are often proud of their nationality. They perform at home, wrapping themselves in Kosovar or Albanian flags.

" My heart bleeds Albanian, " said Bebe Rexha during a visit to Albania. In July, Dua Lipa sparked a debate after posting a map linked to extremist Albanian nationalists featuring Greater Albania.

Their parents grew up abroad after leaving the Balkans in the early 1990s. But it was not always a story of the poor getting rich. The Ora and Lipa families were part of the elite in Kosovo. The two girls attended a well-known art school in London.

Pop stars, together with a group of Albanian footballers in the main teams of Europe, play a very important role to help change the image of Albanians, writes 'The Economist', praising the Albanian artists who have conquered the world, but also all other Albanians who have excelled in other areas of life.