Dua Lipa celebrates 110 years of Albanian independence (2024)

On Sunday, she wasgranted Albanian citizenship for her role in spreading Albanians' fame internationally through her music.

And on Monday, Dua Lipa, 26, celebrated 110 years of Albanian independence as she posed with the national flag and gushed about her status as the country's 'newest citizen.'

The pop star - who was born in London to Kosovar-Albanian parents who fled conflict and political instability in the Balkans - took to Instagram to share snaps of herself on beforewrapping up her Future Nostalgia tour in Tirana’s main Skanderbeg Square.

Dua looked gorgeous in a plunging black ribbed halter neck dress and a matching cardigan.

The New Rules hitmaker teamed her midi dress with black opaque tights and a bright red pair of heels, to perfectly match the Albanian flag.

Dua penned: '110 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE so happy to be in Tirana, Albania ~ as the newest citizen to perform for you all tonight ~ THE FINAL FUTURE NOSTALGIA SHOW menxi po pres me ju paaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The celebrations came a day after Dua was granted Albanian citizenship for her role in spreading Albanians' fame internationally through her music.

She took to her Instagram to mark the achievement, writing: 'Thank you President Bajram Begaj and Mayor @erionveliaj for this honour ~ got my Albanian citizenship!!'

President Bajram Begaj said he considered it an honor to grant the citizenship because Dua has made Albanians famous throughout the world.

Dua was bornin London in 1995 to Kosovar-Albanian parents who fled conflict and political instability in the Balkans.

She attended a small state primary school and had her first taste of performing while taking Saturday classes at the world-renowned Sylvia Young Theatre School.

After spending a few years in Pristina after her father's job as a marketing manager took them back to his native Kosovo, Dua bravely decided to return to the UK alone at the age of 14 in pursuit of her dreams of pop stardom.

In 2014, after achieving 4 A-Levels at a Camden all-girls sixth form college, the talented teenager had signed with Warner Bros. Records.

Now, just eight years later, she has toured the world with a No.1 album, picked up three Grammy awards, andsix Brit awards.

Dua, who says she feels both Kosovan and British, co-founded the Sunny Hill Foundation with her father Dukagjin Lipa, who now heads up Republika Communications Agency, based in Bucharest.

The Foundation has given away 100,000 euros to charities and cultural events in Kosovo,which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, and runs the Sunny Hill Festival, which was headlined by Dua Lipa in 2018.

Speaking to Line Of Best Fit, she said: 'I feel very proud to be from both places and I feel like I represent both places.

'In Kosovo, the second that you do something and you're making these moves around the world, you're instantly a key person there.

'So if someone's like 'oh, where's Kosovo?' people say 'it's in-between Italy and Greece, but Rita Ora's from there, Dua Lipa's from there.'

'They start talking about it and it's a thing that you become proud of. You instantly feel responsible about the image you portray and the way you represent your place.'

'We want to give people a sense of belonging, of European living and the idea that we are part of Europe,' Dukagjin told the Observer ahead of the Sunny Hill Festival opening.

'This is the greatest way to promote Kosovo as a peace-loving and music-loving country that welcomes all our neighbours and all visitors who want to have fun.'

In August 2022, Dua was made an Honorary Ambassador of Kosovo in a ceremony at the Office of the President in Pristina.

Sharing images from the event to her Instagram at the time, the pop star wrote: 'Yesterday afternoon I was awarded the title of Honorary Ambassador of Kosovo by our Madame President.

'It's an honour and a privilege to be able to represent my country all over the world and to continue my work and efforts globally to see that we leave our mark and make a difference.

'The youth of Kosovo deserves the right to visa liberalisation, freedom to travel and to dream big. Thank you.'