Rita Ora has insisted "age doesn't really matter" to her as an artist

She said: "The problem is that insecurity gets put onto you through comments that you read over the years. You start to think, 'I'm not as young as I used to be. I'm not the fresh girl on the scene I once was'.

"I can proudly say, 'Yeah - I use my looks because I'm very comfortable in my skin and I like my body', but that gives people an opportunity to say, 'Oh, well - you're getting older'.

"I stand up for these girls because age really doesn't matter - J. Lo had her first hit in her thirties."

The 'How To Be Lonely' singer thinks the obsession surrounding age is also a sexist issue.

She added in an interview with NME.com: "And men don't get asked how old they are all the time!"

Rita previously spoke out to defend Bebe Rexha when the 'I'm a Mess' singer was told she was getting "too old" to post sexy photos at the age of 29.

Bebe shared a photo of herself in her underwear along with the caption: "I recently had a MALE music ex ecutive tell me that I was getting too old and that my brand was 'confusing.' Because... I'm a songwriter and I post sexy pics on my Instagram and that's not what female songwriters are suppose to do, especially for my age. I'm 29. I'm fed up with being put in a box. I make my own rules. I'm tired of women getting labeled as 'hags' when they get old and guys get labeled as sexy with age. (sic)"

In response, Rita commented: "My sexy songwriting [crown emoji] You are beautiful, getting sexier with age and your talent SINGS for itself. Keep making those rules [heart emojis] (sic)"