Rita Ora

Rita Ora

Rita Ora thinks it's "harder to be a female" in the music industry.

The 'I Will Never Let You Down' hitmaker - who has scored three UK number one singles and a UK number one album - believes it is tougher for women to have success in music.

She said: "Without pulling the 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 ...

"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. I have always been very vocal about the women sticking together."

The 24-year-old singer - who will be taking a seat on the judging panel of British talent show 'The Voice' alongside Sir Tom Jones, Will.i.am and Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson - also revealed that she is "proud" to be able to prove herself on the show.

She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "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."