Sex confessions, girl crushes & steamy selfies…how Dua Lipa utilised her sexuality to become £100m powerhouse
SHE’S super successful, talented and has made a fortune as a result – and Dua Lipa cleverly knows exactly how to utilise her sex appeal to ensure all eyes remain firmly on her as we step into 2025.
It’s set to be another huge year for the singer, 29, who experts have branded ‘the whole package’ when it comes to having what it takes to make it in the cut-throat showbiz industry.
And undeniably she’s starting this year on a huge high.
Not only is she now engaged to actor Callum Turner, but it was also revealed recently that Dua’s personal net worth now comes in at a colossal £100m, with her income rising by £12.2m in one year alone.
It follows a critically acclaimed set at Glastonbury, as well as selling out two dates at Wembley later this year – not bad for a young girl who travelled from war-ravished Kosovo to London on her own at 15 to make a name for herself.
Now industry expert Denise Palmer Davies, PR director at Borne Media, believes that life is only going to get better for the sultry hitmaker.
She says: “Dua is the ultimate package: talent, beauty, sex appeal, intellect and authenticity.
“She’s not going anywhere. She is ultimately a superstar who will continue to grow across the globe.
“Everything she does is intentional and precise, from her musical evolution to her visual presentation.
“This calculated approach has allowed her to straddle the fine line between being sexy and provocative while remaining relatable and family-friendly.”
Here we look at the ways in which Dua has carefully curated and continued her rise to stardom, from proudly embracing her looks and sexuality, to starting discussions with her sultry selfies and frank sex confessions…
Generating intrigue
Born in London to Kosovo-Albanian parents Anesa and Dukagjin, who had fled the country’s war several years earlier, Dua grew up performing and attended the prestigious Sylvia Young stage school.
When she and the family moved back to a now independent Kosovo at the age of 11 she hatched a plan to come back to the UK.
At the age of just 15, Dua travelled back, all alone, where she shared a flat with the daughter of a family friend, saying: “I am very close to my parents who put a lot of trust in me, so I was as good as possible.”
After gaining attention performing covers on YouTube, it wasn’t long before Dua was signed to a record deal and began her ascent to fame.
I think it’s important to normalise the conversation around sex and make it a topic that we can speak about more freely.
Dua Lipa
She’s since collaborated with industry royalty, including Elton John, Miley Cyrus, Andrea Bocelli, Sean Paul, and Calvin Harris.
Given her hard work and determination, she was always destined for great success, and it’s certainly helped she’s not the shy and retiring type either.
Denise explains Dua has also cleverly utilised used her confidence and good looks and stunning figure to help her stand out from the crowd too.
Denise says: “Dua embraces her sexuality and relationships with confidence, openly discussing topics that generate both intrigue and empowerment.
“Her candidness not only garners attention but also positions her as a progressive, forward-thinking woman.”
Sex talk
Dua has previously revealed her secret to hot sex is communication – and she’s keen to share that little tip with fans.
Speaking candidly in 2023 she said: “Not talking about sex with the person you are having sex with is a weird anomaly for me.
“I think it’s important to normalise the conversation around sex and make it a topic that we can speak about more freely, so we can let go of the guilt and the shame that surrounds it.”
Denise says that Dua is smart to be open about her sex life, as it keeps the clicks coming.
“Women have ultimately shied away from discussing their sex life, but Dua prides herself on being progressive and modern thinking and speaking about it openly,” she says.
“However, it’s also a tactical move in terms of PR – it generates column inches, gets clickbait, and fans tongues wagging, all of which are needed to keep you on top.”
Steamy selfies
Take one look at her Instagram and you’ll see Dua in various tiny outfits, from cleavage-baring dresses to barely there shorts.
But it was one particular shot which got some eagle eyed fans’ eyes popping.
Posing in a bathroom in an oversized t-shirt and a pair of lace knickers wasn’t the kinkiest thing about the picture.
Instead it was the handprints visible on the steamy window of the shower that got people talking, indicating Dua’s no prude when it comes to sex in fun places. And Denise is all for it.
She says: “Dua is a sexy young woman, and why shouldn’t she embrace it!
“She alludes to ‘sex’ but also keeps us guessing so it’s not seen as vulgar or trashy. She’s open to admitting she has a healthy and active sex life, and why not?”
‘Damn, we know how to f***’
While appealing to a family audience on most of her hit singles, with many of her fans being young girls, Dua’s not afraid to spice things up when the time calls for it.
Some of her lyrics have been particularly saucy, including lines such as: “We don’t know how to talk, but damn we know how to f***”, which features on the album Future Nostalgia, and is reportedly about her relationship with Isaac Carew.
Denise understands why Dua was keen to break out of the ‘good girl’ category while she was on the up.
“Dua is pushing the boundaries here, as she does have a lot of young fans, but this was an album track rather than a single release,” she explains.
“However, Dua and her team knew that by adding this to the album it would be a talking point and ultimately gain exposure, so it’s a wise move.”
‘Ultimate girl crush’ omission
Despite an impressive list of hot boyfriends to her name, Dua shocked the world when she admitted to having a girl crush on one of her co-stars, Barbie actress Margot Robbie.
“Margot is my ultimate girl crush,” she said.
When Margot reciprocated, admitting that she too fancied Dua, fans went into meltdown, with one joking “It’s time to act on those feelings”.
“It’s a clever admission in terms of PR and likely most mens’ fantasy,” says Denise.
“These are two of the most beautiful and talked about women in the world and it’s lovely to see two females respect each other and compliment one another so publicly.
“It only makes them more relatable and brilliant.”
High-profile heartbreak
Once you’re a high profile pop superstar, you no longer tend to date ordinary joes.
Instead, since her rise to fame, Dua has dated actors, singers and one of the Hadid dynasty, all while keeping her relationships relatively private.
Her romance with film director Romain Gavras, who previously dated Rita Ora, ended quietly in December 2023.
Prior to that she was with Anwar Hadid, brother of Gigi and Bella and whose exes include Kendall Jenner, Sofia Richie and Brooklyn Beckham’s now wife, Nicola Peltz.
Dua also dated Paul Klein, lead singer of the band LANY and who also went out with Nicola, between 2017 and 2018.
Now loved up with actor Callum, this one appears to be for keeps, though Denise believes Dua will continue to keep ‘schtum’ on the finer details.
XXXXX – last word on wedding/PR move from Denise to come -XXXXX