Dua Lipa voices concerns over Ivanka Trump's plans for luxury resort on private island
Dua Lipa is standing firmly behind mass protests in Albania against Ivanka Trump's plans to develop a luxury holiday resort within a nature reserve.
The musician, who has parents from Kosovo and Albania, hailed the public outcry as 'inspiring' in a heartfelt new podcast episode, which has since been seen as a savage dig against the Trump family.
Ivanka, the eldest daughter of the US President, first discussed her plans for a 'massive' off-the-grid private island off the coast of Albania last month, claiming she swam 1,400 hectares to check out the space.
The 44-year-old announced she'd build on Sazan Island earlier this year in collaboration with her own former real-estate investor husband, Jared Kushner.
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As well as a luxury holiday resort on the uninhabited island, the family also announced plans to build an additional 10,000 villas on the Zvernec peninsula, despite this costing them a hefty $4.7 billion.
Responding to the project, which has been dubbed the country's 'Flamingo Revolution', over 10,000 Albanian citizens have been marching across the capital, Tirana, for the last 45 days, imploring lawmakers to finally stop the Trumps in their tracks.
Thankfully, for now, the Albanian people have the support of Lipa, 30.
While filming the latest episode of her Service95 Book Club podcast, she told guest speaker, Albanian author Lea Ypi: "What I actually find concerning is the principle that the government could just change the law to remove the environmental protection without any kind of public consultation.
"I find it so inspiring to see how much people really care."
The 'Levitating' singer was subsequently praised by fans, one of whom shared in the comments: "Thank you both for setting such fine examples of intellect, engagement, and moral integrity."
Another added: "Thank you for speaking up for us, continue doing so."
To the surprise of citizens, the Albanian government fast-tracked the plan in 2024 by loosening previously strict legislation that forbade construction on areas that were environmentally sensitive.
As a landmass, Sazan - the country's only island - is home to over 70 endangered animals, including monk seals, loggerhead sea turtles and flocks of migratory birds, as well as Dalmatian pelicans and flamingos.
Sitting within the Vjosa-Narta Delta, the peninsula is recognised as one of the most important coastal ecosystems in Europe, home to 70 endangered species, including the monk seal and loggerhead sea turtle, as well as migratory birds, flamingos and the Dalmatian pelican.
Recalling her first encounter with the area during an interview with podcaster David Senra back in March, businesswoman Ivanka gushed: "We were on a friend's boat, we stopped for a swim, and effectively that's how we found it.
"We swam to the island, we went on a hike barefoot all the way up to the top, and we were just captivated, and it stayed with us ever since."
She continued: "And over the course of many years, we developed the opportunity to help realise its potential and transform it, but with a lot of restraint and care because the land is so beautiful that, really, the architecture has to be fully integrated into it, almost rise from it.
"You know, it's not even a business for me, despite the scale of it. Not only the island, but we have five miles of beachfront directly across from the island, this beautiful peninsula with a lagoon on one side, the ocean on the other, and beautiful white sand beaches.
"For me, it feels more like a challenge than anything else.
Ivanka concluded: "The culmination of all of my experience in real estate, all of my travel, and a lot of reflection on how I want to live, how I think people increasingly are wanting to live and trying to really build something that's a tangible manifestation of that."
Topics: Celebrity, US News, Politics, World News
Rhianna Benson