Dua Lipa has called out social media hypocrites for failing to support women’s rights both online and offline.

In an interview with ITV News, the 23-year-old singer criticised people who claim to support gender equality but then go on to make harsh comments on the internet, referring to social media’s “darker side”.

“It feels like out in the open we’re very much pro-women, supporting each other, looking after each other, sisterhood, and then there’s kind of a darker side when you go on social media,” Lipa says.

“It feels like the same people that are preaching for all this equality and looking after each other it doesn’t feel so equal online.

“It always feels like because people can hide behind a computer screen they can also say whatever they want.”

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The Brit Award-winner continued by saying that some people are “very hypocritical” before explaining how these kinds of conversations can impact women in the entertainment industry.

“It feels like for men, getting older in an industry is celebrated whereas for women we’re instantly put down because we’re getting older,” Lipa says.

“It’s quite upsetting because why can’t we? As female artists, when we start something in our careers we want longevity and we don’t want ageing to be the reason we stop working or people stop being interested in us. We still have a lot to say and we still have a lot to bring to the table.

“I think it’s a lot to do with the conversations that are being made on social media.”

The One Kiss singer also spoke about how she is seen as a role model for young women, admitting she doesn’t always get things right.  

“I will do whatever is in my ability to be able to do what’s right but at the same time I’m also learning and I’m not perfect,” Lipa adds.

“I think that’s something really important for them to remember, that we’re allowed to make mistakes and be ourselves and be young, but at the same time try and set a good example.”

The singer, whose family came to the UK in 1992 to escape violent conflict in Kosovo, also said she feels saddened by the current refugee crisis and shared her concerns about Brexit.

“Seeing the refugee situation at the moment makes me quite upset, especially everything to do with Brexit, because I feel like young kids from all over the world won't have the same opportunities that I did,” she says.

“We as people have to be so much more accepting and understand the struggle, and understand in whatever way we can the stresses and everything that comes with coming from an immigrant family.”