Emmanuel Ray  is the winner of Fashion Icon of the Year award at Fashions Finest Awards UK. He tells us about his life.

Q: Tell us about your childhood. It sounds intriguing.

A: I suppose it was. I was able to appreciate the little things in life that made a difference and brought happiness. I grew up in a poor background and we moved from one place to another, in the outskirts of Colombo Sri Lanka. The civil war was raging on and the whole island was in a state of fear, with constant bombings and killings. So people lived for the day and tried to make the most of what they had. We often lived without running water or electricity, sometimes for long periods of time. I always helped with a lot of house work and making several trips to the communal water taps or well meant I had a toned body! Despite the difficulties we faced living in poverty and in unsafe neighbourhoods, the frustrations and dispossession, my parents taught me how to be happy with what I had. We had good times and bag times but always stuck together. I was very much into nature and wild life, a passion I shared with my father. I had a keen interest in animals, mother nature and the universe. I spent a lot of time on the beach, walking through the woods and so on. My siblings and I would sit in the garden and watch the fireflies dance around. I was a dreamer. I always wanted to explore and experiment. I had a very informed and interesting childhood where I got to experience most human emotions. I guess I was lucky in some way. I felt much older than all other kids who were around me, even the ones older than me seemed immature to me.

Q: Why did you come to the UK?

A: To escape my past, start afresh and go to university. I failed. But worked very hard to turn my life around and start conquering the dream I had always had of making a career in fashion and entertainment. I also saw the UK as a sort of hub for the arts and creative sectors. Art, culture, fashion and history... they all fascinated me. I also like the old side of London, the wonderful architecture, the English countryside, the heritage and so on. London is also a multi cultural city and although the recession means things aren't as wonderful as they used to be, there is always opportunity here. You just have to spot the opportunities and be savvy! I see this city as a sort of centre of the world with flights connecting us to almost everywhere. Besides, I am fluent in the language and mastered it by going to a good school in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with a scholarship. So everything seemed to fall in place. The university I applied to here was the first one to accept my application and I pre planned a lot of things. But after the first year, things went wrong. Then it took me about 2 years to settle down. I've always had a Bohemian lifestyle and am a hippy at heart! Somehow, London seems the perfect place for someone like me. I don't known why!

Q: What difficulties did you find at the beginning?

A: The difficulties I faced were my own doing. I started drinking heavily and doing drugs again and lost track of what I wanted in life. I wasted my money, and fell into a hedonistic lifestyle, living in a dazed bubble. I dropped out of university, my modeling career wasn't going well and I did a few part time jobs. I couldn't hold onto one. Soon, I had become homeless twice, attempted suicide and fell very ill. Then I got better and fell back into the same lifestyle again. I had numerous flings and casual relationships, did not want to settle down. I got involved in sex clubs, started having orgies at home, and even worked at a brothel! My addiction to drugs and alcohol led to total dependency and after being hospitalised for the second time, I gave up on my goals, dreams and hopes. I refused to go back to my family as I had already screwed up when I lived in the Middle East and felt horrible facing them then. And I didn't want my siblings to see me like this. It was almost like I had fallen into this ditch and there was no way out. I even got married to someone I loved but that too fell apart in about 2 years.

Q: When did your life start to change?

A: When I met my (now ex) lover Marcel, a Polish student who stepped into my life at an unexpected moment. He had seen my modeling work in the past and was quite surprised to find me in the state I was. I believe everything happens for a reason and I believe in karma. So I must have done something good in the past. This was the universe's way of giving me back a little something. We shared a love so passionate and intense it changed us both completely. He went from being an innocent teenager to becoming a man of the world. I think he learned a lot from me, including from the terrible mistakes I had made. He knew how not to live his life by looking at me! He reminded me of myself when I was a teenager and he gave me the reality check that I needed. With his help, I turned my life around and it took me 6 months to give up drugs and heavy drinking. I was able to successfully battle my addictions and start again from scratch, getting back on track and working towards the dream I once had. It was a remarkable thing for him to do, given that he was only 17 when I met him. With his help and encouragement, I started off as a fashion commentator and presenter, hosted my own social and business networking events and gradually got my confidence back. I will forever be in his debt. If not or him, I dread to think what would have happened to me. And of course, there's the support from the audience; readers, listeners, viewers and fans, guests and clients, brands and press, media and journalists who supported my work, wrote about my events and so on. The public played a big role in my success, giving me maximum votes and choosing me as their Fashion Icon of the Year, at Fashions Finest Awards 2011. My first agent, and almost every photographer, make up artist, hair stylist, designer, fashion stylist and assistant I have worked with - have all contributed to my ability to stay sane, sobre and focused. So you could say my success was achieved with joint effort, with a lot of help from a lot of people. Ironically, some of my ex lovers also came back to support me and encourage me to go further. So that was a pleasant surprise!

Q: What does success mean to you?

A: Happiness, contentment, stability and security - collectively. These are things that every human being wants. But success means different things to different people I suppose. Some want to make millions and conquer the world. Others want a stable job, a home and a family. Some want total independence while some others seem to love the unpredictability of life coupled with constant discovery and adventure. I am very thankful for what I have. But I am not totally happy, contented, even as stable or secure as I want to be. I have only achieved 1/10 of what I want. There is still a lot of work to be done and much more to achieve. I am very busy and haven't even had time to look for a proper home. My ideal home. I keep postponing it due to lack of time, hut must get around to it in the new year. I have my mind set on somewhere quiet and peaceful. I hope this exists? Having a busy career, I like complete calm when I return home.

Q: How do you use your success to inspire others?

A: I never refuse when a charity approaches me to host an event for them, raise funds or offer my support. In doing so, I hope to encourage others to indulge in similar activities. I support human rights causes and community projects. I have raised funds for various charities including SOS Children’s Villages, Save The Children, Tree of Hope children’s charity, London Evening Standard’s Dispossessed Fund, St Mary’s Hospital Pædiatric Unit, Look Ahead Housing & Care, Shelter, Samaritans, Photovoice, Portugal Prints and Derbyshire Hepatitis C Charity. I also presented at the Talent Factory at NICOLA; New International Company of Live Arts, which offers opportunities for up & coming artists and entertainers, in London. I was also involved in the Ministry for Peace campaign and attended meetings at the Houses of Commons. I supported the “All Out” the campaign to persuade the government of Uganda to abandon the “Kill The Gays” bill, which I consider an achievement. I was delighted to speak at the 4D for World Peace forum in London, supported by Uniting for Peace. In Sri Lanka, I worked with the poor (with the church) and tutored children of refugees displaced by the civil war. Giving the gift of knowledge and education to children is very fulfilling. I also campaigned and presented for the Ceylon Workers Congress which helps poor labourers in the island's tea plantation sector, and also working class people in the city. I often lend my voice to LGBT rights, drawing attention towards inequality and discrimination faced by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans-gendered people, mainly within ethnic minorities. I represented Britain in the NOH8 campaign in Los Angeles (and is endorsed by many celebrities) against California Proposition 8 which eliminates rights of same-sex couples to marry. Many of my audience and fan support all the causes I help, in various ways. They donate money, buy tickets and come to the events hosted in aid of the cause, spread the word, sign petitions and also help promote it to their friends and family via the internet. So I could not do all this work without their support. I will always stand up for equality, diversity and human rights. I will lend my voice and support to help those in need. The way I see it... several people helped me when I needed help. So it is my duty to give back. I strongly believe in the powers and laws of the universe. The more you help others, the more you receive. The more you receive, the more you should give back, doing whatever you can, and anyone can do this. Be it donating your time, help promote the cause or giving some money. But charity has also become a business these days, so it is vital that you make a few checks before blindly supporting any charity. In recent years, we have seen and heard of how little actually reaches those in need. So, be well informed.

Q: Any Projects for the future?

A: I am working on establishing a new fashion business. I've been approached by several brands and am currently interviewing suitable candidates to take on the role of business manager. I will also be restarting my events Socialite Evenings by Emmanuel Ray in the new year, and establishing a business networking society for entrepreneurs and start up businesses. My column Diary of an It Boy will be out this winter, in 2 special editions. I will also have to finish writing my book as the column has been spotted by a literary agent. And we have already had interested from publishers, which is great! I make my film debut in Dumar, a British independent film which will also be released in the New Year. I have been approached regarding 2 shows and will be recommencing talks with its' producers in January. I have had interest from overseas but need to establish my brand here in the UK first. There is just so much work to be done and I am still trying to finalise my team. I don't want to rush into anything and will keep looking until I find the right people to work with me. They must share my work ethic and be exactly as I imagined. Life may require us to make many compromises. But I am at a point where I don't want to compromise at all!

Photo 1: Photography by Bartosz Och.
Photo 2 :Make up & hair by Paula Seabright.
Photo 3: Styling by Hash Eli. 
Photo 4: Emmanuel Ray wears outfits by Nico Didonna, Antony Morato & XOOS shirt boutique
Photo 5: Accessories by Retro Days and Fusion Fashion Accessories.

Read more:

Emmanuel Ray. Fashion Icon of the Year in UK