Singer Raye said she has been cautious about dating since she was sexually assaulted at 17 and described how a blunt intervention from her sister helped her confront a period of drug use, in a feature for the October issue of British Vogue.

The 27-year-old, who revealed details of the assault and her addiction in her debut album My 21st Century Blues, told the magazine that the assault left her wary of intimacy and that her priorities in relationships have shifted. "My last devastating break-up was four, five years ago. I was like, ‘I’m gonna marry him,’" she said. "We was together for two years and it ended up not working out. I have never experienced a more crippling emotion. It took me three, four years to get over him. Like, I can’t allow myself to fall in love again until it’s safe."

Raye recounted being assaulted by a music producer at 17, saying he forced his hand between her legs. She has previously explored those experiences in her music and said they shaped how she approached dating. While she once sought a "manly man," she told British Vogue that what she looks for "has changed significantly over the years."

The singer addressed recent tabloid speculation linking her romantically with Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, saying the two are "great friends" who have supported each other for years: "Shows up for me, I show up for him. Care about him a lot. There’s not really much more to say than that."

Raye also spoke about a period when she became involved with drugs while living with her sister, Lauren Keen. She said she hid that part of her life from their parents and that the situation escalated until Keen delivered a harsh ultimatum. "It got so intense. I said, ‘I love you as a sister, but I wouldn’t want you in my life as anything else. I don’t like you as a friend,’" Raye recalled, adding that the remark was a wake-up call.

On body image and dieting, Raye said she has considered GLP-1 weight-loss injections such as Mounjaro but decided against taking them for herself. She said she does not judge others who choose those treatments and described a desire to "treat my body with respect." Reflecting on her childhood, she said she often wore oversized clothing because she was "so ashamed of what was underneath." She said she enjoys food and social drinking with her band but wants to avoid the distress that has accompanied past eating-disorder struggles.

The singer also referenced a recent live-show interruption after a fan collapsed in the audience at the All Points East Festival. Raye announced onstage that security had been alerted and asked for help from staff and the crowd while medics attended the person.

Raye’s accounts in British Vogue add to a body of work in which she has publicly addressed trauma and recovery. My 21st Century Blues, released earlier this year, included frank lyrics about sexual assault and substance use.

The full feature appears in the October issue of British Vogue, available via digital download and on newsstands from Sept. 23. If readers have been affected by the issues discussed in this story, support is available from the 24/7 Rape Crisis helpline at 0808 500 2222 or via rapecrisis.org.uk.