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RAYE made Brits history after picking up six awards across the seven she was nominated for — three years after being told she was not good enough to release an album.
The pop star, 26, shone brightly and triumphed in the categories for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist and RnB Act.
Ahead of the ceremony, she was also named as Songwriter of the Year on top of her wins last night at London’s O2 arena.
It meant that RAYE — real name Rachel Agatha Keen — smashed the record of four awards collected in a single night, which was previously held by Harry Styles last year, Adele in 2016 and Blur in 1995.
The impressive haul following the success of her debut studio album My 21st Century Blues came after she was snubbed in the Grammy Awards last month.
RAYE, who wore a Fendi sequin gown and lab-grown diamond earrings, said she overcame critics to release music.
She said: “I got to start again. I am in control. I am my own boss now. What is actually happening?”
Earlier in the night, she added: “I just want to say when I was 16 or 15 years old, I wanted to be an RnB artist — that’s what I would say.
“I was told a lie that RnB doesn’t sell in the UK and I needed to learn to make a different kind of music.
“I know that’s shady, but I do mean to say that RnB is so important and there are so many incredible RnB artists in the UK that are eating it up.”
Following her first win for Song of The Year with Escapism ft 070 Shake, she said: “Wow, thank you God. I’m shaking.
“I don’t really know what to say, but thank you to my team. Wow, I’ve always dreamed of saying that — thank you to my team.”
On the custom latex dress she wore for her performance, she said: “I’m not stick thin and I love that Hollywood glamour look and she creates dresses that feel so good on my body. I’m obsessed with the dress!”
Collecting Best New Artist, RAYE said: “I have to thank my mum and my dad, who are also a part of my team, and my grandma.
“In ways I do feel like a new artist. I released my first song when I was 15 years old. I released a mixtape Welcome to the Winter when I was 16 — don’t go and listen to it because it is not good anymore.
“I do feel like a new artist, I got to start again. The artist I was three years ago would not believe the sight she is seeing today.
“I’m in control. I am my own boss now. What is actually happening? Thank you to the Brits, thank you so much.
“Please whilst I’m here British record music industry please I just want to have a lovely brief conversation about normalising giving British songwriters master royalty points – it can be net costs.
“It doesn’t have to be at your expense but it just means if the songs win big, the writers get to win big too. Please allow that to happen.”
The artist I was three years ago would not believe the sight she is seeing today
RAYE
This year’s Brit Awards — regarded as the jewel in the crown of the UK’s music calendar — was dominated by women.
It came after last year’s ceremony was overshadowed with controversy after Artist of the Year featured five male musicians.
It followed a decision in 2021 which saw separate male and female categories axed in a bid to include non-binary artists.
Last night, Kylie Minogue was honoured with the Global Icon Award, 35 years after landing her first Brits nomination.
It is regarded as Britain’s highest musical accolade and was last won by Taylor Swift, 34, in 2021.
The Aussie superstar closed the star-studded event at London’s O2 Arena with a medley of her biggest hits.
Earlier in the night, Dua Lipa went up against RAYE to win Best Pop Act following the success of her track Dance The Night, which featured on the soundtrack for the hit movie Barbie.
Dua paid tribute to the 55-year-old Aussie icon, saying: “I love Kylie. She’s a friend of mine, but also somebody that I look up to.”
Fresh from her Grammys success, Miley Cyrus scooped International Song of the Year with her hit Flowers — a break-up track about her ex-husband, actor Liam Hemsworth.
Meanwhile, American singer-songwriter SZA — real name Solana Imani Rowe — won International Artist of the Year.
Calvin Harris triumphed in the Best Dance Act category following his hit song Miracle with Ellie Goulding, while Jungle scooped Best Group.
The Brits Rising Star gong was awarded to indie rock band The Last Dinner Party, made up of female and non-binary-identifying musicians.
However, The Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish were pipped to the post for awards last night.
The award for International Group of the Year was awarded to boygenius, while Bring Me The Horizon took home the award for Best Rock/Alternative Act.
British grime act Casisdead picked up Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act.
Earlier this week it was revealed that Chase and Status had won Producer of the Year.
Dua’s danger
DUA Lipa opened the ceremony with her new track Training Season.
The pop star, 28, wore leather hot pants and a matching cropped jacket as she performed alongside 30 dancers at London’s O2 arena.
Speaking before the jaw-dropping set, the Houdini hitmaker revealed that she wanted to “add a little bit of danger” to her routine.
She added: “It’s all just about having fun and creating a spectacle and I mean what better place to do that than at home in London, at the Brits.
“I’m so happy to be here and I’m so excited to go and do my warm-up and get ready to go on stage.”
Nominee Caity love of chaos
RISING star nominee Caity Baser has revealed she could not wait to brush shoulders with a One Direction singer on the night.
The pop singer, 21, who wore a custom L Plate dress in a nod to her new mixtape Still Learning, said she thrives off the “chaos” from awards ceremonies.
Speaking ahead of her first Brit Awards as a nominee, she said: “I think I am sat next to Liam Payne and all of these other people – I think it will be a night of chaos which is great for me because I thrive off that s**t.
“My stylist has got me a custom dress – it is a custom L-plate dress and it is honestly stunning. I had my fitting and it fits me like a glove – it is perfect, gorgeous and stunning.”
But Caity, from Southampton, said she is too busy to date, adding: “I am a single girl, no need for love. I am too busy and I just want to be a pop star.”
The five Ellie guardings
ELLIE Goulding employed five heavies to guard her dressing room — while Dua Lipa had one.
It was the first live show for Ellie, 37, who performed with Calvin Harris, since confirming her split with husband Caspar Jopling.
REAL life former postmistress Jo Hamilton, 66, and actress Monica Dolan, 54, who played her in the hit ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, awarded Song of the Year to Raye.
The government has vowed to give sub-postmasters “full and fair compensation” following the Horizon IT scandal.
However, backstage Jo said: “Despite what the government is saying – they’re not paying.”
GUESTS tucked into a “reduced footprint” main course of woodland mushrooms, camembert fondue and potato mousseline.
Meanwhile, Tony’s Chocolonely dark chocolate and salted almond bars were left in the dressing rooms.
And backstage snacks included vegan hot dogs.
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