Not to long ago Skin Diamond was on top of the world, at least within the adult world.
What most people didn’t know about Skin Diamond though, was that her father was rather famous in England. Rodd Christensen placed the role of Spencer the painter on the BBC children’s television program Balamory. The series ran for four seasons with 254 episodes in all.
Needless to say, when it was revealed his daughter became a porn star, it was a rather big scandal for him.
Skin Diamond, now 30 has decided to put her career in porn behind her and embark on a new musical journey, launching a career as a pop star.
Raylin Joy has been taking her music seriously, quitting smoking and hiring a voice coach.
She said: “I’ve given so much of my sexuality to the public for such a long time. Now it’s time to show them something else.
“I realised I was so focused on work all the time that I was living this Skin Diamond persona 24/7 and losing sight of who I was as a person.
“I studied acting and performance at Lauder College in Dunfermline and that’s when I started dabbling with music. I think music is more challenging and demanding. When I got into the adult industry, it was for giggles.
“I feel far shyer about my music. Your body will age but I am taking a piece of my soul with these songs and putting it out there to be judged.”
Raylin, whose boyfriend Ben Cole works as her producer, says her music will still be provocative.
She said: “It’s an interesting transition. As an empowered woman, I think it’s important to take charge of your sexuality. I found the adult industry very empowering.”
Critics warn that children and young people are now getting their first exposure to sex through porn sites and have said access is too easily available.
Raylin refused to discuss most of the controversies surrounding the industry but admits there are many young women who find it difficult to leave.
She said: “There are some issues in the industry and I wanted to make sure I was in charge of my journey. I think girls find it hard to leave because of the money and attention.
“And there’s the stigma society has about porn. It’s not for everyone. Most shouldn’t do it.”
Raylin started as a dancer in Edinburgh’s Fantasy Palace, where she said she made lifelong friends, before moving to the US via London.
She said: “I showed up in LA with my suitcases and I had $200 in my pocket. It was very, very difficult at first.
“My long-term plan was to move to LA. But it just happened faster than I had planned.”
Her first adult industry scenes were shot in Paris while she was still living in Scotland.
She said: “I was in college studying acting and I wanted to get into modelling.
“I had dyed my hair pink and I got tattoos. I was doing nude modelling and I went to a fetish club for the first time and loved it.
“I then had the opportunity to go to Paris to shoot my first scenes and I fell in
love with it.”
Raylin admits that she has always had the support of Balamory actor Rodd, who has returned to the US and is living in Las Vegas with Raylin’s mum.
She said: “My grandmother was getting older so my parents came back to take care of her.
“My little sister Heather was born in Scotland and she really misses it too.
“Throughout my career, my parents have been very supportive and loving.
“I want to be the voice for following your dreams. I have a song called All Night, which is about doing things your own way, even if it scares you. There is a sexy element but also a heart-warming aspect.
“My song Sunny Grey is doing well too. It’s about battling your own struggles.”
Raylin admits she may face an uphill struggle to make her mark in the music industry.
She said: “It is a scary leap because I have to start again. I have to build up my music library and not only do I have to prove I can sing but I have to fight the stigma of my past. That is daunting.”
Raylin is hoping her former film fans will also follow her music.
She said: “There are people on Twitter who follow me who went to the same school as me.
I miss Scotland and I think about it every day. America is a new country and you don’t get a castle beside a shopping centre.
“I love a steak bridie and I get excited for Greggs if I’m ever back in Scotland.”
Raylin is open to the idea of moving away from downtown LA to a quieter part of the city. And she has been taking care of her health.
She added: “I’ve been a smoker for a decade and I’ve stopped smoking cigarettes. I’ve also been taking vocal lessons and see a voice coach.
“I’ve stopped shooting adult films and I’ve been focusing on music. If you want to do something, you have to do it 100 per cent.”
Source: Daily Record
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