Welcome!
Thank you for checking out my designs and project ‘Pride Friends’. My name is Paul and I am an independent artist with over 1 Million streams, 4 number 1s in various charts and toured the world singing. ‘Pride Friends’ is a passionate project of mine that came to light in early 2023 when I was dealing with having a tumour removed from my ear. I was creatively frustrated because I wasn’t able to sing or do much but my fans and I kept in touch- they and my family really helped me get through all the bad moments so ‘Pride Friends’ was born out os love for them but also wanting to help my community.
Being part of the LGBTQ+ community and someone who cares about mental health, the designs and the individual characters are to highlight visibility and representation. I wanted something that would improve our mental health by being proud of who we are. As I have gotten older, I want to do more to: combat body stereotypes, challenge discrimination and encourage understanding among people from diverse backgrounds. This project and characters are from my heart and for us.
I made each character from ‘Pride Friends’ have a story. I feel there are parts of the community that need love and some positivity, we all need it, but at the moment these are the ones that I feel need it more. I would love to introduce you to them below.
Meet Sam
'Sam' is the red character. He is the proclaimed 'daddy' of the group who loves the gym. Sam exudes self-assurance and has a strong belief in his abilities. He carries himself with pride and embraces his identity as a bear. His confidence is not only evident in his physical appearance but also in his interactions with others.
As an Australian, Sam grew up surrounded by breathtaking beaches and developed a love for water sports...especially surfing! He has a daring spirit and is always up for new adventures, seeking out thrilling experiences that push his limits.
Sam says about Mental Health: "Ride the waves of life, both high and low, they shape us into resilient beings".
Meet Lady Naranja
Meet Lady Naranja who is the orange character from ‘Pride Friends’. Oringinally from Brazil and Before embracing her drag personality, Lady Naranja gave up a life of working as a banker. Her background in finance allows her to bring a sophisticated touch to her performances. She has crafted herself a career as a top drag performer, in particular, to ABBA, and their music. She believes in the power of music to uplift spirits and create a sense of unity among the ‘Pride Friends’. She insists on making an Abba tribute band with ‘Sam’ and the others- as long as she is upfront! After a show you can find her on the dance floor surrounded by guys in shorts.
Lady Naranja says about Mental Health ‘Embrace your flaws, laugh through the madness, and let your weirdness be your superpower’.
Meet Dave or ‘Big D’
'Big D' or Dave, is always ready with a smile and a warm embrace for those around him. With his infectious laughter and sunny personality, he brightens up any room he enters.
Dave believes in the power of unconditional love and acceptance. When he discovered an infant who was intersex—a person born with physical sex characteristics that do not fit typical binary definitions—he felt an immediate connection.
Recognizing the importance of providing a nurturing environment, Dave decided to adopt the child and dedicates his time and energy to ensure that his child grows up surrounded by love and understanding
Dave is an incredibly supportive 'Dad' hence 'Big D' (there are other rumours apparently about his name). He looks up to Sam (red character) for daddy inspiration.
In his free time, Big D loves to explore the diverse landscapes of California. Whether it's hiking in the picturesque mountains or lounging on the sunny beaches, he finds solace in nature. Dave is also an avid foodie, always on the lookout for new culinary adventures.
And finally...
Big D says of Mental Health: "Hey, remember, mental health is like fine wine—age only makes it better! So let's uncork our feelings, savor life, and laugh our way to a well-seasoned state of mind!"
Meet Seb
Introducing Seb, a resilient and compassionate transgender man who comes from the United Kingdom and has faced a challenging journey in life. At the age of 18, Seb was kicked out of his home due to family issues with his gender identity.
Despite the hardships they have faced, Seb has emerged as a person of great inner strength. They possess a shy nature when it comes to social interactions especially finding where he belongs in the LGBTQ+ community, but behind that quiet demeanour lies a fierce advocate for social justice, especially for his LGBTQ+ crew.
His own struggles have shaped Seb into someone who's all heart and understanding. He's all about building a world where everyone can be themselves, without fear of judgment.
When Seb isn't busy fighting the good fight, he's got a creative side that's off the charts. He's into artsy stuff like painting, writing and acting. His favourite music is 90s pop and he can sing extremely well- much to the annoyance of Lady Naranja from the 'Pride Friends' group. Seb fits in nicely to the group! He loves to be in the middle (hence the main T shirt Design amongst other things). Big D took Seb under his wing at a social event and introduced him to the rest of the 'Pride Friends' crew.
Seb says of Mental Health:
"Embracing change can lead to the power to transform, heal and become stronger".
Meet George
Get ready to meet George from Scotland, the ultimate party animal and jokester of the ‘Pride friends’ group. This dude is bisexual, proud and frisky.
Once upon a time, George was a rugby star, and let me tell you, his big beard and strong legs made him look like a total badass. But don't let that fool you, because he's actually a big softie with a heart of gold. When he's not chugging pints with his mates, you can find him cracking jokes that'll have you rolling on the floor laughing.
Now, here's a secret about George—he's obsessed with Marvel superhero films, especially the X-Men. You'll often find him reading the comics in his spare time and debating in online communities how the X-men are a metaphor for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
George also loves to travel and meet new people. He will welcome shy people or travellers into his social group if they are standing alone. That’s how he met Diego (the brown and black character). They both know what’s it like to feel ‘non mainstream’ so they have a good friendship. With George around, life is a non-stop adventure filled with laughter, love, and a whole lot of fun.
George says about mental health "Being different is our superpower- when we embrace our diversity- we are unstoppable."
Meet Kai
Say hello to Kai, who is proudly non-binary and wears the non binary flag colours on their shorts. Kai comes from Asia and moved to the U.K to set up their own business.
Kai loves to travel and is drawn to the ocean and sea. They are deeply spiritual, respectful and proud of their culture. In some places in the world Kai means 'ocean', 'restoration' and 'recovery'. Kai feels naturally drawn to these words as it reflects their life and journey.
In their spare time Kai loves to dance at the local club. They met 'Pride Friends' 'Seb' and 'George' at a Pride March. They highly respect and care for each other and through learning about each other's experiences they have formed a close bond.
Kai says of mental health: "Dance your way to a brighter state of mind, as the rhythm sets your soul free."
Meet Diego
Introducing Diego, who identifies as Demisexual. (When a person feels sexually attracted to someone only after they’ve developed a close emotional bond with them. Forming a bond doesn’t guarantee a person will feel a sexual attraction).
Diego comes from Spain and brought up in a strict religious family. After coming out as gay at an early age, Diego was rejected by his family.
After attempting gay dating, Diego never felt comfortable in a dating world where sex is at the forefront, he felt alone and isolated until he was ready to embrace his demisexuality. As a result, he is comfortable with single life and has become a stronger, more attractive, confident person.
In his spare time, Diego is a gamer. He loves playing online and goes to Pokemon conventions. He also has a thing for unicorns and loves to hang out at the local bear bar for catch up with his pals.
Diego says of mental health:
"Emotional connections add depth and colour to the canvas of our lives, creating a masterpiece of love."
