He is famous for coaxing women into feeling better about their bodies. But when it comes to his own looks, British celebrity stylist Gok Wan is the first to admit that he is riddled with insecurities.

'I am no different from anyone else. I struggle to feel good about myself every day,' he told Urban earlier this month when he was in town for a break.

'I will always think of myself as the fat kid.'

One of three children born to restaurant-owner parents in Leicester (his Chinese father was born in Hong Kong and his mother is English), he has frequently spoken of his tough teen years.

Then, he weighed about 133kg and was often the target of bullies. He went on a crash diet when he was 20, lost almost half his body weight and now works out rigorously to maintain his physique.

Dressed in black from head to toe, the 35-year-old host of hit makeover shows like How To Look Good Naked, Gok's Fashion Fix and Miss Naked Beauty is reclining on a bed in the trendy Klapsons Hotel as he talks.

He is lean and lanky, warm and witty.

'I don't sweat, I glow,' he pronounces mock-dramatically while being photographed on the patio of the hotel suite.

There does not seem to be a trace of self-consciousness about his appearance. But his punchy patter comes to a considerable pause when asked to name his favourite feature.

'I think I have nice lips,' he finally replies, eyes glinting mischievously when this reporter is quick to concur. 'Stop flirting,' he says with a cheeky smile.

Jokes aside, he says he strives to do the same things he encourages the women on his shows to live by, namely 'to have an honest relationship with the mirror and to concentrate on the positive parts'.

His own tussle with his body image has defined the way he approaches his makeover subjects - with a great deal of empathy. Instead of carping about weight loss and plastic surgery, he advises them to pick more flattering clothes.

'I am just myself, I would talk to them the same way even if there were no cameras,' the London-based bachelor says of his onscreen persona.

'After all, what right have I got to tell women how they feel about their bodies?'

The quippy-but-kind approach has resulted in a thriving career. Since starring in his first makeover show in 2006, he has also hosted a TV book club show, started an underwear range, published three books on personal style and is working on an autobiography.

He has also launched a Body Confidence Campaign targeted at British teens, and is working on getting body-image education into the school curriculum.

'We live in a society obssessed with image and we are surrounded by photoshopping, airbrushing, social pressures and eating disorders,' he says of his pet cause.

'We are taught English and science in school but not how to deal with our bodies. I want to do something about it.'

He is also a supporter of the anti-bullying charity Kidscape, and says he is willing to pose naked for anyone who coughs up a million pounds for the organisation.

Seeing as how he is known for getting women on his shows to strip down to their underwear for the cameras once he has helped them to be comfortable with their bodies, plenty of requests for him to show some skin have come pouring in.

'Some have come close to the price I am asking, but I won't do it till I get that offer,' he says. 'Then it will be worth it.'

In the meantime, he has other things on his plate. There is that holiday to get started on, for instance.

'I first came to Asia in my 20s to visit my father's village in Hong Kong and I hated it,' he says.

He has since become much more appreciative of his Chinese heritage though.

'My obsession with Asia now is almost sexual; the flavours and smells and colours I find here gives me palpitations.'

There is also the little matter of dealing with the inevitable backlash that comes with being famous, with critics in recent years starting to mutter about over-exposure.

'It can be hurtful, especially because I had very good press in the beginning,' he admits. 'But if you can get through puberty, you can survive everything.'

Gok's Fashion Fix airs every Friday at 9.15pm and How To Look Good Naked every Wednesday (starting March 24) at 11.05pm on BBC Lifestyle (StarHub Channel 83).

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This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.