Zayn Javadd Malik

Zayn Malik rose to fame as a member of the hugely successful boy band One Direction, formed on the UK's The X Factor in 2010. After achieving global stardom with the group, he embarked on a solo career in 2015, showcasing a more mature and alternative R&B sound.

Early Life

Born Zain Javadd Malik on January 12, 1993, in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, he is of mixed heritage. His father is British Pakistani and his mother is English, who converted to Islam upon marriage. He grew up in East Bowling and attended Lower Fields Primary School and Tong High School.

Career

Malik auditioned as a solo contestant on The X Factor in 2010. Though initially eliminated as a solo performer, he was brought back to form One Direction along with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Liam Payne. The group finished third in the competition but signed a record deal with Simon Cowell's Syco Records. One Direction went on to achieve massive international success with hit singles and albums. In March 2015, Malik departed from the group to pursue a solo career. He signed with RCA Records and released his debut solo album, Mind of Mine, in 2016, which debuted at number one in several countries. He has since released two more studio albums, Icarus Falls (2018) and Nobody Is Listening (2021).

Personal Life

Malik has been in a relationship with model Gigi Hadid since 2015. They have a daughter together, born in September 2020.