The renowned singer and former One Direction bandmate, Zayn Malik, has opened up about his past romantic entanglements and the valuable lessons he's garnered from them. In a candid interview for Nylon magazine's May cover story, Malik delved into his musical journey, teased details about his upcoming album "Room Under the Stairs," and reflected on his past relationships.
Malik, who has previously been romantically linked to Little Mix's Perrie Edwards and Gigi Hadid (whom he shares a daughter with), admitted to trying out the dating app Tinder but revealed that it didn't quite pan out as planned. "Let's just say it hasn't been a smooth sailing experience for me," he confessed. "I've been accused of catfishing more than once. People were like, 'Why are you using Zayn Malik's pictures?' I've even been booted off the app a couple of times."
Nowadays, the singer of hits like "Dusk Till Dawn" has ditched the dating apps and is embracing this new chapter of his life as a single man. "I'm genuinely content and delighted to be single for the very first time in my life," he added.
Malik's romantic journey began with Edwards when he was a member of the hugely popular British boy band One Direction. They were engaged at one point but ultimately parted ways in 2015. Later in that year, he embarked on an on-again, off-again relationship with Hadid, and they welcomed their daughter Khai into the world in 2020. The pair, however, called it quits the following year.
Reflecting on his past relationships, the "Pillowtalk" crooner wisely noted, "It's prudent to take your time before fully committing to another person as a lifelong partner." He further emphasized that he has learned valuable lessons about life, relationships, and parenthood over the years. "I only have my daughter 50% of the time. If I could, I'd have her 90% of the time. We go to Disney on Ice, visit Nickelodeon theme parks, or head to the beach. That's how I find joy and relaxation."
Earlier this month, Malik also shared on the Zach Sang Show that he regrets not fully appreciating his time in One Direction, which catapulted him and his bandmates Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson into the limelight. "Looking back on my life, the one thing that I always feel guilty about is not cherishing the band enough," he explained. "I feel like I took things too seriously. But I'm grateful that I'm able to find happiness now. I can actually enjoy things and have a more positive perspective. It's my choice to see the glass as half full rather than half empty."
