Zayn Malik Talks About Music, Stress, One Direction, And Being In Love With Gigi Hadid

Zayn Malik is having an exciting but difficult year, away from One Direction. Zayn has a lot of things going for him. He’s handsome. He has beautiful Victoria Secret model Gigi Hadid as his girlfriend. Zayn is now wealthy because of his talent, and his new solo album is a big hit. Strangely, though, this superstar lacks confidence.

Zayn Malik’s former band, One Direction, is most popular musical group since the Beatles. Yet, after nearly five years of whirlwind tours and recording an album every year, Zayn just could not continue. He decided to go solo, and though he hasn’t regretted it, it does seem his anxiety level recently has been a serious problem.

Gigi Hadid has been very supportive of Zayn through his anxiety attacks, which are apparently overwhelming. Gigi and Zayn have a lot in common. They are both celebrities and must perform in public, so Gigi understands what it is like to feel stage fright.

Zayn Malik had to cancel his first gig in the UK, which was a huge show. Giving up performing at the Capital FM Summertime Ball was devastating for him, but he could not bring himself to go on stage. People shared a quote from Elle UK’s September Cover Story, which will not be available to the public until August 3.

“I just don’t have it in me to feel fully secure in anything I do. I always strive towards something better. It’s why I think sometimes I come across the wrong way, a bit distant.”

Zayn Malik has experienced a lot of change in his life since leaving One Direction and Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards. According to the Mirror, he split with Perrie about a year ago, after dating her for four years. Now he is very serious about Gigi Hadid. He also left 1D a little over a year ago. Now he is touring as a solo act. Change is known to be stressful, whether the change is positive, negative, or neutral.

One Direction felt restrictive to Malik, but now he has complete musical freedom and a lot of choices. Perhaps his life is moving so fast, with so much excitement he can’t find time to catch his breath. Malik was quoted in the Daily Mail, expressing his feelings about his life now, compared to a year ago.

“At that time in my life, I felt I had done everything I could do there and I just needed to change it up. It didn’t feel brave. My entire life has changed in the last year. I’m still taking it all in. I’ve found so much out about myself. Mostly how in love with music I still was. The album is a build-up of six years and never being able to express what I wanted to say. I had something to get off my chest. Since leaving One Direction I’ve been given the freedom to be able to wear whatever I want and that’s made it more interesting.”

Zayn Malik says Gigi Hadid really understands him, and her intelligence makes him feel more comfortable. According to Daily Mail, Zayn was raised with three sisters and a close relationship with his mother, so he has great respect for women, and enjoys their intellect and wisdom.

“She’s super intelligent, I think that’s why it works so well. And we do the same type of job so we get that with each other. I enjoy an intellectual conversation as well, where someone can construct a sentence beyond what hair and makeup they’re wearing, and talk about something political or about the world. I like an opinion.”

One Direction is extending their hiatus. Could Malik rejoin them later, on his own terms, perhaps for a reunion tour? As the boys get out from under their former record contracts, could they find common ground with a bit less supervision?

Zayn Malik is open to new ideas. He said he might even consider acting. It is something he enjoyed before joining 1D but has had little time for since. He told Elle he’d like to try it if he were given the right role.

Zayn Malik is still battling anxiety with the help of Gigi Hadid, as One Direction extends their hiatus.

[Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images]