Zayn Malik has graced the cover of the September 2016 issue of ELLE UK Magazine and totally dishes the dirt as he speaks about leaving One Direction, dating one of Hollywood’s hottest models and of course his widely talked about debut solo album Mind Of Mine. We can’t contain our excitement right now!
As expected, Zayn firstly speaks to ELLE about why he chose to quit One Direction (which consequently forced the group into a quartet) and his passion for pursuing a solo career,
‘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.’
He also mentions how his new found freedom has influenced his personal style, ‘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. More creative. I can say I want to wear metal arms and it’ll happen.’
Last month, Malik faced enormous criticism for the cancellation of a show at London’s Capital Summertime Ball due to anxiety. He bravely took to social media to explain that the “anxiety that has haunted me throughout the last few months around live performances has gotten the better of me” and that “with the magnitude of the event, I have suffered the worst anxiety of my career.”
‘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. I’m just stressed out trying to control how I’m perceived. I think about things a lot.’
Continuing the interview, Malik also gushes about his girlfriend and supermodel Gigi Hadid who supported him through his struggles with anxiety at the time praising his ‘bravery’ and further strengthening their bond,
‘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.’
Zayn’s first solo album ‘Mind of Mine’ is available now and definitely worth a listen for the 10% of you out there who haven’t already, we seriously can’t get enough of it!
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‘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.’
The September issue will be available from 3 August. It’s definitely worth a look!
For now check out the BTS footage of Zayn shooting for ELLE below. Much love.
