What Happened to One Direction's Members? Juicy Updates on Love Lives, Families, and Careers

Despite being on an extended break, the members of One Direction – Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik – have still managed to stay in the spotlight with their music and personal lives. The group rose to fame after competing on The X Factor UK in 2010, eventually releasing four hit albums: Up All Night, Take Me Home, Midnight Memories, and Four. Unfortunately, after five years together, Zayn Malik announced his departure from the group in March 2015.

In a statement, he expressed that his time with One Direction had exceeded his wildest expectations. However, he believed it was the appropriate moment to part ways with the band after five years. His decision was not easy, and he hoped that his fans would comprehend that he needed to follow his heart. He wanted to experience life as a regular 22-year-old and enjoy some downtime away from the constant media attention. Despite departing the group, he remained confident that his friendships with Louis, Liam, Harry, and Niall would continue. They had become his lifelong companions, and he believed that they would continue to be the world's best band.

Although Horan, Payne, Styles, and Tomlinson released their fifth album, Made in the A.M., without Malik, they subsequently announced an extended hiatus shortly after its release. Us Weekly later revealed that they had decided against renewing their recording contract, ultimately resulting in the band's disbandment.

According to an insider who spoke with Us in January 2016, the 1D era had come to an end. The source revealed that while the band members will continue to maintain their friendship, they were feeling drained and ready to pursue individual careers. Keep reading for an update on what the former One Direction stars are up to now.

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Former One Direction Members: Where Are They Now — Relationships, Breakups, Babies and More

Even though One Direction is currently on a long break, the individual members, including Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik, have consistently produced new music and remained in the spotlight throughout the years.

One Direction rose to fame after placing third on the U.K.'s version of The X Factor in 2010. They went on to release four successful studio albums, including Up All Night, Take Me Home, Midnight Memories and Four. However, after five years together, Zayn Malik was the first to announce his departure from the band in March 2015. In a statement, he expressed his gratitude to his time with the band but explained that it was time for him to move on and focus on being a normal 22-year-old. Despite his departure, he remains close friends with his former bandmates.

After the release of their fifth album, Made in the A.M., without Malik, Horan, Payne, Styles, and Tomlinson announced that they would be taking a long break. However, less than a year later, news broke that the band had decided not to renew their recording contract and were disbanding. According to an insider, "The 1D thing just ran its course. They'll still be friends, but they're tired and want to pursue solo careers."

Scroll through for an update on where the former 1D stars are today:

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Niall Horan

The 2016 solo record deal for the Irish singer resulted in the release of two popular singles, "This Town" and "Slow Hands" from his debut album, Flicker in 2017. Along with promoting his new music, Horan began a romantic relationship with Hailee Steinfeld in 2018. However, the couple parted ways in December 2018 due to conflicting schedules. Despite the breakup, the source confirmed that they still held a lot of love for each other. Horan's second album, Heartbreak Weather, was released in 2020.

He began dating fashion buyer Amelia Woolley in May 2020. His third record, The Show, debuted in June 2023. 

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Liam Payne

After beginning a relationship with singer Cheryl Cole in 2016, Payne and Cole welcomed a son named Bear a year later. Despite ending their romantic involvement in 2018, the two prioritize co-parenting their child together. Cole noted that she takes on a stricter parenting role compared to Payne's more lenient approach, but they make it work for the sake of their son's well-being. In the years since, Payne has released successful music, including his hit single "Strip That Down" in 2017 and his debut album LP1 in 2019.

Before getting engaged to model Maya Henry in August 2020, the British singer was briefly linked to supermodel Naomi Campbell. Unfortunately, their relationship didn't last and Payne confirmed their split in June 2021. However, news broke the following month that they had reconciled. Despite their efforts, the couple ultimately called it quits for good in May 2022. Payne was linked to Kate Cassidy later that year, but their romance fizzled by early 2023 according to Us.

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Harry Styles

Since the release of his self-titled debut album in 2017, Harry Styles has taken the music world by storm. The album was a massive success, topping the charts in 14 countries and earning critical acclaim. The lead single, "Sign of the Times," was even named the song of the year by Rolling Stone. Styles has continued to push boundaries with his music, releasing a second album, Fine Line, in 2019, which was also met with critical acclaim. In addition to his musical accomplishments, Styles made his acting debut in the 2017 film Dunkirk, showcasing his versatility as an artist.

The singer's romantic life has been in the spotlight due to his rekindled relationship with Kendall Jenner, whom he had a fling with in 2013. They have been seen together on multiple occasions, including spending three consecutive days together in September 2016. According to a source, Kendall was thrilled to reconnect with him and was in high spirits. The pair most recently appeared together on The Late Late Show With James Corden in December 2019. However, Styles moved on and began dating Olivia Wilde in January 2021. After almost two years together, the couple confirmed their split in November 2022.

Harry Styles released his third solo album, Harry's House, in May 2022. The LP was highly acclaimed, winning both Best Pop Vocal Album and Album of the Year at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2023.

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Louis Tomlinson

Tomlinson became the first member of the band to start a family in January 2016 when his ex Briana Jungwirth gave birth to their son, Freddie. Following the split of One Direction, he released singles "Back to You" and "Just Like You" in 2017, while also serving as a judge on the 15th season of The X Factor. In 2020, Tomlinson released his first album, Walls, followed by his second album, Faith in the Future, in November 2022, and announced a solo headlining tour for the following year. Additionally, in March 2023, he released the documentary All of Those Voices, which chronicles his post-1D life.

Tomlinson faced a tragic loss in March 2019 when his 18-year-old sister, Félicité, passed away. After receiving an outpouring of support and kind words, he took to Twitter in April to express his gratitude and share his plans to return to the studio. Despite facing personal hardship, Tomlinson remains dedicated to his music and fans, as he continues to create and share his passion with the world. His mother also passed away in December 2016, adding to the singer's difficult journey.

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Zayn Malik

Following the success of his hit single "Pillowtalk" and debut studio album Mind of Mine in 2016, Malik went on to receive an American Music Award and MTV VMA. He released his second studio album, Icarus Falls, in December 2018, and his third album, Nobody is Listening, debuted in January 2021. Amidst his musical achievements, Malik's personal life also made headlines with his split from fiancée Perrie Edwards and subsequent relationship with model Gigi Hadid. The couple began dating in late 2015 and welcomed their first child, Khai Hadid Malik, in September 2020.

One year after the birth of their daughter, Us confirmed that Malik and Hadid had split.

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