The Short Answer: Who Is Zayn Malik Dating?
Zayn Malik is single and not publicly dating anyone. In a February 11, 2026 appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, the former One Direction star said he is done with public relationships, explaining that he no longer wants his romantic life in the spotlight.
Malik, born January 12, 1993, in Bradford, England, was one-fifth of One Direction, the biggest boy band of the 2010s, before leaving in 2015 for a solo career launched by the hit "Pillowtalk." His relationship with model Gigi Hadid, with whom he shares daughter Khai, was one of the decade's defining celebrity romances.
Since their 2021 split, Malik has kept his love life almost entirely private, a stance he formalized with his 2026 declaration. These days, his public identity is father, artist, and resolutely single man.
Done With Public Relationships
On February 11, 2026, Zayn appeared on Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast and addressed his love life directly. He said he is not looking for a public relationship again, explaining that past experiences taught him that fame and romance mix poorly.
The interview, covered by outlets including ScreenRant and the Westmeath Examiner, was praised for its candor. Malik spoke about valuing his privacy, focusing on his daughter and music, and having no interest in the tabloid cycle.
It was a definitive statement: after a decade of having his relationships dissected, Zayn Malik is opting out, at least publicly.
Gigi Hadid: The Defining Romance
Malik's relationship with supermodel Gigi Hadid ran on and off from 2015 to 2021. They were fashion's ultimate couple, starring together in campaigns and captivating fans with their coordinated style and evident affection.
In September 2020, Hadid gave birth to their daughter, Khai Hadid Malik, now 6 years old. The couple kept the pregnancy and birth remarkably private, announcing Khai's arrival weeks after the fact.
They split in October 2021 following an altercation involving Hadid's mother, Yolanda, after which Malik pleaded no contest to harassment charges. Despite the acrimonious end, both have prioritized co-parenting Khai, who splits time between her parents.
Perrie Edwards: The First Engagement
Before Gigi, Malik was engaged to Perrie Edwards of Little Mix. They began dating in 2012, at the height of One Direction mania, and got engaged in 2013.
The engagement ended in 2015, shortly after Malik left One Direction, with Edwards later saying she was blindsided by the split. The breakup played out painfully in public, with both fan armies taking sides.
Edwards has since married footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and started a family, while Malik's subsequent relationships never reached the public commitment of an engagement.
Fatherhood: Khai
Malik's daughter Khai, born in September 2020, is the center of his world. He has described fatherhood as transformative, and though he shields Khai from publicity, he occasionally shares glimpses of their life together at his Pennsylvania farm.
Co-parenting with Hadid appears functional: both attend to Khai's needs while maintaining their separate lives. Hadid has moved on with actor Bradley Cooper, while Malik remains single.
Malik has said that being a father changed his priorities completely, and his 2026 comments about avoiding public relationships were framed partly as protecting Khai from the spotlight.
Solo Career and Life in Pennsylvania
Since leaving One Direction, Malik has released solo albums including Mind of Mine (2016), Icarus Falls, and Room Under the Stairs (2024), showcasing an R&B-inflected sound distinct from his boy band roots.
He lives a quiet life on a farm in rural Pennsylvania, far from the London and Los Angeles scenes of his 1D years. He has spoken about finding peace in the countryside, raising animals, and making music on his own terms.
His rare interviews reveal a thoughtful, introverted artist who never fully adjusted to megastardom. The farm, his daughter, and his music are his world now.
Zayn Malik Now: Single and Content
At 33, Zayn Malik has made his position clear: he is single, focused on fatherhood and music, and uninterested in public romance. His Call Her Daddy declaration was not a cry for help but a boundary.
Whether he dates privately is his business, and he intends to keep it that way. After the Perrie engagement, the Gigi saga, and years of tabloid intrusion, his retreat from public dating is understandable.
For fans, the message is to focus on the music and respect the man: Zayn Malik is not dating anyone you know about, way.
The One Direction Years
Zayn Malik was 17 when he auditioned for The X Factor in 2010, and Simon Cowell's decision to group him with four other boys created One Direction, the biggest boy band of a generation.
For five years, Malik was 1D's "mysterious one," his soulful voice and brooding image making him a fan favorite. The band sold 70 million records and filled stadiums worldwide.
His 2015 departure shocked the music world. Citing stress and a desire for a normal life, he walked away from the biggest pop act on the planet at 22.
The split was acrimonious at times, but history has softened it: 1D's legacy is secure, and Malik's exit looks increasingly like self-preservation.
Pillowtalk and Solo Success
Malik's solo debut "Pillowtalk" (2016) was a revelation: a sultry, R&B-inflected smash that debuted at number one in multiple countries, making him the first UK male artist to debut at number one with his first single.
His album Mind of Mine topped charts worldwide, proving his artistic instincts were sound. Follow-ups Icarus Falls and Nobody Is Listening deepened his R&B explorations.
His 2024 album Room Under the Stairs was his most personal, recorded in rural Pennsylvania, reflecting his life as a father and his distance from pop machinery.
Single since his 2023 split from Gigi Hadid and "done with public relationships," Malik's focus is music and fatherhood.
Gigi Hadid: The Great Love
Zayn Malik's relationship with Gigi Hadid was the defining romance of his post-1D life. On and off from 2015 to 2021, their pairing, dubbed "ZiGi," was pop culture's favorite couple.
Their chemistry was evident in the "Pillowtalk" video, where Hadid starred, blurring art and life. They graced Vogue covers, walked red carpets, and seemed destined for forever.
In 2020, they welcomed daughter Khai, a joy that briefly united them. But the relationship ended in 2021 amid family tensions, including an incident involving Hadid's mother.
Co-parenting Khai remains their connection, both devoted to their daughter despite their split.
Since 2023, Malik has been single, telling Rolling Stone in 2026 that he is "done with public relationships."
The ZiGi era, passionate and tumultuous, shaped Malik's adult life.
Now 33, his focus is fatherhood and music, the quiet life he always wanted.
Fatherhood: Life With Khai
Zayn Malik's daughter Khai, born in 2020 with Gigi Hadid, transformed him. The former pop star became a devoted father, his rural Pennsylvania life centered on her.
He has spoken about fatherhood's joys: the simplicity, the love, the perspective it brings. His 2024 album Room Under the Stairs reflects this groundedness.
Co-parenting with Hadid, despite their split, remains functional, both prioritizing Khai.
Malik keeps Khai out of the spotlight, a fiercely protective father.
His 2026 declaration of being "done with public relationships" stems partly from fatherhood: his energy goes to Khai, not to tabloids.
At 33, the brooding heartthrob is now a content dad, his greatest hit being fatherhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Zayn Malik dating?
Zayn Malik is not publicly dating anyone. In February 2026, he said he is done with public relationships.
Is Zayn Malik single?
Yes. Zayn Malik is single and has said he is not looking for a public relationship.
Does Zayn Malik have kids?
Yes. Zayn Malik has a daughter, Khai, born in 2020 with ex Gigi Hadid.
Are Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid still together?
No. Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid split in October 2021 but co-parent their daughter Khai.
Who was Zayn Malik engaged to before?
Zayn Malik was engaged to Perrie Edwards of Little Mix from 2013 until their split in 2015.
How old is Zayn Malik?
Zayn Malik is 33 years old. He was born on January 12, 1993.
What did Zayn Malik say on Call Her Daddy?
On February 11, 2026, Zayn said on Call Her Daddy that he is done with public relationships and values his privacy.