Zayn Malik

 Zain Javadd "Zayn" Malik

born 12 January 1993 in St. Luke's Hospital) is from West Lane, Bradford, England. Born to British Pakistani father Yaser and an English mother, Tricia Malik (née Brannan), he has three sisters Doniya, Waliyha and Safaa. He grew up in East Bowling, located south of the Bradford city centre. Malik was a pupil at Lower Fields Primary School in East Bowling and went to Tong High School, a state comprehensive school.He stated that as a child "I was a bit of a handful when I was a kid because I was quite hyperactive. Even in the house my mum used to put me in my pram because I was so full-on." His mother revealed growing up: "Zayn was always playing music on his computer and singing along to it for hours."Malik didn't fit in at his first two schools due to his mixed heritage, revealing that when he and his sister moved schools he felt he fit in better. On auditioning for the X Factor, Malik, said "I was looking for an experience". He cites urban music as his main musical influence. Growing up, he was into R&B and rap. For his X Factor audition, he performed the Mario R&B song "Let Me Love You". He as well as other members of One Direction further notes artists such as Bruno Mars, as a "dream collaborator" Malik dated fellow X Factor contestant, Rebecca Ferguson, which caused controversy due to the six year age difference. The relationship ended after four months together. In November 2011, Ferguson addressed the media interest, saying: "When I was in a relationship with Zayn it was quite hard, but it comes with it. Me and Zayn just grew apart. I wish him all the best." Malik likes to draw cartoons and collect comic books, 'I’m into comic books,' he told Vevo Lift. "I used to collect them when I was younger – it’s quite a geeky thing I think." Malik smokes cigarettes. In late 2011, Metro reported that his New Years' resolution was to quit smoking. He has seven tattoos: a Yin Yang on his wrist, a picture of crossed fingers on his forearm, his grandfather's name Walter in Arabic on his chest, a "born lucky" symbol, a playing card on his stomach, a silver fern on his neck and an inscription across his collarbone.