Liam Payne: A New Direction

The Former Boy Bander Is Expanding His Horizons — But That Doesn't Mean A1D Reunion Is Off The Table.

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Liam Payne was just 17 years old when he became a member of the wildly successful boy band One Direction alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. “It was the craziest thing ever. You [couldn’t even] walk down the street because there’d be between 400 and 1,000 girls who would just turn up!” recalls Liam, 26, admitting that he had a hard time when 1D finally parted ways in 2015. “The bubble pops and you’re left to your own devices — and it can send you a little bit strange. But I was lucky that I had such good people around me, who took care of me and made me realize that there was more to life.”

Happier than ever, Liam — who’s now dad to son Bear, 2, with ex Cheryl Cole, 36 — is enjoying the next chapter of his life as a model and solo artist. “To be in this position is the best thing ever — it’s a lot of fun,” says Liam, who's hoping to release an album by next year. “I feel very lucky.” Here, the singer chats about his music, his modeling and his former bandmates.