Niall Horan
Niall James Horan (born 13 September 1993 in Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland) was born to mother Maura Gallagher and father Bobby Horan.[121] He has an older brother Greg.[122] Their parents divorced when he was five. He and his brother lived between each of their homes for a few years before eventually deciding to live with their father in Mullingar. His mother remarried and lives in Edgeworthstown,County Longford with Chris, her husband of seven years.[123] He was a pupil at Coláiste Mhuire, a boys' Christian Brothers school.[124][125]Horan was in the school choir, performing seasonally around Christmas.[11] Prior to participating in The X Factor, he performed around his homeland, including as a support act for Lloyd Daniels in Dublin. Horan has been playing guitar since childhood. In an interview he referred to his guitar as "the best present I ever received for Christmas."[126] Horan revealed his parents took note of his singing during a car trip, "my aunt said she thought the radio was on. Exactly the same thing happened to Michael Bublé with his dad. He's my absolute hero so I like the fact we have a similar story."[127] He also stated that in his hometown, he was often referred to as the "Irish Justin Bieber." He didn't mind the comparison.[128][129] On auditioning for The X Factor, he said "I'm 16 and I want to be a big name like Beyoncé and Justin Bieber," he said. "I've been compared to him a few times and it's not a bad comparison. I want to sell out arenas, make an album and work with some of the best artists in the world."[129] Horan said "I was always the kid that picked up the nearest instrument and just loved music." He has also stated that he is a "big swing" fan, noting older and current artists Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Michael Bubléamong his influences. Horan also cites rock music, he is a fan of The Eagles, Bon Jovi and The Script.[130][131] Additionally he cites recording artist Ed Sheeran as an influence. When Sheeran and One Direction collaborated on the song "Moments" for their debut album, he said it as an honor to work with him.[132] In 2012, Horan revealed that he has had a fear of birds – known as ornithophobia — since he was attacked by a pigeon while on the toilet as a child.[133]
Zayn Malik
Zain Javadd "Zayn" Malik[134][135] (born 12 January 1993 in St. Luke's Hospital) is from West Lane, Bradford, England.[136] Born to British Pakistani father Yaser and an English mother, Tricia Malik (née Brannan), he has three sisters Doniya, Waliyha and Safaa.[125][137] 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 toTong High School, a state comprehensive school.[138] 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."[139] 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.[140] 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.[141][142] 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".[143] 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."[144] 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."[145] Malik smokes cigarettes. In late 2011, Metro reported that his New Years' resolution was to quit smoking.[146] 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.[147][148]
Liam Payne
Liam James Payne[149] (born 29 August 1993) is from Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England, born three weeks early to mother Karen and father Geoff,[150] he has two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola.[125] Until the age of four, Payne had regular tests done in hospital as doctors noticed one of his kidneys was scarred and dysfunctional. To help cope with the pain, he had 32 injections in his arm in the morning and evening as a child.[151] His mother would juggle shifts as a nursery nurse to accompany him on all his auditions.[152] Payne was bullied in school and took up boxing lessons, saying he "needed to find a way to defend myself, I was, at 12 years old, fighting the 38-year-old trainer. I broke my nose, had a perforated eardrum and I was always coming home with a bruised, puffy face. But it gave me confidence. I got pretty good over the next couple of years."[140] He was a music technology student at City of Wolverhampton College.[153] Payne first auditioned in 2008 to The X Factor's fifth series when he was fourteen. He made it to the judges' houses, but Cowell thought he was not ready for the competition and asked him to come back in two years. Payne cites Justin Timberlake as one of his biggest influences. He also says he draws inspiration from Take That member Gary Barlow when performing.[154] Regarding his one functional kidney Payne said "I have to be careful not to drink too much, even water, and I have to keep myself as healthy as possible."[155] He is currently in a relationship with dancer, Danielle Peazer.[156] They met on The X Factor in 2010 and have been in a relationship ever since.[157] The backing dancer for The Saturdays and Jessie J has received death threats and other forms of cyber bullying on social networking site Twitter, due to her relationship with Payne.[158]
Harry Styles
Harry Edward Styles (born 1 February 1994 in Evesham, Worcestershire)[159][160] is from village Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, England. He is a former pupil at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School, a state comprehensive school.[161] Born to mother Anne Cox and father Des Styles[162], he has an older sister, Gemma,[125] he was seven when their parents divorced; his mother later remarried to Robin Twist. Regarding his parents divorce he said, "that was quite a weird time. I remember crying about it. I didn’t really get what was going on properly, I was just sad that my parents wouldn't be together any more." Following the divorce, Styles, his older sister and his mother moved further out into the Cheshire countryside. At the age of twelve he moved back to Holmes Chapel. That was when his mother met his stepfather Robin Twist. Styles said he was "really pleased" when Twist proposed to his mother. Styles was the lead singer for the band White Eskimo with band members lead guitarist Haydn Morris, bass guitarist Nick Clough and drummer Will Sweeny.[163] They had once entered a local Battle of the Bands, which they won.[11] As a child, Styles loved singing, noting Elvis Presley as one of his influences. He also cites Presley for his musical beginnings.[164] Styles also cites more current music by Foster the People, Coldplay and Kings of Leon. "We want to have a little bit heavier guitars, bigger drums, more of a live feel, because that's what we like doing," Styles says for their next album, though he says that shouldn't be misinterpreted to mean the group is going "grungier". "Because we are 18 years old, it's important that we like what we’re doing as well. It wouldn't be good if we weren’t enjoying what we're doing, and we are."[92] Styles says that he often looks to Coldplay front man Chris Martin for inspiration when performing on stage.[154] Styles also states that The Beatles had a profound influence on him growing up, as his father would play their music. "I still listen to their music over and over again. They are absolute icons and an inspiration," he says.[165] Styles states that he likes being nude, citing it as "very liberating, I feel so free."[164] He briefly dated English television presenter Caroline Flack, which caused widespread media controversy over their fifteen-year age gap.[166] Styles currently resides with band member Tomlinson in north London.[167]
Louis Tomlinson
Louis William Tomlinson (born 24 December 1991)[168] is from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. Born to mother Johannah and father Troy. Johannah split from Louis' dad Troy when he was young and he took on his stepfather Mark Tomlinson's last name.[169] He has four younger step-sisters: Charlotte, Félicité, and twins Daisy and Phoebe. When Daisy and Phoebe had roles as babies on a show called Fat Friends, he would go along and serve as an extra. After Fat Friends, he attended an acting school in Barnsley. He had small parts in an ITV1drama called If I Had You, and BBC's Waterloo Road. He was a sixth form student at Hall Cross School, a state comprehensive school, and a former pupil of the Hayfield School. He revealed that he failed his first year of A levels at the Hayfield School, "mainly because I’d been too busy having fun. I was out all the time in that first year." He ended up going back to Hall Cross and started A levels over again.[164] As a student at Hall Cross, Tomlinson starred in several musical productions.[170] He cites English recording artist and Take That member Robbie Williams as his biggest influence and idol. He said that Williams was his idol growing up: "I've always loved Robbie. He's just so cheeky, he can get away with anything. His performances are unbelievable. We met a lot of celebrities on The X Factor and he was one of the nicest."[171] He also cites recording artist Ed Sheeran, describing the artist as "phenomenal."[172] In an interview, he mentioned Michael Jackson as a "real inspiration" saying "I am a big Michael Jackson fan. He was a real inspiration and had so many great songs."[173] He currently resides with band member Styles in North London.[167] Tomlinson is currently in a relationship with Manchester University student Eleanor Calder.[174][175] In 2011, Tomlinson told of his heartbreak after his mother Johannah and step-father Mark announced they were getting a divorce.
