"5 year old me is CRYING" - Fans react to Zayn Malik singing What Makes You Beautiful on his Instagram Story

Former One Direction star Zayn Malik has been trending on social media ever since he posted a cover of himself singing What Makes You Beautiful to his Instagram stories. Fans of One Direction have been put into a nostalgic loop ever since Malik put up his story on February 20.

Directioners, the name One Direction fans use to refer to themselves, couldn’t control their excitement and expressed unparalleled happiness on X. The cover elicited funny responses from fans as well, who were surprised that Zayn Malik released a cover of one of the boy band’s most famous songs after being the first one to exit the group back in 2015.

Zayn Malik, alongside Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, and Liam Payne formed the One Direction in 2010 on The X Factor. What Makes You Beautiful was the group’s explosive single from their debut album released in 2011.

The pop phenomenon that shook the world with its chart-topping music and sold-out concerts took a hit in 2015 as Zayn Malik decided to make an exit. In an interview with The Fader, Malik expressed dissatisfaction with the band’s sound and sought to embark on a solo career. The rest of the members followed, and by 2016, the One Direction that so many teenagers had come to know and love was disbanded.

It is in this context that Zayn Malik’s bare and soulful rendition of the One Direction classic What Makes You Beautiful was posted online. Understandably, fans had a lot to say on the subject. One fan captured her exact sentiment on X, saying,

“5 year old me is CRYING”

Another fan warned on X,

“SOMEONE CATCH ME IM GONNA PASS OUT”

Echoing the general sentiment, an ardent fan wrote on X,

“Screaming crying throwing up i am using this as meditation music for the next month”

Some comic relief was provided to the situation by an X user who wrote,

“he was obviously drunk”

A fan opined,

“who would’ve imagined zayn being the most nostalgic member ??? (now)”

An X user, who is definitely a Zayn Malik fan wrote,

“he had us all fooled thinking it was a new song”

Overall though, viewers were beyond excited to listen to Malik singing a One Direction song, which many hadn’t thought was possible. A fan expressed appreciation for the moment, writing on X,

"zayn back in his 1d era”

---

Liam Payne’s death and a possible One Direction reunion as Zayn Malik's motivation

Liam Payne tragically passed away after falling from an Argentinian hotel’s balcony in October 2024. The star was beset with alcohol addiction, a struggle that he had opened up about in an episode of The Diary Of A CEO podcast. He said that he had been sober for a month, and explained the rationale behind his decision. He said,

“I just didn't like myself very much and then I made a change”

Unfortunately, the 31-year-old died in his hotel and the Associated Press reported that Payne had probably been drinking as per the police reports.

In the wake of their former bandmate’s passing, the One Direction members released a statement together which was reproduced by BBC. They said,

“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”

Zayn Malik had put off his American Tour as the news of Payne's death broke.

The Sun reported that the Brit Awards had invited the surviving One Direction stars to perform together in honor of Payne on March 1. The same report said that Malik, Tomlinson, Styles, and Horan had declined to appear on stage together, breaking fans' hearts.

What may have seemed like a good opportunity for the band to reunite was becoming more and more unlikely. However, Zayn Malik’s release of the cover of What Makes You Beautiful has appeared like a silver lining. And perhaps, a One Direction reunion might not be too impossible to imagine.