The "Pillowtalk" admits he struggles with anxiety and self confidence.
Zayn Malik is grateful for the women in his life.
The "Pillowtalk" singer has been dating Gigi Hadid for several months and shares with ELLE UK magazine that he has a lot of respect for the 21-year-old model. "She's super intelligent, I think that's why it works so well," he says. "And we do the same type of job so we get that with each other."
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Malik adds that he's "enjoyed the womanly influence" after being raised by his mother and three sisters. "I have a lot of respect for women because of them. They are so strong, powerful and do everything themselves," he gushes. "When I go back to Bradford, [England] they treat me exactly the same. It's why I only ever go back for a few days, otherwise they have me taking out the bins."
In March of 2015, One Direction fans were shocked when Malik revealed he was leaving the group to pursue a solo career. Over a year later, he tells ELLE that he has no regrets. "At that time in my life I felt I had done everything I could do there and I just needed to change it up," Malik insists. "It didn't feel brave."
On top of dating a model and having a great support system back home, the 23-year-old artist is also having a career high this year, but admits that he still struggles with anxiety and self confidence. "I just don't have it in me to feel fully secure in anything I do. I always strive towards something better," he confides. "It's why I think sometimes I come across the wrong way, a bit distant."
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Malik says he's looking to find some "private time out of the spotlight," because the constant attention does get to him. "I'm just stressed out trying to control how I'm perceived," he discloses. "I think about things a lot."
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The singer's remarks come just six weeks after he cancelled a show at London's Capital Summertime Ball. "Anxiety that has haunted me throughout the last few months around live performances has gotten the better of me," he shared on social media. "With the magnitude of the event, I have suffered the worst anxiety of my career."
Malik definitely has the support of Hadid. "Gigi is obsessed with Zayn," a source close to the model told ET in June. "She won't let go of him too easily."
