Perrie Edwards Reveals There Was ‘Overlap’ as Her Engagement to Zayn Malik Ended and He Began Dating Gigi Hadid

Perrie Edwards Opens Up About Zayn Malik and Overlapping Relationships

In a recent interview on the “Great Company with Jamie Laing” podcast, Perrie Edwards reflected on her previous engagement to Zayn Malik, shedding light on the emotional turmoil surrounding their split. The singer, now 32, disclosed that there was an element of “overlap” between her broken engagement with Malik and his subsequent relationship with model Gigi Hadid.

Edwards, who was engaged to Malik for two years before their split in 2015, provided candid insights into the pain of heartbreak. “When you’re moving on with somebody else, you always get on better. When you’re the one left behind, that’s when it’s hard,” she expressed, hinting at the challenges of comparing oneself to a new partner. She conveyed feelings of inadequacy and abandonment during that unsettling time.

Addressing her feelings post-breakup, Edwards described the mental toll it took on her: “You can’t eat. You can’t sleep. You feel horrendous. You feel abandoned,” she shared, adding that it felt as if the world was scrutinising her pain. Edwards remembered feeling as though she was being laughed at, intensifying her sense of isolation.

The singer pointed out that Malik appeared to cope with the end of their engagement more easily, suggesting it was due to the timing of his new relationship with Hadid. She recounted the hurtful experience of seeing Malik’s new romance unfold, particularly feeling overshadowed by the fact that he had moved on to someone many considered “more beautiful”.

Edwards reflected on the emotional impact of Malik’s success in his career, especially after he released the hit song “PILLOWTALK”, which she felt was a reminder of their past. “It was one thing after the other,” she recalled, highlighting the difficulty of watching someone she once loved flourish while she was dealing with heartbreak.

Since that period, Edwards has found happiness in a new relationship with professional footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. She remarked on the importance of experiencing a healthy love, contrasting it with her past, stating, “Now that I’ve experienced what healthy love is, it’s so nice. It doesn’t make you feel sick to your stomach all the time.” This evolution in her perspective suggests that Edwards has grown from her previous experiences.

The love story between Edwards and Malik began when they met on “The X Factor UK” in 2011. After a few years of dating, Malik proposed to Edwards in August 2013. Their relationship, which garnered significant media attention, drew to a close two years later. Following the announcement of their split, Malik began dating Gigi Hadid, with their relationship becoming public shortly thereafter. They welcomed a daughter, Khai, in September 2020 but were confirmed to have separated again in October 2021.

In 2016, Edwards revealed further details about her breakup in Little Mix’s “One World” book, claiming that Malik ended their engagement via text message, adding to the hurt she felt. The reflections shared in her recent interview provide a deeper understanding of her emotional journey and the lessons learned from her experiences.

Overall, Edwards’ story highlights the complexities of relationships, breakups, and the personal growth that often accompanies such profound experiences, emphasising the importance of moving towards healthier connections.