Liam Payne’s Dating History: From ‘X-Factor’ Dancer Danielle Peazer to Ex-Fiancee Maya Henry and More

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Liam Payne’s Dating History: From ‘X-Factor’ Dancer Danielle Peazer to Ex-Fiancee Maya Henry and More

Finding his way! Liam Payne has been learning to navigate his personal ups and downs since rising to fame as a member of One Direction in 2010. The England native’s boy band success and later solo stardom has made finding love somewhat difficult. After an on-off romance with X-Factor dancer Danielle Peazer, Payne was linked to childhood flame Sophia Smith until 2015. "We have talked about marriage, but 22 seems a bit young for us," the “Strip That Down” singer told Attitude magazine in its September 2015 issue, one month before calling it quits with Smith. "Sophia needs to go off and do what she wants to do. I don't want her to be one of those stay-at-home girlfriends who doesn't really do much." Payne found himself going back to his X-Factor roots in early 2016 when he sparked a romance with Cheryl Cole, who was a judge on the talent show when he competed back in 2010. The twosome, who share son Bear, split after two years of dating but the breakup didn’t feel real until they publicly commented on it, according to Payne. “You break up, and then it was like a couple of days or a couple of weeks before we actually put the announcement out, and that’s the bit when it really hits home, I guess,” he told Vodafone’s Kat Shoob in August 2018. “At the same point, it’s like breaking up twice. You already did this once, and now I’m having to go through all of that again because I have to tell people I don’t even really know.” Despite going through ups and downs with Cole, Payne tried his hand at love again in late 2018 when he started seeing Maya Henry. “Sometimes I don’t recognize this happy guy … sure glad you brought him back though,” the pop singer wrote alongside a photo of the two snuggling on a couch in September 2019. [jwplayer 4IFZ8Pbb-zhNYySv2] Payne continued: “Last but not least this one @maya_henry [thanks] for always keeping the biggest smile on my face through all the stress and making me realize how perfect my life really is. Love you all let’s stack this s–t up.” The duo got engaged in August 2020 but split one year later, which Payne blamed on himself. “I feel like more than anything at this point, I’m more disappointed in myself that I keep on hurting people,” he confessed during a June 2021 episode of the “Diary of a CEO” podcast. “That annoys me. I’ve just not been very good at relationships.” The “Depend On It” singer and Henry reconnected later that year but called it quits once again in spring of 2022. Us Weekly confirmed in May 2022 that the duo had called off their engagement “over a month ago,” as photos surfaced of Payne packing on the PDA with influencer Aliana Mawla. While Henry hinted that Payne’s new relationship seemingly began when they were still together, Mawla’s rep denied the allegations to Us. “Aliana is very taken back by the accusations that have been made regarding a relationship with Liam while he was still engaged or involved with his ex-fiancée,” the rep said in a statement in May 2022, noting that the model is “very protective” of her personal life. “She is very happy and does not wish to discuss this situation moving forward.” Scroll down to relive all of Payne’s high-profile relationships over the years: [podcast_block]

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Liam Payne’s Dating History: From ‘X-Factor’ Dancer Danielle Peazer to Ex-Fiancee Maya Henry and More

Finding his way! Liam Payne has been learning to navigate his personal ups and downs since rising to fame as a member of One Direction in 2010. The England native’s boy band success and later solo stardom has made finding love somewhat difficult. After an on-off romance with X-Factor dancer Danielle Peazer, Payne was linked to childhood flame Sophia Smith until 2015. "We have talked about marriage, but 22 seems a bit young for us," the “Strip That Down” singer told Attitude magazine in its September 2015 issue, one month before calling it quits with Smith. "Sophia needs to go off and do what she wants to do. I don't want her to be one of those stay-at-home girlfriends who doesn't really do much." Payne found himself going back to his X-Factor roots in early 2016 when he sparked a romance with Cheryl Cole, who was a judge on the talent show when he competed back in 2010. The twosome, who share son Bear, split after two years of dating but the breakup didn’t feel real until they publicly commented on it, according to Payne. “You break up, and then it was like a couple of days or a couple of weeks before we actually put the announcement out, and that’s the bit when it really hits home, I guess,” he told Vodafone’s Kat Shoob in August 2018. “At the same point, it’s like breaking up twice. You already did this once, and now I’m having to go through all of that again because I have to tell people I don’t even really know.” Despite going through ups and downs with Cole, Payne tried his hand at love again in late 2018 when he started seeing Maya Henry. “Sometimes I don’t recognize this happy guy … sure glad you brought him back though,” the pop singer wrote alongside a photo of the two snuggling on a couch in September 2019. [jwplayer 4IFZ8Pbb-zhNYySv2] Payne continued: “Last but not least this one @maya_henry [thanks] for always keeping the biggest smile on my face through all the stress and making me realize how perfect my life really is. Love you all let’s stack this s–t up.” The duo got engaged in August 2020 but split one year later, which Payne blamed on himself. “I feel like more than anything at this point, I’m more disappointed in myself that I keep on hurting people,” he confessed during a June 2021 episode of the “Diary of a CEO” podcast. “That annoys me. I’ve just not been very good at relationships.” The “Depend On It” singer and Henry reconnected later that year but called it quits once again in spring of 2022. Us Weekly confirmed in May 2022 that the duo had called off their engagement “over a month ago,” as photos surfaced of Payne packing on the PDA with influencer Aliana Mawla. While Henry hinted that Payne’s new relationship seemingly began when they were still together, Mawla’s rep denied the allegations to Us. “Aliana is very taken back by the accusations that have been made regarding a relationship with Liam while he was still engaged or involved with his ex-fiancée,” the rep said in a statement in May 2022, noting that the model is “very protective” of her personal life. “She is very happy and does not wish to discuss this situation moving forward.” Scroll down to relive all of Payne’s high-profile relationships over the years: [podcast_block]

Credit: Shutterstock

Danielle Peazer

The British musician dated the dancer from 2010 to late 2012. The twosome sparked rekindled romance rumors in December 2012 after being spotted at Elf on Broadway with pals. However, things fizzled out for good in early 2013.

Credit: David Fisher/Shutterstock

Sophia Smith

Payne began dating his childhood pal in May 2013 but called it quits in October 2015, with the singer saying he was “absolutely devastated” to have broken up with Smith.

Credit: David Fisher/Shutterstock

Cheryl Cole

The “Both Ways” crooner reconnected with the X-Factor alum in February 2016. The couple, who welcomed son Bear in March 2017, announced their split in July 2018. “It’s been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family,” Payne wrote in a statement at the time. “Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together.”

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Naomi Campbell

Payne was briefly linked to the supermodel in January 2019 after eagle-eyed fans noticed the pair were exchanging flirty messages on Instagram.

Credit: David Fisher/Shutterstock

Maya Henry

The “Stack It Up” musician was first linked to Henry in August 2018 but it wasn’t until the following summer that they publicly stepped out as a couple. Payne confirmed the relationship in September 2019 during an appearance on KISS FM UK’s KISS Breakfast, saying, “I’m very happy right now.” In August 2020, Payne’s rep confirmed to Us that the former boy bander was engaged to Henry.

One year later, Payne announced he was single following a June 2021 split. The twosome, however, were back together by September of that year when they attended a London Fashion Week bash together. Us confirmed in May 2022 that Payne and Henry had parted ways one month prior.

Credit: James Shaw/Shutterstock; Courtesy Aliana Mawla/Instagram

Aliana Mawla

Shortly after news broke of his split from Henry, Payne was linked to Mawla in May 2022. The pair were spotted walking arm-in-arm in London after being photographed hugging that same month.

The model later denied claims that she and Payne got together while he was still engaged to Henry. “Under no circumstances would Aliana have involved herself in a public relationship as such if there was any truth to the comments that have been made,” Mawla’s rep told Us in a statement at the time.