Liam Payne's love life – X Factor romances, Cheryl split and Victoria's Secret model

Liam Payne turns 29 today (August 29), and it’s safe to say that the One Direction heartthrob has had an interesting dating history.

From dancers to models and even popstars – Liam has dated some of the most beautiful women in the world.

Born in Wolverhampton in 1993, it was in 2008 when Liam made his X Factor debut – ultimately leading him to fame.

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Rejected from the show at judge’s houses the first time around, he was lucky in 2010 when he made it through and grouped with Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson.

Forming the boyband One Direction, the five-piece went on to dominate the music scene between 2011 and 2015 with their hits like What Makes You Beautiful and One Thing.

Garnering global success, Liam had his pick of the most beautiful women – as well as a gaggle of screaming girls – so, to celebrate his birthday Daily Star looks back at his famous love affairs, from Cheryl Tweedy to a childhood sweetheart and even a fan.

Danielle Peazer

Starting at the very beginning of Liam’s dating history, Danielle Peazer was Liam’s first ever public girlfriend after he was shot to ultimate stardom.

The couple met on The X Factor way back in 2010 when One Direction competed on the show.

At the time Danielle was a backing dancer on the show and the pair clearly felt a spark.

The dancer confirmed that she was dating the One Direction singer on Twitter in April 2011, with fans of the couple overjoyed.

While together, the couple attended V Festival in 2012 with fellow bandmate Louis Tomlinson and his then-girlfriend Eleanor Calder.

Later that year the couple split for a short while before rekindling their romance again.

But things were short-lived as they called time on their relationship in 2013.

Sophia Smith

Liam and Sophie actually first met while at St. Peter’s Collegiate secondary school in Wolverhampton when they were younger.

Meeting up again in 2013, the pair saw each other at a mutual friend’s birthday bash in February and things heated up for the pair.

Six months after the party, Liam flew Sophia out to join him on the American leg of the Take Me Home Tour, with Liam confirming their romance in August.

The pair enjoyed a two and a half year relationship before calling time on their romance in 2015, with People Magazine reporting that they had split.

Cheryl

Liam and Cheryl’s relationship debuted when they were pictured holding hands at a Tesco in Guildford back in 2016 – a shocking scene to most of the UK.

Cheryl had just come out of a marriage to Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini and Liam had not long ended things with Sophia.

Liam and Cheryl first met though when he was on the X Factor in 2008.

At just 14 he auditioned as a solo artist and sung for Cheryl – who was a judge at the time.

On the TV show Cheryl told a 14-year-old Liam: “I like you, I think you’re really cute. I think you’ve got charisma and you give us that little cheeky wink.”

Then in 2016, the pair enjoyed a romance and became a music power couple before welcoming their baby boy a year later – Bear Payne.

The pair split in 2018, with Liam speaking out about their romance recently to YouTuber Logan Paul on his Impaulsive podcast.

“The relationship we [him and Cheryl] have now as friends has only grown more.

“We broke up for a reason and now she gives me full autonomy of my life and to do what I do and I know he’s [Bear’s] taken care of.

“He is all she cares about and I couldn’t ask for more.”

Cairo Dwek

Six weeks after breaking up with Cheryl, Liam and aspiring Victoria’s Secret model Cairo stepped out together when they went to Villa D’Este hotel in Italy.

At the time Liam was 24 and Cairo was 20, and the pair seemed loved up enough to hold hands in public.

Speaking to The Sun at the time, an onlooker said: “There’s no doubt Liam and Cairo are more than just friends.

“They were kissing passionately with his hand wrapped around the back of her head and they obviously couldn’t get enough of each other.”

Two months later in September 2018, Liam told fans he was single in a now-deleted Instagram post.

During an Instagram live hosted by John Mayer – who revealed he was single – Liam commented below that he was too.

Maya Henry

Liam met Maya for the first time in 2015 when the then-teenager went to a One Direction meet and greet.

The pair are presumed to have started dating shortly after Liam broke things off with Cheryl Tweedy, because they were spotted in London on a few dates.

It was then thought that they split up for a short while before starting things up again in 2019, before going public that August.

After enjoying a loved up romance, the pair were thought to have split in February 2020 but then that summer Maya was spotted with an engagement ring on.

In 2021 and just nine months after their engagement hit the headlines, the pair called called things off.

Speaking to Steven Bartlett on the Diary Of A CEO podcast, Liam opened up about the split and said: “I feel like more than anything at this point, I’m more disappointed in myself that I keep on hurting people.”

Rekindling things in August 2021, according to rumours, the pair then confirmed they were back together in September when they appeared on a red carpet together.

But then they split again earlier this year.

Aliana Mawla

Soon after Liam split with Maya, he was linked to Aliana.

Earlier this year Aliana, 24, posted a snap of her and Liam on her Instagram Story.

Liam’s then-fiancée Maya was originally thought to be the girl in the picture – but quickly cleared things up.

Writing in the comments of one of the snaps she said: “I love all of the fans so much but please stop sending me these pictures of my fiancé wrapped around another woman.

“This is not me and it’s hard enough knowing this has happened without seeing it. Enough now.”

Things seemed to go well for Liam and Aliana after confirmation of his split with Maya came out in May – but in July, rumours of a breakup came to light.

Last month a source told The Sun: “To say they were boyfriend and girlfriend is far too strong but they were obviously seeing each other.”

They also said that she had flown back to America after a trip to the UK.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk