Liam Payne’s Dating History: From ‘X-Factor’ Dancer Danielle Peazer to Ex-Fiancée Maya Henry
Liam Payne was linked to many famous names after rising to fame as a member of One Direction in 2010.
After an on-off romance with X Factor dancer Danielle Peazer, Payne was linked to childhood flame Sophia Smith until 2015. 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.
Despite going through ups and downs with Cole, Payne tried his hand at love again in late 2018 when he started seeing Maya Henry. The duo got engaged in August 2020 but split one year later. Payne 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” prior as photos surfaced of Payne getting close to 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.”
Us confirmed in October 2024 that Payne died at age 31 after falling from the third floor of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires.
Scroll down for a look back at Payne’s high-profile relationships over the years:
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
Kate Cassidy
The duo sparked romance rumors after Payne’s relationship with Mawla fizzled out. Us confirmed in May 2023 that Cassidy and Payne parted ways after less than a year of dating. They later rekindled their relationship, attending Paris Fashion Week together in February 2024.
