Join us for a moment as we step into the Twilight Zone.
Imagine if the likes of Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Harry Styles had decided against attending their X Factor auditions in 2010.
While this alternate future would've left a 'That's What Makes You Beautiful' void in our hearts, it might have seen the One Direction band members finishing their A levels and heading off to university instead of embarking on multi-million pound, internationally successful singing careers.
Of course, we will never know what could've been in store for the 1D lads had fame and fortune never happened, but Zayn Malik (who left the band in 2015 to reportedly pursue a 'normal' life but ended up releasing his own solo music) knows exactly what he would've done if his music career hadn't got off the ground.
In an interview with VMAN, the Bradford-born star admits: 'I think about (what I'd do away from music) quite a lot. I think about alternative realities. I think I'd be at university and I would have done my English degree. I think I'd be looking for some employment to do with English lecturing or literature.
'I love poetry and writing—obviously, I'm a songwriter—so, it would've been something that would still give me the feeling of a creative outlet within my writing,' he added.
Ah, but of course.
The former ELLE September cover star also took the opportunity to open up about his struggles with fame and his disbelief in social media, claiming the likes of Twitter and Instagram breed 'sheep not lions'.
Despite his 23 million Instagram followers, the British crooner adds: 'It's become ridiculous to me. Even angles of pictures can't be taken a certain way because that's not the cool way to take an angle of a picture.
'Everyone's personal opinions and what they believe in, how can you amalgamate all of that into one thing and expect that not to create a problem for people's minds?
'That's my personal opinion, that it's not really that developing for us as people. That for me is the main reason why I don't believe in social media: because I believe it breeds sheep and not lions.'
Will we be seeing Zayn close down his social media platforms any time soon?
Stay tuned.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
