Zayn Malik Reveals How Daughter Khai Helped Him Overcome His Darkest Moments

Zayn Malik is opening up about how his daughter, Khai, transformed his life for the better, helping him through some of his most challenging times.

The former One Direction star, who shares four-year-old Khai with supermodel Gigi Hadid, has credited fatherhood with saving him from a dangerous downward spiral. Zayn and Gigi welcomed their daughter in 2020 before officially parting ways in 2021. Despite their split, the pair continue to co-parent Khai amicably.

Following his departure from One Direction, Zayn battled severe anxiety and struggled with drug addiction. According to sources close to the singer, fatherhood gave him a renewed sense of purpose and stability.

Speaking to The Sun, a close friend of the Pillow Talk hitmaker shared, “Friends inside and outside the music industry are incredibly proud of the man Zayn has become. It could have all gone so differently — there were real concerns for him over the years, but the challenges he faced have only strengthened him.”

The insider added, “Finishing the tour was a major milestone for Zayn. It’s been an incredible turnaround. Becoming a father truly shaped him. Khai has absolutely saved him.”

Zayn himself reflected on his journey during an appearance on The Zach Sang Show last year. The singer openly expressed how Khai brought a renewed sense of joy and color back into his life.

“I feel like my daughter brought that color back into my life,” Zayn shared. “She just makes me happy. I have so much love in me now that I didn’t have before she was born.”

Describing Khai’s vibrant spirit, he added, “She laughs all day and loves doing the silliest things. She gets so much excitement out of simple moments. She has this fresh perspective on life that made everything brighter again for me.”

Zayn Malik continues to focus on his music career and fatherhood, crediting his daughter as the biggest reason behind his personal growth and emotional recovery.