He is 100% Muslim and wearing the cross on his neck was only for fashion. Photo: Getty Images Zayn Malik, the 25-year-old former One Direction member, is still far from the type of world-beating success that some of his former colleagues are currently enjoying. His name was originally spelt as Zain but he changed to Zayn because he wanted to. He has three sisters Doniya, Waliyha and Safaa. Zayn Jawaad Malik was born on 12 January 1993 in Bradford. Zayn Malik had an early love for singing and performing, and at the age of 17, he appeared on the competition series The X Factor. Zayn Malik.