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Liam Payne on Maya Henry: It’s great to date someone who takes my fame in her stride

PA
PA

Liam Payne has praised his girlfriend Maya Henry for taking his fame “in her stride”.

The former One Direction star has been dating the Texan model, 19, since September. It is Payne’s first serious relationship since his split last year from singer Cheryl, with whom he has a son Bear, two.

Payne, 26, told Insider that Henry seemed unfazed by the level of attention he gets when out in public.

The singer, who has more than 18 million followers on Instagram, said: “She is very understanding. The first time we got caught in a fan face-off, there were about 50 fans following us in an airport. It was chaotic.

(Joe Pepler/PinPep)
(Joe Pepler/PinPep)

“She got in the car and I asked if she is OK, and she was like, ‘Yeah’. I was more scared than she was. It is really great having someone who just takes that all in her stride. It is great.”

Payne, who shot to fame in 2010 on The X Factor when he was put together with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik by Simon Cowell to create One Direction, revealed that he spent Thanksgiving with Henry and her family.

“I did Thanksgiving recently with my girlfriend and went for a load of bad food there, which was great. Maya made this sweet potato thing with marshmallow. Whatever it was, it was awesome. I said, ‘Darling, whatever happens, I have never had one before so yours will be the best I have ever eaten.’” Speaking at the launch party for his latest album LP1, which is released today, Payne also opened up about adapting to fatherhood.

(Dave Benett)
(Dave Benett)

“When you look at it as a whole, parenting is a struggle,” he said. “You will never get it right. We can all remember things from our own childhood, but our parents did what they could.

“I am going to do whatever I can to make sure he has the best things in life and to do what he wants to do. And make his dreams come true, whatever they may be. I have a very understanding ex-partner, who takes really good care of him.”

Last night, Payne performed an impromptu gig in partnership with Huawei and their new wireless headphones, FreedBuds 3, at Omeara in London Bridge

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