When Perrie Edwards looks back on her early twenties, it’s hard to believe how much of her heartbreak unfolded under public scrutiny. The Little Mix star, now 32, sat down on the Aug. 19 episode of the “We Need to Talk” podcast and shared rare, candid details about her high-profile split from former fiancé Zayn Malik, and the lessons it left behind.
Perrie and Zayn’s love story began in 2011, after Little Mix’s X Factor UK win and Malik’s rise with One Direction. By 2013, they were engaged, and to fans, it looked like a fairytale pairing of two British pop stars at the peak of their fame. But behind the picture-perfect headlines, Perrie admits she was too young to recognize the cracks forming.
“He was my first love,” Perrie recalled. “At the time, I thought everything we experienced was normal. I told myself, ‘This is how relationships are supposed to feel.’ Looking back, I see how toxic parts of it were, but I just didn’t know better then.”
When the engagement ended in 2015, the split wasn’t just personal; it was headline news worldwide. For Perrie, the most challenging part was grieving while millions of strangers weighed in on her pain.
Navigating Heartbreak in the Public Eye
The singer described feeling “embarrassed, weird, and mortified” by the breakup. “I’d never navigated heartbreak before, let alone with the whole world watching. It was just… too much.”
© Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty IHer saving grace was the sisterhood of Little Mix. Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall, and Jesy Nelson became her emotional anchors. Perrie vividly remembers moments when they’d surround, distract, or hold her up when things felt unbearable. “If it wasn’t for the girls, I would’ve really struggled,” she admitted.
A New Chapter With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
After swearing off dating, Perrie eventually let her guard down with footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2016. But the wounds from her first love lingered. “I had so many issues at the start of our relationship that I didn’t even notice at the time,” she said. “Alex was so level-headed that it threw me. I wasn’t used to that kind of healthy love.”
Over time, though, Perrie found security in their bond. The couple welcomed their son Axel in 2021 and got engaged in 2022.
© Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesWhen Zayn Reached Out Again
Perrie revealed that years after their breakup, Malik unexpectedly reached out to her after Zayn’s split from Gigi Hadid in 2018. By then, she had been with Alex for around two years.
“I felt a bit uncomfortable about it,” she admitted. “I remember sweating and panicking, thinking, I’ve got to tell Alex that I’ve spoken to him.” But instead of reacting with jealousy, Alex responded with calm understanding. “He was like, ‘Okay, well, I really appreciate you telling me. Thank you for letting me know. That’s fine — and hopefully he doesn’t contact you again.'”
© GC ImagesLessons Learned and Moving Forward
Reflecting on her past, Perrie acknowledges that she once believed chaos and heartbreak were normal in love. “I thought relationships were supposed to feel toxic at times. Now I know that’s not true,” she said.
Even years later, questions about Zayn remain a sore spot. Perrie admitted that the topic still makes her uneasy, saying, “It’s a lose-lose situation. If I talk about it, people tell me to shut up. If I stay quiet, they keep asking anyway.”
© Mike Marsland/WireImageBut instead of letting it define her, Perrie reframed the pain into power. She channeled her feelings into Little Mix’s music, with many fans speculating that “Shout Out to My Ex” was inspired by her breakup. She also leaned on her bandmates when she needed them most.
Perrie Edwards’ journey shows that what once felt mortifying is now part of her story. And with her career thriving, a family by her side, and a new perspective on love, Perrie proves that life after heartbreak can be brighter than you ever imagined.
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