• They didn’t win, but in the end, weren’t they the real winners? After finishing in third on The X Factor UK and then being signed to Simon Cowell’s Syco Records once the show was over, the band went on to top the UK Singles Chart in 2011 with their first official single What Makes You Beautiful. Little did we know back then that this was just the beginning. Tim Whitby / Getty Images
    They didn’t win, but in the end, weren’t they the real winners? After finishing in third on The X Factor UK and then being signed to Simon Cowell’s Syco Records once the show was over, the band went on to top the UK Singles Chart in 2011 with their first official single What Makes You Beautiful. Little did we know back then that this was just the beginning. Tim Whitby / Getty Images
  • The boys pick up steam as they make it in the US. The following singles Gotta Be You and One Thing also peak on the UK Singles Chart Top 10. After signing a deal with Columbia Records in the US, What Makes You Beautiful tops the Billboard Hot 100 in 2012 and their first US studio album, Up All Night, gets a global release.
    The boys pick up steam as they make it in the US. The following singles Gotta Be You and One Thing also peak on the UK Singles Chart Top 10. After signing a deal with Columbia Records in the US, What Makes You Beautiful tops the Billboard Hot 100 in 2012 and their first US studio album, Up All Night, gets a global release.
  • Best year, ever? The band puts out a documentary concert film, new album, and stadium tour for 2013. One Direction: This is Us gets released with box office success becoming the fourth highest grossing concert movie. Best Song Ever becomes the lead single from their third studio album titled Midnight Memories. Ian Gavan / Getty Images for Sony Pictures
    Best year, ever? The band puts out a documentary concert film, new album, and stadium tour for 2013. One Direction: This is Us gets released with box office success becoming the fourth highest grossing concert movie. Best Song Ever becomes the lead single from their third studio album titled Midnight Memories. Ian Gavan / Getty Images for Sony Pictures
  • Everything seems to be coming up roses for One Direction. The band’s fourth studio album Four is released and tops both the Billboard 200 and UK Album Chart once again. Also, seemingly the band discovers how to to come into their own style without messing up the group dynamic. Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images
    Everything seems to be coming up roses for One Direction. The band’s fourth studio album Four is released and tops both the Billboard 200 and UK Album Chart once again. Also, seemingly the band discovers how to to come into their own style without messing up the group dynamic. Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images
  • After five years, the cracks start showing as member Zayn Mailk quits. Malik announces his departure a week before the band is set to come to Dubai. In a statement, he says he is leaving chart-topping boy band “to be a normal 22-year-old”. His bandmates said they are sad to see him go “but we totally respect his decision and send him all our love for the future”. Koji Sasahara / AP photo
    After five years, the cracks start showing as member Zayn Mailk quits. Malik announces his departure a week before the band is set to come to Dubai. In a statement, he says he is leaving chart-topping boy band “to be a normal 22-year-old”. His bandmates said they are sad to see him go “but we totally respect his decision and send him all our love for the future”. Koji Sasahara / AP photo

A look at One Direction through the years — in pictures

Olive Obina

March 26, 2015

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From auditioning as solo artists on the seventh series of The X Factor to selling out stadiums around the world, it's been quite the journey for One Direction. With the latest news that Zayn Malik is quitting the band, take a look back at how it all started.

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