Harry Edward Styles

Harry was born on the 1st of February 1994 (age 18) in the village of Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, England. He is a former pupil at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School, a state comprehensive school. Born to mother Anne Cox and father Des Styles. He has an older sister, Gemma. He was seven when their parents divorced, his mother later remarried. Following the divorce, Styles, his older sister and his mother moved further out into the Cheshire countryside. At the age of twelve he moved back to Holmes Chapel where Styles was the lead singer for the band White Eskimo. They had once entered a Battle of the Bands competition, which they won. Before The X Factor, the then sixteen-year old Styles had a part-time job at the W. Mandeville Bakery in Holmes Chapel.

As a child, Styles loved singing, noting Elvis Presley as one of his influences. He also cites Presley for his musical beginnings as well as current musical acts like Foster the People, Coldplay and Kings of Leon among his influences. Styles states that The X Factor gave him "a lot more" confidence as a performer and singer. Styles says that he often looks to Coldplay front man Chris Martin for inspiration when performing on stage. Styles also states that The Beatles had a profound influence on him growing up, as his father would play their music. He briefly dated English television presenter Caroline Flack, which caused widespread media controversy over their fifteen-year age gap. He also has been linked to several gorgeous not-so-young celebs but has not confirmed any rumours and therefore still remains single and ready to mingle.

Liam James Payne

Liam was born on the 29th of August 1993 (age 18) in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. He was born three weeks early to mother Karen and father Geoff. He has two older sisters, Ruth and Nicola. Until the age of four, Payne had regular tests done in hospital as doctors noticed one of his kidneys was dysfunctional. As a student, Payne was heavily involved in sports. Payne was bullied in secondary school and took up boxing lessons as a result at the age of twelve. He was also a music technology student at the City of Wolverhampton College. Before The X Factor, Payne had once performed in front of a 26, 000 crowd at a Wolverhampton Wonderers' football match. Payne first auditioned in 2008 to The X Factor's fifth seson when he was fourteen. He made it to the judges' houses, but Cowell thought he was not ready and asked him to come back in two years. Payne cites Justin Timberlake as one of his biggest influences. He also says he draws inspiration from Take That member Gary Barlow when performing. He is currently in a relationship with dancer Danielle Peazer, who has performed with numerous cool kids such as the The Saturdays, Jessie J and many more. They met on The X Factor in 2010 and have been in a relationship ever since. 

Zain Javadd "Zayn" Malik 

Zayn was born on the 12th of January 1993 (age 19) in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. He was born to British Pakistani father Yaser and an English mother, Tricia née Brannan. He has one older sister Doniya, and two younger sisters Waliyha and Safaa. He grew up in East Bowling where he was a pupil at Lower Fields Primary School and went to Tong High School, a state comprehensive school. Malik did not fit in at his first two schools due to his mixed heritage, revealing that when he and his older sister moved schools he felt he fitted in better. After moving schools at the age twelve, Malik, states he started taking pride in his appearance. On auditioning for The X Factor, Malik said "I was looking for an experience". He cites urban music as his main musical influence, drawing inspiration from Michael Jackson, Usher and Ne-Yo. Growing up, he was into R&B and rap. For his X Factor audition, he performed the Mario R&B song "Let Me Love You". He as well as other members of One Direction further notes artists such as Bruno Mars, as a "dream collaborator." Zayn is a smoker and in late 2011, he expressed his desire to quit. In May 2012, Malik confirmed he is dating Little Mix member Perrie Edwards.

Niall James Horan

Niall was born on the 13th of September 1993 (age 18) in from Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland. He was born to mother Maura Gallagher and father Bobby Horan. He has an older brother named Greg.Their parents divorced when he was five. He and his brother lived between each of their homes for a few years before eventually deciding to live with their father in Mullingar. Niall was a pupil at Coláiste Mhuire, a boys' Christian Brothers school. He was in the school choir, performing seasonally around Christmas. Prior to participating in The X Factor, he performed around his homeland, including as a support act for Lloyd Daniels in Dublin. Horan has been playing guitar since childhood. Horan has also stated that he is a "big swing" fan, citing favourite artists Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Michael Bublé. Horan also cites rock music favourably and is a fan of The Eagles, Bon Jovi and The Script. Niall has been linked to many young starlets and has most recently been rumoured to be dating singer/songwriter Demi Lovato, his celebrity love interest. However, neither of them have confirmed anything leaving Niall, perfectly available. 

Louis William Tomlinson

Louis was born on the 24th of December 1991 (age 20) in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. He was born to mother Johannah Poulston and father Troy Austin, his parents split when he was young and he took on his stepfather Mark Tomlinson's name. He has five younger half-sister who were extremely keen in acting, which encouraged Louis to attend an acting school in Barnsley. He earned small roles in an ITV1 drama film If I Had You and BBC's Waterloo Road. He was a sixth form student at Hall Cross School, a state comprehensive school. Louis revealed that he failed his first year of A levels at the Hayfield School, where he was a former student and ended up going back to Hall Cross to start A levels over again. As a student there, he starred in several musical productions. Tomlinson revealed that landing the lead role of Danny Zuko in a high school musical production of Grease motivated him to audition for The X Factor. Before The X Factor, he had a numbers of jobs, including at a Vue cinema and at Doncaster Rovers football stadium as a waiter in their hospitality suites. Louis is currently in a relationship with Manchester University politics and sociology student, part time model, Eleanor Calder.