Zayn Malik Is Cool With Being a Gay Sex Symbol

Smouldering on the cover of Paper magazine's new Sexy issue, former One Direction member Zayn Malik is taking off solo and talking about his LGBT fanbase.

"If guys find me attractive, then that's a cool thing as well. It's sick. It's a compliment," Zayn says in his interview. "I'm blessed by whoever was up there to be who I am and be able to do what I do. I genuinely mean that."

The 23-year-old has conquered the charts with his solo debut, Mind of Mine, which asserted his newfound R'n'B star status. Now, he's on his way to become a global sex symbol and a style icon: In addition to his Paper feature, Zayn is also on the cover of British cool bible Dazedthis month, and he was recently photographed with his former girlfriend Gigi Hadid in Naples in a Mario Testino-lensed fashion story for Vogue US.

Click here to read Zayn's cover story at Papermag.com