Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik might not be together anymore, but they remain cordial with one another as they continue to co-parent their daughter, Khai – who will be turning 3 years old on September 19. And while they’ve decided to keep their little one out of the spotlight, they do talk about her from time to time.
For those who don’t remember, dating rumors between Gigi and Zayn started in Nov. 2015 – Gigi had just broken up with Joe Jonas and Zayn had ended his engagement to Perrie Edwards just a few months prior. Their romance was confirmed when Gigi and Zayn made out in his music video in January 2016.
Their relationship ran hot and cold for the next four years. They broke up in June 2016, again in March 2018, and once more in January 2019 before taking a one-year break – their longest break to date. They got back together in January 2020 and revealed they were expecting their first child a few months later.
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The initial announcement came in March 2020 during an interview with Jimmy Fallon. “Obviously we wish we could’ve announced it on our own terms, but we’re very excited and happy and grateful for everyone’s well wishes,” she said at the time – adding that she’s doing her best to be ‘present for every part of it.’
In August 2020, Gigi Hadid showed off her baby bump on Instagram with a series of black-and-white photos. “growin an angel,” she captioned one post, while another one claimed she was ‘cherishing this time.’ One month after the photos went viral, Gigi and Zayn took to social media to announce their daughter’s birth.
“Our baby girl is here, healthy and beautiful. To try to put into words how I am feeling right now would be an impossible task. The love I feel for this tiny human is beyond my understanding. Grateful to know her, proud to call her mine, and thankful for the life we will have together x,” Zayn Malik said at the time.
Gigi Hadid Reveals Her Daughter’s Name
It wasn’t until January 2021 that we learned the little girl’s name – when Gigi Hadid updated her Instagram bio to read ‘Khai’s Mom.’ She opened up about her birth story in an interview with Vogue in February 2021. She was so exhausted during the unmedicated home birth that ‘it didn’t even click that [Khai] was out.’
“I was so exhausted, and I looked up and he’s holding her. It was so cute,” Gigi said – referring to Zayn, who caught Khai as she came out the womb. She also revealed her intent to raise Khai on her farm in Pennsylvania – comparing the ‘greenery’ and ‘farm-y lifestyle’ to the environment she grew up as a kid.
It was also during that interview that she revealed her intent to keep Khai out of the public eye as much as possible – adding that she has seen some of her celebrity friends do the same thing and it has allowed them to ‘really blossom in a different way.’ Still, it was clear they wanted to raise Khai in their own way.
Zayn Malik Opens Up About Fatherhood
One month after Gigi’s Vogue interview, Zayn opened up about fatherhood in an interview with Valentine in the Morning on iHeartRadio. He described the experience as ‘amazing’ and gushed over his little girl for making their lives easy – adding that she ‘sleeps really well’ and ‘loves her milk.’ She was a perfect baby!
“It’s just feeding and changing diapers at the minute. It’s wicked. I’m enjoying it, for sure,” Zayn said at the time – while also calling Gigi a ‘wicked mum.’ He was surprised at how well he adjusted to fatherhood and admitted that being a father has shifted his focus – he also revealed that he loves singing lullabies to her.
Gigi Hadid celebrated her first Mother’s Day in May 2021 with a few photos on Instagram, describing her little one as her ‘best friend, purpose, muse, greatest pride & joy.’ She gushed over how ‘lucky and inspired’ she feels to be a mother and described Khai as an ‘old soul full of sunshine’ who lights up everyone’s day.
Gigi and Zayn Ask for Privacy
Over the next few months, Gigi and Zayn did their best to protect their daughter’s identity – they would post photos of their little one, but never showed her face. In June 2021, Gigi took to her Instagram Story to request that photographers and members of the paparazzi respect their privacy when with their child.
“It would mean the world to us, as we take our daughter to see and explore NYC and the world, if you would PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE blur her face out of the images, if and when she is caught on camera,” she wrote on her Story. “As a new mom, I just want the best for my baby, as all parents do…”
Gigi and Zayn Break Up for Good
In October 2021, Zayn and Gigi reportedly separated ‘for good’ after Zayn got into an altercation with Gigi’s mother. While Zayn addressed the situation in a statement on Twitter, he maintained that it was a private family matter that will remain private. He added that he and Gigi will co-parent Khai accordingly.
“I am hopeful though for healing for all involved with the harsh words shared and more importantly I remain vigilant to protect Khai and give her the privacy she deserves,” he said at the time – voicing his frustrations at the matter being ‘leaked.’ Zayn and Gigi never got back together after this incident.
The former couple kept a low profile when it came to their daughter, but Gigi Hadid opened up about her little one in an interview with Willie Geist in September 2022. “I think she’s a genius, but that’s what everyone says about their kid,” she said of Khai – adding that she’s very talkative, fun, and now mobile.
She also opened up about her morning routine with Khai in a January 2023 interview with The Wall Street Journal. She enjoys making pancakes and sausage for Khai and even bought herself (via Santa) a new pancake pan for Christmas – one that allows her to make animal-shaped pancakes, which Khai loves.
Zayn Malik Enjoys Time Spent With Daughter
In July 2023, Zayn offered rare comments about his little girl in an interview with Alex Spencer on her Call Her Daddy podcast. He talked about wanting to set a good example for Khai and claimed to be very ‘hands-on’ as a father – he has 50-50 custody. Of course, he admitted Khai is growing up very fast.
“When I’m with her I don’t work. I just spend a full day with her doing the things that she wants to do, like painting, Play-Doh, this, that, go to the park, go to the theme park, go to the zoo, like we just have fun,” he said. “I’m just trying to give her an option,” he said of his decision to keep his little girl out of the spotlight.
Later that month, Gigi Hadid shared a series of photos that recapped her summer with Khai – her face wasn’t shown, but she has clearly grown a lot and seems to be enjoying her time on her mother’s farm. More recently, Gigi Hadid talked about Khai in an interview with PORTER in September 2023.
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“I think when you are a parent, you have to be intentional because, now, I literally have half the time. I work when my daughter is with her dad,” she said. “And the jobs I choose to fill that time with have to be ones that are fulfilling to me. I will literally fit in as many jobs as I can on those days.”