Zayn Malik Gave Gigi Hadid the Most Beautiful 26th Birthday Gift

"Wow Zayn 💘."

Zayn Malik Gave Gigi Hadid the Most Beautiful 26th Birthday Gift

Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik are many things: hot, rich, occasionally robots, and now, parents. The two of them reportedly first started dating in November 2015, and ever since then, it’s been a roller coaster of cute Instagram posts, sound bites, breakup rumors, and his-and-her Nutella jars. Let’s take a look back at their relationship—including where it stands today.

November 2015: Us Weekly reports Hadid and Malik are dating. They were photographed leaving Justin Bieber’s American Music Awards after-party together; a few days later, paparazzi caught them holding hands leaving a restaurant in Los Angeles.

January 2016: Malik says he and Hadid are just “good friends,” but evidence—i.e., his face on Hadid’s lock screen—points to the contrary. Hadid then made an appearance in Malik’s “Pillowtalk” video, and they flirted back and forth on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/GiGiHadid/status/693074722787962880

February 2016: Malik quasi-confirms he’s dating Hadid when radio interviewers refer to her as his girlfriend and he doesn’t correct them.

April 2016: The couple do a spread together in Naples for Vogue, which refers to Malik as Hadid’s “real-life boyfriend.” The next month they attended the Met Gala together.

June 2016: Several outlets report that Hadid and Malik have broken up, but she squashes those rumors in an interview with Elle magazine. Also, these his-and-her Nutella jars she shared on Instagram said a thousand words.

December 2016: They continue giving lovey-dovey quotes about each other. Malik revealed the “straight-up” way he asked Hadid out.

https://twitter.com/SiriusXMHits1/status/809068089165881344

January 2017: Hadid sparks engagement rumors when she’s spotted wearing a ring on that finger. This turned out to be just, well, a rumor.

September 2017: They vacation together with Hadid’s mother, which points to things moving in a positive direction.

October 2017: Hadid and Malik wear matching Spider-Man–inspired Halloween costumes.

March 2018: Malik reveals on Twitter that he and Hadid have ended their relationship. Hadid later confirmed this on social media, as well.

https://twitter.com/zaynmalik/status/973637458561650688

April 2018: But wait! TMZ captures the two of them kissing in New York City, so is the relationship back on?

June 2018: Malik says he and Hadid don’t feel the need to label their relationship because “we’re adults.” Meanwhile, she posted a photo to her Instagram story of the two cuddling.

October 2018: It seems they’re officially back on when Hadid posts this pic to her Instagram and captions it “flyin’ home to my happy place.”

Early January 2019: Breakup rumors flare up and E! News reports the twosome are spending time apart. “They are in different points in their lives right now and decided they needed the time to breathe apart from each other,” an “insider” told the outlet. “They are still in touch and both hope that things will work out, but their relationship is always up and down.” Us Weekly also reported the two have broken up.

Mid-January 2019: Hadid is photographed leaving Malik’s apartment on Wednesday, January 16, which could mean something…or nothing. The Sun had photos.

November 2019: A source tells E! News that Hadid and Malik are talking again. “[Gigi] has always had a soft spot for Zayn and they have a lot of history together…. They went through a phase where they took time apart and weren’t communicating at all, but they have been in touch recently. She is supportive of him. They chat here and there, but it’s been casual,” the source said.

The source added, “They are definitely not getting back together but are on good terms right now.”

December 2019: Fans get very excited when Hadid writes on social media that she is making a recipe she learned from Malik’s mom—and tags her in the post. “Sunday in the kitchen: about to marinate the chicken for one of my favorites!!! @mammamalik’s Chicken Curry Pasta Salad,” she wrote. Malik’s mother, Trisha, also reposted the clip.

https://twitter.com/zigifacts/status/1211393492053823490?s=20

While this was certainly not evidence of relationship reboot (or that the pair were even hanging out), many fans of the couple took it as a sign that a reconciliation might happen.

https://twitter.com/aloverofzayn/status/1211347693731295232?s=20

January 2020: Fans who were hoping for a public reunion get their wish when the couple is spotted ahead of Malik’s 27th birthday. They were photographed leaving dinner at New York City’s Il Buco, where they celebrated with Bella Hadid, Gigi’s mom Yolanda Hadid, and Dua Lipa (the singer is dating Gigi’s brother Anwar). Both Gigi and Zayn were smiling as they walked down the street arm in arm, suggesting they were fully back together. Gigi looked chic in a white turtleneck and pale-green blazer and pantsuit, while Zayn wore a patchwork-printed bomber jacket.

February 2020: On a very happy Valentine’s Day for Zigi fans, the supermodel confirms she is back together with Malik via an Instagram post on her secondary account, @Gisposable, where she posts Polaroid photos she takes of her famous friends and colleagues. “HEY VALENTINE Z on the farm ♡ Dec 2019,” she wrote in the caption.

April 2020: Fans get confirmation Gigi celebrated her 25th birthday in quarantine with Zayn, via a Boomerang on her Instagram. It was a family affair, as sister Bella also made an appearance and their mom, Yolanda, was shown in other posts.

Malik was also spotted in a slideshow from the day.

April 28, 2020: Multiple outlets report that Hadid and Malik are expecting their first child together. “Gigi and Zayn are expecting their first child together and the couple is very excited!” a source told Entertainment Tonight. “Gigi has kept the secret close to her family and friends for a while as she’s only a few months along. Once Gigi and Zayn got back together at the end of last year it was like they never skipped a beat and knew what they had was special. The couple and their families are overjoyed.”

The model confirmed the news on April 30 during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “Obviously, you know, 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 and support, so…,” she said. “I’m trying [to be present for every part of it]. Especially during this time, it’s a nice silver lining to be able to be home and together and really experience it.”

August 2020: Hadid refers to Malik as “baby daddy” in a rare moment of PDA.

September 2020: Hadid and Malik welcomed their first child on September 23, 2020: a baby girl named Khai.

https://twitter.com/zaynmalik/status/1308947122126032896

October 2020: The couple had their first date night alone since becoming parents. “Mom and Dad’s first date night," Hadid wrote in an Instagram story on October 8. "[Khai's] in the other room with Oma, but miss her [so much] lol.”

October 31, 2020: Though they didn't share a look at Khai's face, the couple shared their first photo as a family on Halloween.

February 2021: Hadid opened up to Vogue about giving birth to Khai at home and how “helpless” Malik felt during the experience. while she described herself as an “animal woman,” she compared Malik a male lion pacing outside the cave while the lioness gives birth. “Z was like, ‘That’s how I felt! You feel so helpless to see the person you love in pain.’”

Hadid added, “I know my mom and Zayn and Bella were proud of me, but at certain points, I saw each of them in terror. Afterward, Z and I looked at each other and were like, We can have some time before we do that again.” Of course, Malik wasn't actually helpless. In fact, he caught the baby. “It didn’t even click that she was out,” Hadid told Vogue. “I was so exhausted, and I looked up and he’s holding her. It was so cute.”

April 2021: In honor of Hadid's 26th birthday on April 23, Malik gave his girlfriend the most beautiful bouquet of flowers. “Wow Zayn,” she wrote on Instagram stories.