Zayn Malik Says Leaving One Direction 'Didn't Feel Brave'

Zayn Malik puts his tattoos on display for the September 2016 cover of Elle UK magazine.

Here’s what the 23-year-old singer had to share with the mag:

On leaving One Direction: “At that time in my life I felt I had done everything I could do there and I just needed to change it up. It didn’t feel brave…I just don’t have it in me to feel fully secure in anything I do. I always strive towards something better. It’s why I think sometimes I come across the wrong way, a bit distant. I’m just stressed out trying to control how I’m perceived. I think about things a lot.”

On his style: “Since leaving One Direction I’ve been given the freedom to be able to wear whatever I want and that’s made it more interesting. More creative,” the singer tells ELLE U.K. “I can say I want to wear metal arms and it’ll happen.”

On girlfriend Gigi Hadid: “She’s super intelligent; I think that’s why it works so well. And we do the same type of job so we get that with each other.”

For more on Zayn, visit ElleUK.com.