Zayn Malik, the 31-year-old British-Pakistani singer, hasn’t had the smoothest experience on dating apps recently. In an interview with Nylon, Malik revealed his move to Bucks County, Pennsylvania—a predominantly white, rural community where he feels distinctly out of place.

“I definitely stand out,” Malik told Nylon’s Nolan Feeney. He described the local lifestyle: early risers working on farms who are often too tired to notice or care about a celebrity sighting at the grocery store. “People have said to me, ‘We drive past your house all the time, but we don’t want to ever disturb you.’”

As Malik settled into his new life in Bucks County, he decided to dip his toes back into the dating pool. However, his attempt to find love on Tinder was met with unexpected challenges.

“It’s not been too successful for me, I’ll be honest,” he admitted. “Everyone accused me of catfishing. They’re like, ‘What are you using Zayn Malik’s pictures for?’ I’ve been kicked off once or twice.”

Frustrated by the scepticism, Malik has since abandoned the app altogether. Despite the setbacks, he expressed contentment with his single status. “I’m really content and happy with being single for the first time in my life,” he confirmed.

Malik’s dating history includes high-profile relationships with Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards and supermodel Gigi Hadid. His engagement to Edwards ended in 2015, and he later began dating Hadid, with whom he shares a three-year-old daughter, Khai. The couple parted ways in October 2021.

For now, Malik seems to be embracing his single life and rural surroundings, despite the challenges of navigating dating apps in a small town.

Main Image: Complex