Going about his business being a normal 23-year-old, Zayn Malik has only gone and landed himself the cover of L'Uomo Vogue. (That's men's Italian Vogue to you and us.)

The former One Direction singer is part of the mag's 'Big In 2016' series, alongside absolute babe Adam Driver and Zoolander himself Ben Stiller, as he swoons up a storm for his solo career.

With a rose between his teeth and a bit of a grimace going on, Zayn posed for all kinds of fancy photos for Ellen Von Unwerth, including a topless snap or two...

While naturally the cover story involves 1D chat, as he reiterates for the thousandth time why he left.

"I genuinely enjoyed [the band] and did whatever I could to be myself within that, but it’s just not where I sit as a musician," Zayn explained.

"The other boys’ taste was generally indie rock. It’s good music, but I don’t f— with it. That was never cool where I was from."

Cool.

- By Lucy Bacon