When One Direction's Liam Payne and Cheryl first started dating in 2016 it definitely caught many by surprise. But let's not talk about that and rather discuss how Cheryl and Liam Payne met. To be honest, their first meeting was not only somewhat awkward, but also unforgettable. I mean, he was 14 at the time and she was 24, so that certainly makes for a long, unique history, right?
These two had their first encounter during an X Factor audition in 2008, where a then teenager Payne was showing off his singing skills way before 1D ever became a thing. How crazy is that? As you can watch in the video below, the now 23-year-old musician sang Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon," which Cheryl, now 33, totally loved. She even said to him at the time, "I think you’re really cute. I think you’ve got charisma and you give us that cheeky little wink." She enjoyed his voice so much that she gave him a "yes" and he made it through to the next round.
I'm sure neither Cheryl or Payne will ever forget their past, especially since they met yet again in 2010 during The X Factor season where One Direction officially formed and Cheryl was a judge. Basically, The X Factor makes the perfect meet-cute spot. They didn't get together right away after these two run-ins, but to know that they have such a history, are now dating, and might even be expecting their first child together sounds like something straight out of a movie,
So all of that said, how the heck did the couple reconnect in 2016? Details aren't specific, though according to a February report from the Daily Mail, it appears Cheryl and Payne were spotted getting close during One Direction's final performance on The X Factor in December 2015 before they went on hiatus. As reported by the Daily Mail, Cheryl "reached out to the handsome singer in the clip, who gives her a lingering kiss on the cheek while holding her waist." The latter is shown in a video uploaded on YouTube by FunnyMoments, though it could easily just be a friendly hug.
Whatever the case, Payne and Cheryl clearly found common ground in 2016, began a romance, and are now in a serious relationship. In March, the former 1D singer took to Instagram and wrote alongside a photo of Cheryl where he pretty much confirmed their relationship, "Happy #internationalwomensday to my favourite [sic] woman in the world hope I make you as happy as u make me X."
There's no denying how they met is something both of them will probably never forget — and neither will anyone else.
