Zayn Malik feels insecure about his life

Zayn Malik has admitted to being insecure.

The 23-year-old singer songwriter – who cancelled his first solo performance at Capital FM’s Summertime Ball last month because of anxiety – says he constantly feels vulnerable and "stressed" when he tries to control everything, including the people’s perceptions of him.

Speaking to Elle magazine about his insecurity, the ‘Pillowtalk’ hitmaker said: "I don’t have it in me to feel secure in anything I do. I always strive towards something better.

"It’s why I sometimes come across the wrong way – a bit distant. I’m stressed out trying to control how I’m perceived."

And the hunk – who is currently dating supermodel Gigi Hadid – says his life has completely changed over the past year, which saw him quit One Direction and end his engagement to Little Mix star Perrie Edwards, although his friends and family from his home town still treat him like he isn’t famous.

He explained: "My entire life has changed in the last year.

"[But] when I go back to Bradford they treat me exactly the same. I only go back for a few days otherwise they have me taking out the bins."

Zayn – who quit the boy band to embark on a solo career – says his new album ‘Mind Of Mine’ was created from six years’ worth of pent-up anger and frustration from his days hiding in the shadows of the group which is comprised of Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Harry Styles.

Speaking about his recent release, he said: "The album is a build-up of six years never being able to express what I wanted."