Harry Styles has been a household name since his X Factor days in 2010, and it’s clear the former One Direction star always had star potential despite battling imposter syndrome
08:00, 30 Jan 2026Updated 08:04, 30 Jan 2026
Harry exudes exceptional presence(Image: Steven Ferdman/REX/Shutterstock)
Long before my initial encounter with Harry Styles nearly 15 years ago, I sensed that he and his One Direction bandmates possessed something truly extraordinary. It was June 2011, and the five-piece were still a quarter of a year away from dropping their first single, the number-one smash What Makes You Beautiful.
However, as the editor of Top Of The Pops Magazine, I was preparing to embark on an eight-hour photoshoot with One Direction for a special edition wholly dedicated to these future megastars.
It’s virtually unprecedented to produce magazines featuring celebrities who haven’t yet converted their buzz into tangible commercial achievements. But I already recognised that these young men – who’d found their initial fame by taking part in Simon Cowell’s The X Factor, thoroughly warranted their places in the spotlight. Even then, there was a feeling they’d achieve astronomical success.
READ MORE: Harry Styles tickets, tour dates, presale events and every type of ticket availableREAD MORE: Harry Styles’ ‘fabulous and fun’ perfume set now £22 in limited-time 20% off sale
Everyone knew One Direction would be superstars, even in their early days of fame(Image: Newspix / Rex Features)
What I hadn’t anticipated was that a 17 year old Harry would enter the room that day already exuding exceptional presence. Someone who was distinctly different from his four fellow band members and new-found companions – Louis, Liam, Zayn and Niall, reports OK!.
Harry came across as approachable and conversational, yet also remarkably self-aware, confident and mature far beyond his age. He was never short of a quip or two for our writers and photographers during the day, and when questioned about his celebrity fancy crush, he very casually confessed: “It’s Caroline Flack.”
At that point, Caroline was presenting The X Factor’s companion programme, The Xtra Factor. She was his senior by 15 years, yet notoriously became his girlfriend. She sadly later took her own life back in 2020, aged just 40.
Music journalist and former NME editor Mark Sutherland also noticed how this particular One Direction member always stood out from his bandmates. “There were plenty of signs he was the superstar among them, even if it wasn’t immediately apparent,” he recalls, reflecting on Harry’s initial, pivotal X Factor audition before Simon, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger.
Harry performed for Simon and his fellow judges on The X Factor(Image: Getty Images Europe)
“He initially got rejected as an individual performer, presumably because they felt he didn’t have ‘the X factor’, which is ironic, as he proved to be the person who did,” Mark observes.
All those who know him most intimately share the same view, describing him as: ‘charming’ (vocal coach Yvie Burnett), ‘humble’ (film critic James King) and even ‘magnetic’ (biographer Jordan Paramor).
Harry isn’t alone in seeking further fame after One Direction – in fact, his bandmates all pursued their own solo ventures with varying degrees of success. Back in October 2024, all were understandably devastated when Liam Payne died in a horror fall from the balcony of an Argentinian hotel. Investigations into the tragedy are ongoing.
It’s crystal clear he possesses singing and acting talent(Image: Getty Images for Coachella)
He is also a fashion icon and one of Britain’s most generous philanthropists(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
Harry now boasts three albums – with a fourth, Kiss All The Time, on the way – as well as three major film roles and two record-shattering world tours. Tickets for his next tour, Together Together, go on general sale today at 11am (Friday, 29 January) having already created a furore with pre-sales in the previous days. It’s crystal clear he possesses singing and acting talent, alongside being a remarkably gifted performer on both stage and television. Add to that his status as a fashion icon and one of Britain’s most generous philanthropists.
His ambition and capacity to branch out is undeniably a key factor behind Harry’s enormous success, according to PR expert Lauren Lunn-Farrow, founder of The Expert Agency. “He’s broken into numerous areas outside of music including acting and fashion which have all showcased his star power and reinforce the fact he’s hugely ambitious and pushes boundaries to break into new areas,” she explains. His refusal to buy into his own hype has also served Harry remarkably well, as Lauren points out: “Something hugely admirable about him is that in a fickle industry he’s known as being fiercely loyal, very down to earth and a true grafter.”
Harry performed with singer Lizzo in 2020(Image: Getty Images for Pandora)
Pop culture commentator Nick Ede echoes this sentiment, highlighting Harry’s commitment to staying grounded whilst dedicating himself fully to his work and supporters. “You don’t get far in this industry as a diva, but Harry has always remained grounded,” he notes. He’s well known in the industry as someone who works hard and puts 100 percent into every challenge.”
Yet Harry himself maintains his characteristic modesty. During a 2022 interview, he spoke candidly about experiencing imposter syndrome – the nagging worry that someone might tap him on the shoulder and declare, “The jig is up. You’re done now,” bringing everything crashing down.
“My producer keeps asking me when I’m going to have my big breakdown,” he confessed with a laugh. “The most honest version I can think of is, I didn’t grow up in poverty by any means, but we didn’t have much money, and I had an expectation of what I could achieve in life. I feel like everything else has been a bonus, and I am so lucky.”
READ MORE: ‘Beautifully wearable’ long-lasting Bridgerton perfume: ‘I got so many compliments’