MUSIC'This Is Us': The rise of One DirectionOne Direction is easily the most famous boy band alive. The five young lads from overseas have risen to become pop music's reigning princes, with a handful of hit songs and a legion of screaming fans at their back. Here they stand for the cameras at the premiere of their pop documentary "One Direction: This Is Us" in New York. USA TODAY's Yohana Desta takes a look at the rise of the band, from reality show rejects to platinum-selling musical act.Evan Agostini, Invision/APIn early 2012, One Direction was a brand new boy band: Liam Payne, left, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson. After each separately auditioning for 'The X Factor' and failing to win, judge Simon Cowell had the idea of bringing them together and signing them to his label Syco. But, who exactly are these boys that today drive millions of fans crazy?Chris LopezZAYN MALIK| The resident bad boy of the group was born to Pakistani and British parents. Malik is tatted-up and can often be caught with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. Malik brought his love of R&B to the group, and stirred headlines recently after getting engaged to Perrie Edwards, a singer in the girl group Little Mix.Dave M. Benett, WireImageHARRY STYLES | The group's pretty boy is as famous for singing as he is for dating famous women. Styles has been romantically linked with Taylor Swift, model Cara Delevigne and British TV presenter Caroline Flack (which caused a stir at the time because she was 32 and he was 17). Styles also has the most amount of vocal solos on the group's material - maybe it's because he came up with the name One Direction.Stuart C. Wilson, Getty ImagesNIALL HORAN | The Irish-born Horan, 19, gets props in the group for being the only one who really plays an instrument, often picking up a guitar during live performances. His cites Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and The Eagles as his musical influences, in an interview with Vevo.Ian Gavan, Getty For Sony PicturesLOUIS TOMLINSON | The boy with the permanently windswept hair got his start in show biz by acting in bit parts. He's also a semi-professional footballer (that's soccer player, for all you Americans), playing for the Doncaster Rovers. He's the oldest of the group at a whopping 21 years old.Dave M. Benett, WireImageLIAM PAYNE | One of the quieter members, Payne, 20, auditioned for the X Factor twice, in 2008 and 2010, but it wasn't until the second time that magic struck. After Styles, Payne has the second highest amount of solos on One Direction tracks.Stuart C. Wilson, Getty ImagesThe band's first TV appearance stateside was on NBC's 'The Today Show' in March 2012. Hundreds of screaming fans came for the show. On Aug. 23, the band came back to perform on 'Today' and, according to the NYPD, an estimated 18,000 fans showed up, the biggest crowd in 'Today' show history.Neilson Barnard, Getty ImagesThe band accept one of their first MTV Video Music Awards, for Best New Artist in 2012.Matt Sayles, Invision/APDustin Hoffman got playful with Horan during the group's first appearance on a late night talk show, 'Late Night with David Letterman.' Placing his hand over Horan's mouth, he decided to plant a big wet one on the group, immediately drawing the ire and jealousy of fans everywhere.Jeffrey R. Staab APAnother thing to cross off of their epic checklist? Performing during the Closing Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics. The boys sang their hit song "What Makes You Beautiful" to a packed stadium, not to mention millions of TV viewers.Kirby LeeOne Direction really is the teen's choice. Here they are accepting a Teen Choice award for Choice Group.Kevin Winter, Getty ImagesYou know you've made it when you get your own Madame Tussauds wax figures.Cindy Ord, Getty For Madame TussaudsThe band poses backstage at the 2013 VMAs with a scantily clad Lady Gaga. During the show, the group won the award for best song of the summer, despite being pitted against Robin Thicke and Daft Punk. Fans of the latter acts booed the band offstage, prompting Gaga to leave the show in support of 1D.Kevin MazurHoran shreds his guitar in a scene from "One Direction: This Is Us."Christie Goodwin, TriStar PicturesThousands of screaming fans watch the group perform.Christie Goodwin, TriStar PicturesMeet your maker: Simon Cowell smiles wide as he poses with the group he created during the world premiere of 'This Is Us.'Ian Gavan, Getty Images For Sony PicturesFeatured Weekly Ad