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'This Is Us': The rise of One Direction

One 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.
One 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/AP
In 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?
In 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 Lopez
ZAYN 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.
ZAYN 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, WireImage
HARRY 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.
HARRY 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 Images
NIALL 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.
NIALL 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 Pictures
LOUIS 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.
LOUIS 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, WireImage
LIAM 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.
LIAM 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 Images
The 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.
The 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 Images
The band accept one of their first MTV Video Music Awards, for Best New Artist in 2012.
The band accept one of their first MTV Video Music Awards, for Best New Artist in 2012.
Matt Sayles, Invision/AP
Dustin 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.
Dustin 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 AP
Another 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.
Another 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 Lee
One Direction really is the teen's choice. Here they are accepting a Teen Choice award for Choice Group.
One Direction really is the teen's choice. Here they are accepting a Teen Choice award for Choice Group.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
You know you've made it when you get your own Madame Tussauds wax figures.
You know you've made it when you get your own Madame Tussauds wax figures.
Cindy Ord, Getty For Madame Tussauds
The 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.
The 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 Mazur
Horan shreds his guitar in a scene from "One Direction: This Is Us."
Horan shreds his guitar in a scene from "One Direction: This Is Us."
Christie Goodwin, TriStar Pictures
Thousands of screaming fans watch the group perform.
Thousands of screaming fans watch the group perform.
Christie Goodwin, TriStar Pictures
Meet your maker: Simon Cowell smiles wide as he poses with the group he created during the world premiere of 'This Is Us.'
Meet 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 Pictures
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