Who Is Liam Payne's Girlfriend? All About Kate Cassidy and Her Relationship with the Late One Direction Member

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis/Getty

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis/Getty

The lateLiam Paynewas dating Kate Cassidy for two years beforehis deathat age 31 in October 2024.

TheOne Directionsinger, who previously datedCheryl ColeandMaya Henry, was first seen with Cassidy in October 2022. Despite breakup rumors in May 2023, Payne and the influencer were still dating and posting about their relationship at the time of his death. They were spotted atParis Fashion Weekin March 2024.

After multiple public romances, Payne no longer felt the need to hide his relationships from the world, as he proved with Cassidy.

In February 2025, Cassidy spoke withThe Sunabout losing Payne, whom she called her “soulmate.”

“I never, ever thought this event would occur,” she told the outlet. “It still doesn’t feel fully real for me that he’s not here. He was the most humble, charming, normal person you could ever hope to come across and genuinelyone of the best people I’ve ever metin my life.”

So who is the late Liam Payne’s girlfriend? Here’s what to know about Kate Cassidy and her relationship with the singer.

She graduated from college in 2021

Kate Cassidy Instagram

According to anInstagram post, Cassidy graduated from Coastal Carolina University in the spring of 2021.

To celebrate the milestone, she shared a photo of herself posing with a black graduation cap and gown. In another picture, Cassidy’s gown was adorned with a blue sash featuring Greek lettering for her Phi Sigma Sigma sorority.

“Thank you for four amazing years🤝,” she wrote in the caption.

She’s an influencer

According to Cassidy’s Instagram bio, she’s based in London, but spends much of her time traveling around the world. The influencer regularly shares updates from her adventures with her more than 40,000Instagramfollowers, posting photos from her trips to Dubai, Turks and Caicos, Rome and more.

Cassidy has also taken her followers along to some high-profile events, includingWimbledon, where she and Payne relaxed andtook photosin the Evian suite. In January 2023, she evenposed with Kendall Jennerat the grand opening of theAtlantis The Royalin Dubai.

She and Payne were first spotted together in October 2022

Payne and Cassidy sparked romance rumors when they were seen attending a Halloween party in October 2022. At the time, theDaily Mailshared photos of the pair heading to the restaurant Inca London dressed asTommy LeeandPamela Anderson.

Cassidy also posted a photo of their costumes on her Instagram Stories.

The following month, Cassidy sharedsnaps of her trip to Rome, and Payne made an appearance. In the Instagram photo, the duo embrace in a hug while taking a mirror selfie.

She and Payne made their red carpet debut in December 2022

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

She and Payne attended Louis Tomlinson’s film premiere

Dave J Hogan/Getty

Payne and Cassidy stepped out to support fellow One Direction alumLouis Tomlinsonat the premiere of his documentary,All of Those Voices, in March 2023.

After the event, she shared a heartfelt message about the project with Tomlinson via an Instagram caption. “What a crazy eye opening experience!” she wrote alongside a photo and video of herself and Payne. “It was so nice to meet you finally.”

Cassidy continued: “I’m so glad I got to share those moments with you watching your best friend, even the tearful ones … @louist91 well done on such a beautiful film that everybody will love.”

She met Payne’s famous friends

In July 2023, Cassidy accompanied Payne in celebrating his friendPaul Wesley’s 41st birthdayin Saint-Tropez.The Vampire Diariesactor hosted the festivities on a luxury yacht with his girlfriend,model Natalie Kuckenburg.

The group spent the day on the water. Payne wore a blue and white collared shirt and white pants. Meanwhile, Cassidy wore a strapless white floral sundress.

On her Instagram, Cassidy shares photos from her trip to St. Tropez.One post showedher posing on a boat in a beige fishnet dress, while anothercaptured her soaking up the sunin a red and white floral bathing suit.

She and Payne sparked breakup rumors in May 2023

Samir Hussein/Getty

In May 2023, fans began to suspect that Payne and Cassidy had split because the couple hadn’t been photographed together in months. Shortly after,theDaily Mailreported that the pair had gone their separate ways.

By early June, however, they werespotted holding handswhile out on a date night in London. Payne and Cassidy were photographed leaving Annabel’s 60th-anniversary party at Chiltern Firehouse.

Payne defended her from trolls

Dave Benett/Getty

Shortly after going public with their relationship, one of Payne’s followers sent him a direct message on Instagram suggesting that Cassidy was only with him for his money.

Per theDaily Mail,the singer screenshotted the message and shared it on his Instagram Stories. “Gotta say you could tell me anything and I couldn’t be turned,” he wrote in response. “I’ve never felt a love like I do for Katelyn. We make each other better people.”

He continued: “If it was just for the money I’d give her all of it. It’s not though (please remember I’m hella sexy) and I know I’m fun and a loveable person. And I don’t give a f*** to say that for the first time in my life I’m happy to be me and that’s priceless.”

Cassidy spoke out about Payne days after he died

Kate Cassidy at Liam Payne’s funeral in 2024.Mancpicss66 / SplashNews

Mancpicss66 / SplashNews

Two days after Payne’s death on Oct. 16, 2024, Cassidy spoke out for the first time in a post on herInstagramStories, thanking her followers for “all of the kind wordsand love that has been sent my way.”

“I have been at a complete loss. Nothing about the past few days have felt real,” she wrote. “I ask and pray that you’ll give me the grace and space to navigate this in private.”

Cassidy continued, “Liam, my angel. You are everything. I want you to know I loved you unconditionally and completely. I will continued to love you for the rest of my life. I love you Liam.”

On Nov. 20, 2024, Cassidy was seen attendingPayne’s funeralin England alongside his One Direction bandmatesHarry Styles,Louis Tomlinson,Zayn MalikandNiall Horan.

In December,Cassidy showed off her new tattoo, which appeared to be a tribute to Payne. A photo she shared on her Instagram Stories showed her with her arms around Nala, the dog that she and Payne adopted before his death. A pair of angel wings can be seen inked on her index and middle fingers.

source: people.com