Up All Night? Zayn Malik looks virtually unrecognisable as he sports unkempt beard and scruffy hair during late-night stroll in New York

By MailOnline Reporter

Published: 14:25 EST, 16 January 2017 | Updated: 06:43 EST, 17 January 2017

He celebrated his 24th birthday last Thursday, and it seems Zayn Malik is determined to revamp his image this year.

The former One Direction star looked worlds away from his usual clean-cut appearance as he stepped out for a late-night stroll with pals in New York on Sunday.

The Pillowtalk singer appeared to have fully shed the boyband look as he sported scruffy hair and a seriously unkempt beard. 

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Who's that guy? Zayn Malik, 24, looked worlds away from his usual clean-cut appearance as he stepped out for a late-night stroll with pals in New York on Sunday

Aside from his facial hair, the Bradford-born singer looked low-key as he rocked a black military-inspired coat.

Adding to the relaxed vibe, Zayn added a grey knit jumper, simple blue jeans and heavy-duty leather boots. 

Holding a cigarette in his hand, the musician appeared to be in great spirits as he chatted and laughed away with a group of friends in downtown New York.

What a difference: The Pillowtalk singer appeared to have fully shed the boyband look as he sported scruffy hair and a seriously unkempt beard (pictured last October, right)

Just chillin': Aside from his facial hair, the Bradforn-born singer looked lowkey as he rocked a black military-inspired coat

His happy appearance comes as his girlfriend Gigi Hadid reportedly turned down his marriage proposal because he was moving 'too fast'.

According to new reports, the 21-year-old Victoria's Secret Angel said she 'didn't feel ready' when Zayn recently asked Gigi to marry him.

It's been just one year since Zayn called off his two-year engagement to Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards, 23.

Laidback cool: Adding to the relaxed vibe, Zayn added a grey knit jumper, simple blue jeans and heavy-duty leather boots

Having a whale of a time: Holding a cigarette in his hand, the musician appeared to be in great spirits as he chatted and laughed away with a group of friends in downtown New York

A source close to the pair reportedly told Life & Style magazine: 'She’s only 21 and doesn’t feel ready to tie the knot, so she turned him down.'

Implicating Gigi's mother Yolanda Hadid, the source continued: 'She's seen her mom go through two messy divorces, so Gigi wants to make 100 per cent sure Zayn's the one before she makes a lifetime commitment.' 

As the Pillowtalk hitmaker turned 24 on Thursday, he was understandably on his girlfriend's mind, but fans were shocked to see he had also been contacted by his former bandmate.

Awkward! His happy appearance comes as his girlfriend Gigi Hadid reportedly turned down his marriage proposal because he was moving 'too fast'

Oh dear: A source close to the pair reportedly told Life & Style magazine: 'She’s only 21 and doesn’t feel ready to tie the knot, so she turned him down'

Taking to Instagram, Gigi was the first to reach out as she shared a sweet black and white picture of her boyfriend. 

The Vogue covergirl captioned the shot: 'happy birthday my handsome! so lucky to know and love a soul like yours wishing you the best year ever!!!' 

Meanwhile, fans were shocked to see Zayn also recieved a message from his former One Direction bandmate, Liam.

Too soon? The source continued: 'She's seen her mom go through two messy divorces, so Gigi wants to make 100 per cent sure Zayn's the one before she makes a lifetime commitment'

Tweeting the star directly, Liam wrote: 'Happy birthday bro! Hope all is well and you have a good day celebrating it'.

The message came as a surprise to fans as Zayn did not appear to have remained on good terms with his former bandmates.

He famously feuded with Louis Tomlinson on Twitter when he told the star to stop making ‘b****y’ comments about his life as he was no longer a member of the chart-topping boyband.

In November 2015 Zayn also blasted One Direction's music as 'generic as f**k' in an interview with Fader magazine.

Old pals: Liam proved he was still on good terms with Zayn as he tweeted the star

Reaching out: Fans were shocked to see Zayn had also been contacted by his former bandmate Liam Payne, despite the fact Zayn does not appear to have remained on good terms

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