Liam Payne fans sing and grieve at global vigils for former One Direction star

In London, fans Emily and Olivia first fell in love with Payne and One Direction when they were at school.

“Growing up, it’s hard to put it in words, but being a Directioner became such an important community for me,” said Emily, 25.

“Being young at the time, it was my first feeling of being in love, my first feeling of crushing on a boy, of being excited about boys,” added Olivia, who is 23. “I kissed the posters every night. We all did.”

“It felt like you were part of the best club in the world and it’s a huge part of why we bonded together.”

She added that part of the reason why Payne’s death has hit so hard, is because she “always hoped for a One Direction reunion one day”.

“We took it for granted,” she said.