Ruth Gibbins, sister of late One Direction star Liam Payne, has shared a heartfelt tribute marking 15 years since the band's formation. The group, comprising Liam, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, was created on The X Factor in 2010.
Nine months after Liam's death at age 31 following a fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Ruth took to Instagram on Wednesday to honour his memory. She posted family photos that appeared in the band's 'Story of My Life' music video, including childhood images of Liam.
In her post, Ruth recalled the moment the band was formed: 'Liam this one's for you. 15 years of the "I'm in a boyband" text, where Dad ran downstairs to tell us all, absolutely gutted at the time that you'd been sent home again, that you'd been put in a boyband.' She added that Liam's love for One Direction never waned and that he was proud of their achievements.
She also shared a personal memory of filming the 'Story of My Life' video, where Liam had them recreate an unflattering photo. 'You laughed and said "I know" absolutely howling that you'd got us to agree to reenact one of our worst photos,' she wrote.
Ruth concluded: '1D time will always have such a fond place in my heart... I hope you're somewhere sat comfy, laptop on, listening to your bands music from start to finish, smiling.'
