Maya Henry

Maya Henry was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, before moving with her family to Boerne, Texas in 2013.^{[citation needed]} She is the daughter of prominent attorney Thomas J. Henry who founded and oversees Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys.^[1]

From the age of three to seventeen, Henry was a dedicated tennis player, competing at a competitive level.^[2] Her training and travel schedule led her to be homeschooled during her formative years.^{[citation needed]} Henry pursued higher education in the arts, enrolling in New York University (NYU) where she graduated with a degree in Creative Writing in 2025.^{[citation needed]}

Modeling and media attention

Henry first came to broader public attention through modeling work. She is represented by Elite Model Management and Select Model London, and has appeared on runways and in campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry and Rami Kadi, and on prominent magazine covers, including international editions for Vogue, Elle, and Harper's Bazaar. Henry closed out George Hobeika’s Paris Fashion Week in 2021.^[3]

Henry lived in London starting at age 18,^[3] during which time she continued modeling and developing her voice as a writer.

Writing

Henry published her first novel, Looking Forward, in 2025. The book tells the story of the fictional character Mallory Hunt from Tennessee, who falls in love with Oliver Smith, the lead singer of the band 5Forward,^[4] and their resulting tumultuous relationship. In media interviews, Henry has noted that the book is inspired by true events.^[4]

In 2018, Henry began dating English singer Liam Payne, a former member of One Direction.^[5] The couple became engaged in November 2019.^[6] Their engagement ended in 2022. Following their breakup, Henry published a semi-autobiographical novel titled Looking Forward, which explores themes of trauma, survival, and healing—drawing heavily from her personal experiences.^[7] She later revealed that the relationship involved physical and emotional abuse, as well as the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.^[8] These revelations have since shaped her public advocacy and writing.

Maya Henry has been involved in philanthropic and environmental initiatives since a young age. In 2008, at age eight, she founded Maya’s Corner,^[9] a charitable organization dedicated to supporting children in need.^[10] The initiative focuses on providing school supplies and other essentials to underprivileged youth in Texas, aiming to alleviate issues related to education, hunger, and poverty.^[11]

In 2017, Henry spearheaded fundraising efforts for the Tree Media Foundation during the Houston Super Bowl Maxim Party silent auction,^[12] successfully raising $100,000.^[13]