Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has opened up about her private love story with husband Asser Malik, revealing intimate details of how they secretly dated during her years at Oxford University. The revelations come from her forthcoming memoir, Finding My Way, set for release on October 21.
An exclusive excerpt published by Vogue provides a rare glimpse into Malala’s personal life, chronicling how she navigated romance, academic pressures, and cultural expectations — all while keeping her relationship hidden from her family and the public eye.
Malala described the start of her relationship as both thrilling and nerve-wracking. “Asser’s arrival vanquished the dark clouds that hung over the prospect of my third term at Oxford, but it wasn’t exactly the carefree summer romance of rom-coms,” she wrote.
Recalling the challenges of maintaining secrecy, she admitted, “I worried a lot about getting caught. I ran behind a hedge to hide, alarming both Asser and my security team.”
One of the memoir’s most talked-about moments involves a date where Malala changed outfits mid-evening to avoid her parents’ disapproval. She first appeared in a traditional shalwar kameez, then later switched to a sleeveless pink dress and heels. “When I returned to the table, Asser sat up straight and his mouth broke into a smile I hadn’t seen before. He whispered, ‘You’re a sex bomb!’” she recalled.
The memoir also explores her parents’ initial opposition to the relationship. Malala shared that her mother objected strongly, saying, “Absolutely not! Does he even speak Pashto? She must marry a Pashtun man!” Despite the tension, Malala refused to give up. “They anticipated a scandal and said I should stop seeing him. I wasn’t going to do that,” she wrote.
Faced with pressure from her family, she briefly suggested they pause their relationship until she completed her studies. Malik’s response — “I’m not sure feelings work that way. But, for you, I’m willing to try” — underscored their deep connection and mutual respect.
Now, nearly four years after their intimate wedding in Birmingham, Malala is offering the public an unfiltered look at the beginning of her relationship and the emotional complexities behind it.
Beyond her love story, Finding My Way delves into her journey of identity, activism, and self-discovery, detailing her growth from a global advocate for girls’ education to a woman redefining her own path. A multi-city book tour is scheduled following the release, where Malala will discuss themes of love, resilience, and empowerment that define her story.
Finding My Way will be available worldwide on October 21, 2025.
