Malala Yousafzai’s “Free” Marriage Advice Sparks Debate—And Not Just About Age Gaps
Let’s be real for a second—when Malala Yousafzai starts dishing out relationship advice, you expect something along the lines of “read more books” or “fight for global education before breakfast.” So when she casually dropped some *free* marital wisdom during a TikTok voiceover about her husband Asser Malik and their Dublin getaway, it was equal parts charming and slightly baffling. Because sure, why not take life lessons from someone who once told British Vogue that marriage felt like an unnecessary paperwork hoop?
Introducing myself—I’m Avery Sinclair, your go-to cynic for all things celebrity, culture, and questionable life choices. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this business, it’s that no one gives advice without a little self-serving bias. And Malala, despite being a Nobel laureate with more integrity than most politicians, is still human. She just also happens to be married to a 31-year-old cricket executive while she’s 28. That’s right, folks—a whole three years younger. Groundbreaking.
In case you missed it, Malala recently posted a TikTok (August 20, if you’re keeping score) where she mused on the perks of marrying up—or at least, slightly older. “Here’s some free relationship advice,” she quipped. “If you marry someone slightly older, like I did, you will suddenly be at legendary rock concerts—and I will admit, Oasis in Dublin ended up being a show I loved as much as Asser.”
Oh, how romantic. Nothing says eternal love like begrudgingly admitting you enjoyed a concert because your husband dragged you there. But hey, at least they found common ground between her library tours and his musical nostalgia. The couple also hiked by the ocean, wandered through Trinity College’s library (which, honestly, sounds more like a bookish date than a vacation), and declared Ireland so lovely they were already planning another trip. Cue the heart emojis.
Now, let’s rewind a bit. Before the nikkah ceremony in Birmingham back in November 2021, Malala wasn’t exactly rushing down the aisle. In fact, she told *British Vogue* earlier that year that she didn’t see the point of marriage. “Why do you have to sign marriage papers? Why can’t it just be a partnership?” she asked, echoing sentiments many millennials have whispered into the void. Her mother, bless her, apparently had zero patience for that nonsense. “Don’t you dare say anything like that! You have to get married, marriage is beautiful,” Malala recalled her mom saying.
So what changed? According to Malala, watching friends settle into committed relationships made her rethink her stance. “Even until my second year of university, I just thought, ‘I’m never going to get married, never going to have kids—just going to do my work,’” she shared. “I’m going to be happy and live with my family forever.” Well, that escalated quickly.
Of course, Malala isn’t the only high-profile woman navigating a relationship with a smaller age gap. Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor famously ignored critics despite a 32-year difference. Heidi Klum, meanwhile, shrugged off questions about her 16-year gap with Tom Kaulitz, telling *InStyle*, “You have to just live a happy life without worrying too much about what people think.” Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas also drew attention for their 10-year gap, though their marriage has since ended.
But here’s the thing—Malala’s brand of advice doesn’t come with a manual or a warning label. It’s just… there. Like a TED Talk delivered over brunch. And while we’re all for couples finding joy in their differences, maybe next time she could give us something a little more actionable than “go to a concert you wouldn’t normally attend.”
Still, credit where it’s due: she actually followed through on her own advice. And if nothing else, we now know that Nobel Prize winners are just as confused by love as the rest of us. Which, frankly, is oddly comforting.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, British Vogue, Instagram, TikTok
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