Photo: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/GettyThough openly skeptical of marriage,Malala Yousafzaimet a man who would change her preconceived notions about relationships:Asser Malik.The human rights activistwed Malik in November 2021despite claiming on numerous occasions that she didn’t believe marriage was right for her."‘I do not want to get married … or at least not until I’m 35.’ I heard myself blurt out those words – reactionary, half-consciously – many times over the last few years when asked about relationships," she wrote in apersonal essay.But her opinions changed when she met Malik. “Today marks a precious day in my life. Asser and I tied the knot to be partners for life,” shewrotealongside a series of snaps from the intimate ceremony. “We celebrated a small nikkah ceremony at home in Birmingham with our families.““Please send us your prayers,” she added. “We are excited to walk together for the journey ahead.“In addition to posting a photo of the couplecutting into a “victory cake"post ceremony, Malik also shared some kind words about Yousafzai after their wedding.“In Malala, I found the most supportive friend, a beautiful and kind partner,” hewroteon social media following the wedding. “I’m so excited to spend the rest of our life together.“So, who is Malala Yousafzai’s husband? Here’s everything to know about Asser Malik and his relationship with the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.He works for the Pakistan Cricket BoardAsser Malik InstagramMalik currently works for the Pakistan Cricket Board — the governing body for the sport in Pakistan, which controls and organizes matches for the country’s national team — becoming their High Performance General Manager in May 2020, according to hisLinkedIn profile.Listen tothe latest episodeofour daily podcast PEOPLE Every Dayfor more on Malala Yousafzai and Asser Malik’s wedding news.Before taking the position, Malik was a managing director at a player-management agency, according toESPN.He is also co-founder of the amateur cricket league Last Man Stands in Pakistan. For the past six years, LMS Pakistan has helped give amateur and recreational players sufficient experience and brought the sport to areas where there is a “dearth of cricket infrastructure,” per his LinkedIn profile.In 2018, the team competed in the LMS World Series for the first time. “We will win it for Pakistan,” Maliksaidin a video posted on Facebook in August of that year (Sri Lanka ended up winning the LMS World Series).Yousafzai also shares his love for cricketBoth Malik and Yousafzai have a deep passion for cricket, with Yousafzai giving a shoutout to the sport in herInstagram bio.“Girls' education advocate, @malalafund + @on.assembly co-founder, cricket fan,” it reads.On July 15, 2021, she also acknowledged her love for cricket and how playing sports influenced her life’s work of advocating for women’s rights in anInstagram post.“As a girl, I loved to play cricket with my friends and brothers,” she wrote. “But I noticed that boys would throw a slower ball to me, assuming girls were afraid to hit a fast ball. I always shouted back at them and told them to throw the ball like they would if I were a boy.““Playing sports helped give me the boldness to be competitive and resilient in my fight for girls' education and equality,” she continued.He graduated from college in 2012Malik graduated from Aitchison College in Lahore, Pakistan, and Lahore University of Management Sciences, where he earned a degree in economics and political science in 2012, according to hisLinkedIn profile.Meanwhile, Yousafzaigraduated from Oxford Universityin 2020 with a degree in philosophy, politics and economics.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.He’s a Golden State Warriors fanAsser Malik InstagramMalikposteda photo thanking NBA commissionerAdam Silverfor tickets to his first NBA Finals game in 2022, where he supported the Golden State Warriors. “Dub Nation, we got this,” he captioned the photo, which showed him and Yousafzai wearing Warriors merchandise.The Warriors went on thewin the 2022 NBA Finalsin six games.He’s known Yousafzai for yearsMalala Yousafzai and Asser Malik.Asser Malik InstagramMalik and Yousafzaimetat the University of Oxford in the summer of 2018 while he was visiting friends on campus.In 2019, he posted a series of photos from the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup that included Yousafzai.“Best day at @homeofcricket with Waqar Younis, @aslitareen and @malala,” he wrote alongside onegroup snap, while hecaptioned another shottaken days later, “Rooting for Pakistan.“He changed Yousafzai’s mind on marriageAsser Malik and Malala Yousafzai.Asser Malik TwitterBeforetying the knotwith Malik in November 2021, Yosafazai openly mused about whether marriage would ever be in her future and emphasized that if she ever married, it would not be before her 35th birthday.According to a personal essay written forBritish Vogue, Malik showed Yousafzai how a relationship would coexist with her desire to “remain true to [her] values of equality, fairness and integrity.““I still don’t have all the answers for the challenges facing women — but I believe that I can enjoy friendship, love and equality in marriage,” she wrote.He celebrates Yousafzai’s birthday on social media every yearTwitter/MalikAsserMalik has always been vocal on social media about his feelings for Yousafzai.For her 24th birthday, he shared a snap of the couple posing together in front of some festive birthday decorations, which included a very special cardboard cutout of Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan.“Happy Birthday to the most amazing @Malala,” hetweeted. “@iamsrk had to make a necessary cameo of course.“He doubled down on the praise for her 25th birthday. “You light up every room you enter, and I feel privileged that I get to see that up close,” hewrote.In July 2023, Yousafzai turned 26, and per tradition, Malik penned a sweet note to his wife on Twitter.“Happy Birthday Malala. You don’t need any reminders of how amazing you are. But for what it’s worthyou are the best partnerI could have ever hoped for,” he wrote alongside a photo of the couple.Yousafzai says he’s “not allowed” to shave his beardAsser Malik InstagramIn a new year’s resolutions game posted to Yousafzai’s TikTok in December 2021 , shejokedthat Malik is “not allowed” to shave his beard.“If you shave your beard, just leave the house. I don’t want to see you,” she said while Malik laughed.He supports Yousafzai’s workAsser Malik InstagramAmid deadly clashes between Israel and Palestine — theworst escalation of violencebetween the two countries since 2014 — Yousafzai called on world leaders to help protect human rights in Palestine.“Proud of you,” he wrote on Twitter in May 2021 alongside a video of her passionate plea.In June 2022, he alsoposted a photoof himself and Yousafzai at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway, which curates the work of award holders. “Felt super privileged seeing the amazing recognition of Malala’s activism,” he wrote.Yousafzai executive producedStranger at the Gate— a documentary that follows the true story of a U.S. marine who plans to bomb a small-town American mosque. The 2022 film was later nominated for an Oscar in the Best Documentary Short category.On March 12, 2023, Malik and his wife, who dazzled in a silver Ralph Lauren gown, walked the 95th annualAcademy Awards red carpet.“An incredible day with my incredible wife,” Malik captioned a photo of the couple on his Instagram Story.He and Yousafzai saw theBarbiemovieMalala Yousafzai InstagramIn July 2023, the couple saw theBarbiemovie together — and Yousafzai shared a cheeky post onInstagramafter.“This Barbie has a Nobel Prize 💖 He’s just Ken,” she said, hinting at the movie’s feminist themes. “We loved the movie, it was so funny and thoughtful 😂 I hope this caption doesn’t hurt all the Kens as much as the movie Ken.”
Photo: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty
Though openly skeptical of marriage,Malala Yousafzaimet a man who would change her preconceived notions about relationships:Asser Malik.The human rights activistwed Malik in November 2021despite claiming on numerous occasions that she didn’t believe marriage was right for her."‘I do not want to get married … or at least not until I’m 35.’ I heard myself blurt out those words – reactionary, half-consciously – many times over the last few years when asked about relationships,” she wrote in apersonal essay.But her opinions changed when she met Malik. “Today marks a precious day in my life. Asser and I tied the knot to be partners for life,” shewrotealongside a series of snaps from the intimate ceremony. “We celebrated a small nikkah ceremony at home in Birmingham with our families.““Please send us your prayers,” she added. “We are excited to walk together for the journey ahead.“In addition to posting a photo of the couplecutting into a “victory cake"post ceremony, Malik also shared some kind words about Yousafzai after their wedding.“In Malala, I found the most supportive friend, a beautiful and kind partner,” hewroteon social media following the wedding. “I’m so excited to spend the rest of our life together.“So, who is Malala Yousafzai’s husband? Here’s everything to know about Asser Malik and his relationship with the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.He works for the Pakistan Cricket BoardAsser Malik InstagramMalik currently works for the Pakistan Cricket Board — the governing body for the sport in Pakistan, which controls and organizes matches for the country’s national team — becoming their High Performance General Manager in May 2020, according to hisLinkedIn profile.Listen tothe latest episodeofour daily podcast PEOPLE Every Dayfor more on Malala Yousafzai and Asser Malik’s wedding news.Before taking the position, Malik was a managing director at a player-management agency, according toESPN.He is also co-founder of the amateur cricket league Last Man Stands in Pakistan. For the past six years, LMS Pakistan has helped give amateur and recreational players sufficient experience and brought the sport to areas where there is a “dearth of cricket infrastructure,” per his LinkedIn profile.In 2018, the team competed in the LMS World Series for the first time. “We will win it for Pakistan,” Maliksaidin a video posted on Facebook in August of that year (Sri Lanka ended up winning the LMS World Series).Yousafzai also shares his love for cricketBoth Malik and Yousafzai have a deep passion for cricket, with Yousafzai giving a shoutout to the sport in herInstagram bio.“Girls' education advocate, @malalafund + @on.assembly co-founder, cricket fan,” it reads.On July 15, 2021, she also acknowledged her love for cricket and how playing sports influenced her life’s work of advocating for women’s rights in anInstagram post.“As a girl, I loved to play cricket with my friends and brothers,” she wrote. “But I noticed that boys would throw a slower ball to me, assuming girls were afraid to hit a fast ball. I always shouted back at them and told them to throw the ball like they would if I were a boy.““Playing sports helped give me the boldness to be competitive and resilient in my fight for girls' education and equality,” she continued.He graduated from college in 2012Malik graduated from Aitchison College in Lahore, Pakistan, and Lahore University of Management Sciences, where he earned a degree in economics and political science in 2012, according to hisLinkedIn profile.Meanwhile, Yousafzaigraduated from Oxford Universityin 2020 with a degree in philosophy, politics and economics.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.He’s a Golden State Warriors fanAsser Malik InstagramMalikposteda photo thanking NBA commissionerAdam Silverfor tickets to his first NBA Finals game in 2022, where he supported the Golden State Warriors. “Dub Nation, we got this,” he captioned the photo, which showed him and Yousafzai wearing Warriors merchandise.The Warriors went on thewin the 2022 NBA Finalsin six games.He’s known Yousafzai for yearsMalala Yousafzai and Asser Malik.Asser Malik InstagramMalik and Yousafzaimetat the University of Oxford in the summer of 2018 while he was visiting friends on campus.In 2019, he posted a series of photos from the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup that included Yousafzai.“Best day at @homeofcricket with Waqar Younis, @aslitareen and @malala,” he wrote alongside onegroup snap, while hecaptioned another shottaken days later, “Rooting for Pakistan.“He changed Yousafzai’s mind on marriageAsser Malik and Malala Yousafzai.Asser Malik TwitterBeforetying the knotwith Malik in November 2021, Yosafazai openly mused about whether marriage would ever be in her future and emphasized that if she ever married, it would not be before her 35th birthday.According to a personal essay written forBritish Vogue, Malik showed Yousafzai how a relationship would coexist with her desire to “remain true to [her] values of equality, fairness and integrity.““I still don’t have all the answers for the challenges facing women — but I believe that I can enjoy friendship, love and equality in marriage,” she wrote.He celebrates Yousafzai’s birthday on social media every yearTwitter/MalikAsserMalik has always been vocal on social media about his feelings for Yousafzai.For her 24th birthday, he shared a snap of the couple posing together in front of some festive birthday decorations, which included a very special cardboard cutout of Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan.“Happy Birthday to the most amazing @Malala,” hetweeted. “@iamsrk had to make a necessary cameo of course.“He doubled down on the praise for her 25th birthday. “You light up every room you enter, and I feel privileged that I get to see that up close,” hewrote.In July 2023, Yousafzai turned 26, and per tradition, Malik penned a sweet note to his wife on Twitter.“Happy Birthday Malala. You don’t need any reminders of how amazing you are. But for what it’s worthyou are the best partnerI could have ever hoped for,” he wrote alongside a photo of the couple.Yousafzai says he’s “not allowed” to shave his beardAsser Malik InstagramIn a new year’s resolutions game posted to Yousafzai’s TikTok in December 2021 , shejokedthat Malik is “not allowed” to shave his beard.“If you shave your beard, just leave the house. I don’t want to see you,” she said while Malik laughed.He supports Yousafzai’s workAsser Malik InstagramAmid deadly clashes between Israel and Palestine — theworst escalation of violencebetween the two countries since 2014 — Yousafzai called on world leaders to help protect human rights in Palestine.“Proud of you,” he wrote on Twitter in May 2021 alongside a video of her passionate plea.In June 2022, he alsoposted a photoof himself and Yousafzai at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway, which curates the work of award holders. “Felt super privileged seeing the amazing recognition of Malala’s activism,” he wrote.Yousafzai executive producedStranger at the Gate— a documentary that follows the true story of a U.S. marine who plans to bomb a small-town American mosque. The 2022 film was later nominated for an Oscar in the Best Documentary Short category.On March 12, 2023, Malik and his wife, who dazzled in a silver Ralph Lauren gown, walked the 95th annualAcademy Awards red carpet.“An incredible day with my incredible wife,” Malik captioned a photo of the couple on his Instagram Story.He and Yousafzai saw theBarbiemovieMalala Yousafzai InstagramIn July 2023, the couple saw theBarbiemovie together — and Yousafzai shared a cheeky post onInstagramafter.“This Barbie has a Nobel Prize 💖 He’s just Ken,” she said, hinting at the movie’s feminist themes. “We loved the movie, it was so funny and thoughtful 😂 I hope this caption doesn’t hurt all the Kens as much as the movie Ken.”
Though openly skeptical of marriage,Malala Yousafzaimet a man who would change her preconceived notions about relationships:Asser Malik.The human rights activistwed Malik in November 2021despite claiming on numerous occasions that she didn’t believe marriage was right for her.
“‘I do not want to get married … or at least not until I’m 35.’ I heard myself blurt out those words – reactionary, half-consciously – many times over the last few years when asked about relationships,” she wrote in apersonal essay.
But her opinions changed when she met Malik. “Today marks a precious day in my life. Asser and I tied the knot to be partners for life,” shewrotealongside a series of snaps from the intimate ceremony. “We celebrated a small nikkah ceremony at home in Birmingham with our families.““Please send us your prayers,” she added. “We are excited to walk together for the journey ahead.“In addition to posting a photo of the couplecutting into a “victory cake"post ceremony, Malik also shared some kind words about Yousafzai after their wedding.“In Malala, I found the most supportive friend, a beautiful and kind partner,” hewroteon social media following the wedding. “I’m so excited to spend the rest of our life together.“So, who is Malala Yousafzai’s husband? Here’s everything to know about Asser Malik and his relationship with the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
He works for the Pakistan Cricket Board
Asser Malik Instagram
Malik currently works for the Pakistan Cricket Board — the governing body for the sport in Pakistan, which controls and organizes matches for the country’s national team — becoming their High Performance General Manager in May 2020, according to hisLinkedIn profile.
Listen tothe latest episodeofour daily podcast PEOPLE Every Dayfor more on Malala Yousafzai and Asser Malik’s wedding news.Before taking the position, Malik was a managing director at a player-management agency, according toESPN.He is also co-founder of the amateur cricket league Last Man Stands in Pakistan. For the past six years, LMS Pakistan has helped give amateur and recreational players sufficient experience and brought the sport to areas where there is a “dearth of cricket infrastructure,” per his LinkedIn profile.In 2018, the team competed in the LMS World Series for the first time. “We will win it for Pakistan,” Maliksaidin a video posted on Facebook in August of that year (Sri Lanka ended up winning the LMS World Series).
Yousafzai also shares his love for cricket
Both Malik and Yousafzai have a deep passion for cricket, with Yousafzai giving a shoutout to the sport in herInstagram bio.“Girls' education advocate, @malalafund + @on.assembly co-founder, cricket fan,” it reads.On July 15, 2021, she also acknowledged her love for cricket and how playing sports influenced her life’s work of advocating for women’s rights in anInstagram post.“As a girl, I loved to play cricket with my friends and brothers,” she wrote. “But I noticed that boys would throw a slower ball to me, assuming girls were afraid to hit a fast ball. I always shouted back at them and told them to throw the ball like they would if I were a boy.““Playing sports helped give me the boldness to be competitive and resilient in my fight for girls' education and equality,” she continued.
He graduated from college in 2012
Malik graduated from Aitchison College in Lahore, Pakistan, and Lahore University of Management Sciences, where he earned a degree in economics and political science in 2012, according to hisLinkedIn profile.Meanwhile, Yousafzaigraduated from Oxford Universityin 2020 with a degree in philosophy, politics and economics.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
He’s a Golden State Warriors fan
Malikposteda photo thanking NBA commissionerAdam Silverfor tickets to his first NBA Finals game in 2022, where he supported the Golden State Warriors. “Dub Nation, we got this,” he captioned the photo, which showed him and Yousafzai wearing Warriors merchandise.
The Warriors went on thewin the 2022 NBA Finalsin six games.
He’s known Yousafzai for years
Malala Yousafzai and Asser Malik.Asser Malik Instagram
Malik and Yousafzaimetat the University of Oxford in the summer of 2018 while he was visiting friends on campus.In 2019, he posted a series of photos from the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup that included Yousafzai.“Best day at @homeofcricket with Waqar Younis, @aslitareen and @malala,” he wrote alongside onegroup snap, while hecaptioned another shottaken days later, “Rooting for Pakistan.”
He changed Yousafzai’s mind on marriage
Asser Malik and Malala Yousafzai.Asser Malik Twitter
Beforetying the knotwith Malik in November 2021, Yosafazai openly mused about whether marriage would ever be in her future and emphasized that if she ever married, it would not be before her 35th birthday.
According to a personal essay written forBritish Vogue, Malik showed Yousafzai how a relationship would coexist with her desire to “remain true to [her] values of equality, fairness and integrity.”
“I still don’t have all the answers for the challenges facing women — but I believe that I can enjoy friendship, love and equality in marriage,” she wrote.
He celebrates Yousafzai’s birthday on social media every year
Twitter/MalikAsser
Malik has always been vocal on social media about his feelings for Yousafzai.
For her 24th birthday, he shared a snap of the couple posing together in front of some festive birthday decorations, which included a very special cardboard cutout of Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan.
“Happy Birthday to the most amazing @Malala,” hetweeted. “@iamsrk had to make a necessary cameo of course.”
He doubled down on the praise for her 25th birthday. “You light up every room you enter, and I feel privileged that I get to see that up close,” hewrote.
In July 2023, Yousafzai turned 26, and per tradition, Malik penned a sweet note to his wife on Twitter.
“Happy Birthday Malala. You don’t need any reminders of how amazing you are. But for what it’s worthyou are the best partnerI could have ever hoped for,” he wrote alongside a photo of the couple.
Yousafzai says he’s “not allowed” to shave his beard
In a new year’s resolutions game posted to Yousafzai’s TikTok in December 2021 , shejokedthat Malik is “not allowed” to shave his beard.
“If you shave your beard, just leave the house. I don’t want to see you,” she said while Malik laughed.
He supports Yousafzai’s work
Amid deadly clashes between Israel and Palestine — theworst escalation of violencebetween the two countries since 2014 — Yousafzai called on world leaders to help protect human rights in Palestine.“Proud of you,” he wrote on Twitter in May 2021 alongside a video of her passionate plea.
In June 2022, he alsoposted a photoof himself and Yousafzai at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway, which curates the work of award holders. “Felt super privileged seeing the amazing recognition of Malala’s activism,” he wrote.
Yousafzai executive producedStranger at the Gate— a documentary that follows the true story of a U.S. marine who plans to bomb a small-town American mosque. The 2022 film was later nominated for an Oscar in the Best Documentary Short category.
On March 12, 2023, Malik and his wife, who dazzled in a silver Ralph Lauren gown, walked the 95th annualAcademy Awards red carpet.
“An incredible day with my incredible wife,” Malik captioned a photo of the couple on his Instagram Story.
He and Yousafzai saw theBarbiemovie
Malala Yousafzai Instagram
In July 2023, the couple saw theBarbiemovie together — and Yousafzai shared a cheeky post onInstagramafter.
“This Barbie has a Nobel Prize 💖 He’s just Ken,” she said, hinting at the movie’s feminist themes. “We loved the movie, it was so funny and thoughtful 😂 I hope this caption doesn’t hurt all the Kens as much as the movie Ken.”
source: people.com
