Liam Payne proudly smiles in unseen picture taken just weeks before tragic death

Liam Payne is a picture of happiness in a previously unseen snap, believed to have been taken just weeks before his death. The musician tragically died aged just 31 in October 2024. He had been holidaying in Buenos Aires, Argentina, when he fell from the balcony of his third-floor hotel.

Emergency services said at the time that Liam's injuries had been incompatible with life. "There was no possibility of resuscitation," they said. In the weeks leading up to his death, Liam had been working on Netflix's Building The Band, which saw the former One Direction singer in his element.

It was on Building The Band that Liam reunited with former X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger, who was the mastermind behind the creation of the chart-mauling group that brought him fame. Despite being rejected as a solo artist, Scherzinger, who found fame in the Pussycat Dolls, decided that Liam, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik would work as a boyband, and created One Direction.

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Now, the 47-year-old has taken to social media to share a snap of herself alongside Liam and fellow coach, Destiny's Child icon, Kelly Rowland, taken backstage while filming the Netflix show. The trio from three of the world's biggest bands were all smiling as they were seen posing in the wings of the production stage.

Liam looked dapper in a blue suit and black shirt, finishing his look with a pair of brown shoes as he flashed his famous grin at the camera. Meanwhile, Nicole looked sensational in a tight-fitting PVC corset dress, accentuating her gym-honed physique, while her signature jet black hair was swept into a wet look, cascading down her back.

Kelly, 44, exuded glamour in a red PVC suit-style dress, cinching in at her waist, while she completed her look with a pair of gold hooped earrings, wearing her blonde hair in a striking bob. Nicole simply captioned her post with a white heart emoji, placed above Liam.

Nicole previously revealed that despite working with Liam in the past, the pair became close while on Building The Band. She told People magazine: "Liam is such a kind and beautiful heart, and selfishly I'm glad that I got to spend my time with him.

"I'm really happy that the world gets to see another one of his gifts, which is helping these blossoming artists, these bands. He was amazing. I was really impressed with him. He was just so giving and generous, even when the cameras weren't rolling, spending time with all the fans and singing to them. It was lovely to watch him in his element."

She said in another interview that Liam was in his element on the programme, as he had always expressed his desire to help upcoming artists navigate the industry, based on his own experience. "I saw the joy it brought to Liam. I felt that this was his happy place. Like myself, AJ [McLean] and Kelly, we've lived this. We've learned it," she said.

Continuing to Billboard, Nicole said: "I know how proud he was of this show, and I know the joy that he got from doing this show. I feel like we are honouring him with this show, and that is such a beautiful thing. I’m so excited for people to see him in his highest light, giving back."

Following Liam's death, his heartbroken family gave production their blessing to air the show. However, his sister Ruth admitted she was torn about discussing the show online. She said she was "heartbroken" that her little brother would never see how "brilliant" he is on the show. Ruth shared on her Instagram Stories: "I didn't know whether to share this, but it felt odd when I've raved about Liam's work and achievements for the past 15 years.

"I'm heartbroken he never got the chance to see how brilliant he is in this show. He knew he had done a good job, we all told him this when we were at filming, but watching it back, wow!" She went on to add: "You're a star Liam, you always were and always will be. There are a range of emotions I felt watching this, but one of the main ones is immeasurable pride, always. Miss you more every day."

The Payne family have also given their blessing for the show to air. A source said: "Netflix have gone out of their way to make sure his family are happy." They concluded by saying: "Producers sent them the footage so they are fully aware of what to expect and they have given it their blessing."

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