Leona Lewis

A striking young woman with a strong vocal resemblance to the young Whitney Houston and a large mop of blonde corkscrew curls, Leona Lewis won the third series of the British reality talent show The X Factor in a landslide.

(For non-Brits: The X Factor is the revamped follow-up to the original U.K.

talent search, Pop Idol, of which American Idol is the massively successful U.S.

version; AI's Simon Cowell is the show's lead judge and executive producer.) Born and raised in the Islington section of north London, Lewis won a talent show at the age of 13 and devoted herself to music thereafter, eventually graduating from the prestigious BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology.

While working as a receptionist and pizza waitress and writing her own material, Lewis auditioned for The X Factor in the summer of 2006 and won the third series competition in December of that year.

Lewis' debut single, a soulful cover of Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This" (Clarkson's own debut American Idol showcase single), was the number one single in the U.K.

at the turn of the year, including the coveted "Christmas number one." Along with her TV-driven U.K.

success, Lewis signed an American recording deal with Clive Davis' J Records in February 2007.

By the end of the year, she had launched her debut album, Spirit, in England, and watched it go to the top of the charts (along with the single "Bleeding Love").

The American release followed in 2008, and with similar success; it reached the top of the Billboard 200 and received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Album.

Echo, Lewis' follow-up, was issued in 2009, featuring collaborations with Ryan Tedder, Xenomania, and Timbaland.

~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide

Leona Lewis has continued her domination of America by signing a deal to front a campaign for cotton goods firm The Fabric Of Our Lives, which is one of the biggest commercials in the US.

(BANG) -

Leona Lewis has continued her domination of the US by signing a deal to front a famous advertising campaign.

The 'Happy' singer has become a huge hit in America since releasing her debut album 'Spirit' Stateside in 2008 and has now become the first British star to appear in the commercials for cotton goods firm The Fabric Of Our Lives.

As well as fronting the campaign, Leona will record the firm's theme song with the words: "The touch/ The feel of cotton/ The fabric of our lives."

Many American celebrities have starred in the adverts since they first appeared on US TV screens in 1989, with the first being folk singer Richie Havens.

Leona's involvement is further proof of how big a star she is in America and just how the public there have taken her to their hearts.

Despite her phenomenal success, 24-year-old Leona - who divides her time between her homes in Los Angeles and London - recently admitted she still gets overwhelmed when she meets other famous people.

She said: "I was star-struck when I met Samuel L. Jackson and Daniel Day-Lewis at the Golden Globes. I was excited when I met Nelson Mandela, too. I performed at his birthday in 2008. I was really honoured."

Leona Lewis doesn't like being called a pop star because she considers herself an entertainer.

(BANG) -

Leona Lewis is not a pop star.

The 'Bleeding Love' hitmaker - who shot to fame after winning UK TV talent show 'The X Factor' in 2006 - hates the tag as she believes it takes the focus away from her profession.

She said: "I don't really call myself a pop star. But, yeah, I enjoy doing my music, being able to travel and do my shows. I'd call myself an entertainer."

The 24-year-old singer is one of the few UK artists to have had massive success in the US in recent years and has warned anyone who wants to follow in her footsteps their shortcomings will be unmasked if they fail to work hard.

When asked for advice on finding Stateside success, she said: "Just to try to make the best music you can. You've got to make great music and work hard. You can't fake it over there. You have to be genuinely good and go for it."

Strict vegetarian Leona Lewis is dismayed by the popularity of fur and hates it when young singers wear clothes made from animal pelts.

(BANG) -

Leona Lewis says people who wear fur make her "sick".

The vegetarian singer - who is a public supporter of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) - thinks it is disgusting the way the fashion and music worlds still embrace clothing made from animal pelts and the apparent resurgence in the popularity of fur.

Leona - who doesn't wear suede, leather or other animal products - said: "I think animals are treated very poorly. When I see people wearing fur it makes me so sick. Especially when I see young singers doing it - that sickens me. When I rocked up to my first photo shoot they had feathers and fur there and everything In despise. I had to make it so clear that I just do not go there."

Leona, 24, is also angry at the way young women are made to feel as though they should constantly be dieting and should look a certain way.

The pop beauty - who shot to fame after winning Simon Cowell's UK TV talent show 'The X Factor' in 2006 - added to Live magazine: "There is definitely pressure to be a stick insect. Generally, in life, there is. All the magazines have tiny stick insects on their covers. But no one has ever said that to me. Everyone says I've lost weight but I don't see it. It's just eating healthily."