Leona Lewis (GB)

About

Also known as: Leana Lewis

Few X Factor winners have matched what Leona Lewis pulled off after her 2006 victory. Her winner's single, a cover of Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This", broke a world record by hitting 50,000 digital downloads in just 30 minutes, then sat at number one on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks. Her debut album Spirit went 10x platinum in the UK and became the fourth best selling album of the entire 2000s. The lead single "Bleeding Love" spent seven weeks at the top of the UK chart and was Britain's best selling single of 2007. Leona's range and ambition have kept her from standing still. Her third album Glassheart pulled from dubstep and electronic music, showing a willingness to push beyond her pop soul roots. She has also moved into acting, making her Broadway debut as Grizabella in Cats and appearing in the TV series The Oath. With over 35 million records sold worldwide, she holds the record as the first British female solo artist to reach the top five with eight singles, breaking Olivia Newton John's long standing record.