Leona Louise Lewis (born 3 April 1985) is a Britishsinger-songwriter. Lewis first came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor. A multi-platinum selling artist and three time Grammy Award nominee, her most successful single, “Bleeding Love”, reached number one in over thirty countries around the world. She was proclaimed ‘Top New Artist’ by Billboard magazine in 2008. Lewis has released two albums to date, Spirit and Echo, in 2007 and 2009 respectively. Spirit became the fastest-selling debut album and the biggest seller of 2007 in both the United Kingdom and Ireland, and made Lewis the first British solo artist to top the Billboard 200 with a debut album. It has sold 7.2 million copies worldwide.[3] Lewis has currently sold over 9 million albums worldwide. In November 2008 she set a record in the UK for the fastest selling download-only release with her cover version of the Snow Patrol song “Run” which sold 69,244 copies in two days.[4] Lewis’s debut tour, The Labyrinth, took place in 2010. Lewis’s third album, Glassheart, will be released in early 2012, and was preceded by “Collide”, which became her seventh top five hit in the United Kingdom.
Leona Lewis Pictures
Auditioned for “The X Factor” (2004) in London, where she sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. All the judges were impressed and put her through.
Made music history when her debut single was downloaded 50,000 times in just 30 minutes.
Her debut single “A Moment like This” became the 2006 UK Christmas number-one single (December 2006).
First female and first mixed-race winner of “The X Factor” (2004).
Won “The X Factor” (2004) in 2006. The runner-up was Ray Quinn.
Born to Aural Josiah Lewis, a Guyanese Afro-Carribean youth worker, and his wife Marie Lewis, a social worker. Her parents shared the same surname before marrying.
Worked as a receptionist and as a waitress for Pizza Hut.
Is a vegetarian.
Plays the guitar and piano.
Owns a Rottweiler named Rome.
Lives in Hackney with her longtime companion Lou Al-Chamaa, an electrician.
Has two brothers, Bradley and Kyle.
Was a classmate of Katie Melua at the BRIT School.
Performed a revamped version of “Whole Lotta Love” with Jimmy Page at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Performed signature song “Bleeding Love” at Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday concert in London’s Hyde Park. [June 2008]
First Brit to top the US charts with her debut album, “Spirit”.
Was in a relationship with electrician Lou Al-Chamaa (2001-June 2010).
Is in a relationship with dancer Dennis Jauch (August 2010).
