Leona Lewis Biography

Leona Lewis, singer

Birthdate: April 3, 1985

Birthplace: London, England

Sign: Aries

Leona Louise Lewis was born to Aural Josiah Lewis and Maria Lewis. She attended the Sylvia Young Theater School when she was five. She also attended the Italia Conti Academy and the BRIT school, wherein she learned guitar and piano.

She wrote her first song when she was just 12 years old. She joined and won talent contests. She wrote, recorded, and produced a number of songs, including "Twilight," her demo album. She entered the U.K. talent show "The X Factor" in 2006 when she was unable to secure a recording contract from label companies.

As a contestant in "The X Factor," Lewis managed to impress the judges - Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh - and the voting audience. She won the show's third season and she received a 1 million pounds or around $1.5 million recording contract to Syco Music, Cowell's record label.

Her debut single "A Moment Like This" broke a world record; it was downloaded over 50,000 times within 30 minutes of its release.

In 2007, she signed a $9.7 million five album contract with Clive Davis' record label, J Records. Her album "Spirit" went out in November and it entered the U.K. Albums Charts straight at number one. It also became U.K.'s fastest selling debut album and the fourth fastest selling album of all time.

"Bleeding Love," her second single, dominated the charts internationally. She won numerous awards for "A Moment Like This" and "Bleeding Love," including BRIT Awards. She was also awarded Billboard 2008 Year End Award's Best New Artist.

Lewis has been a vegetarian since she was 12. She was named PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian in 2008 and Person of the Year. She currently lives with her boyfriend Lou Al-Chamaa in Hackney.

Her next single, "I Will Be," will be released in January 2009. Her second album is scheduled to hit shelves in November.