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. She quickly rose to international stardom with the release of her debut album Spirit. With its accessible, smooth R&B sound, the album topped the charts in both the U.K. and the U.S., a rare feat, particularly for such a young artist. Lewis' catchy single, "Bleeding Love," also reached the number one spot on the charts of every major country on the globe, cementing her status as a pop phenomenon. ~ Eric Schneider