Simon Cowell's Secret Plan to Launch X Factor Winner  12/18/06

Music mogul Simon Cowell is reportedly paving the way for The X Factor winner Leona Lewis to break America, having sealed a string of high-profile TV appearances for the British unknown.

Cowell is determined to help Lewis, who won the British TV talent contest last night (16DEC06), rocket to the top of the US charts - and he has met with American entertainment bosses to put together a $1 million promotional campaign for the 21-year-old singer.

Lewis will reportedly appear on US TV talent show American Idol, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and Ellen in a bid to wow American audiences.

A source tells Scottish newspaper the Sunday Mail, "He sees her as being on a par with past winners of American Idol which, coming from him, is praise indeed.

"Plans to launch Leona were under way long before last night's final - it is being run like a military operation."