X Factor Star Lands US Album Deal  2/9/07

The winner of British TV talent contest The X Factor has landed a $9.7 million record deal in the US after wowing the man who discovered Whitney Houston.

Leona Lewis, who is managed by music mogul Simon Cowell, has signed a five-album contract with Justin Timberlake's mentor Clive Davis after emerging victorious from the reality show last year (06).

She wowed music industry insiders at a showcase on Wednesday (07FEB07) at the Beverley Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

A thrilled Lewis says, "I am just overwhelmed. I can't believe everything has happened so fast, from winning the X Factor to coming to LA.

Lewis claimed the coveted Christmas number one slot last year (06) in the UK singles chart, with 100,000 copies of A Moment Like This downloaded in just two days.