Leona Lewis (Getty Images)
At her album launch she wowed the crowd in an expensive frock, big hair and flawless make-up. But today, as we meet her in London’s posh members’ club, The Hospital, a fresh-faced Leona Lewis, clad in casual jeans and imitation Ugg boots, is more girl-next-door than show-stopping diva. ‘I don’t really feel like a celebrity. Sometimes I do a bit when people come up to me and recognise me. But fame hasn’t changed me. I’ve always been the same person.’
The singer has been out of the limelight since winning TV’s X Factor last December – ‘I’ve been locked in a recording studio for a year!’ – but with a high-profile launch campaign and backing from Simon Cowell, Leona is being touted as the Next Big Thing. Sounds like the pressure is on.. ‘It is nerve-wracking, but I try not to let it get to me,’ she says. ‘Otherwise I’d be pulling my hair out every two seconds.’
Since winning the show, the London lass has spent time in America perfecting her album, Spirit, which is out next week, and says she’s definitely got a taste for the California lifestyle. ‘There are a lot of good things about LA – it’s sunny and there are beaches. I was in Santa Monica and when I wasn’t in the studio I used to go to the beach. They’re quite health-conscious over there too, so I filled up on smoothies, which was great. But here I know people, I know where to go out and there’s a town centre. I’d like to be able to spend a bit of time here and a bit there, like Simon Cowell does – maybe I could stay at Simon’s house…’
Could she have fallen for TV’s Mr Nasty? ‘He’s really charming in real life. He’s a real gentleman and really supportive – he’s very popular with the ladies,’ she says. Although she is then quick to add, ‘I didn’t fancy him, he’s old enough to be my dad! But a lot of my friends who met him thought he was so lovely.’
In fact, Leona’s heart lies firmly with her electrician boyfriend of five years, Lou Al-Chamaa, who she has known since she was nine. The pair grew up on the same street, and got together when Leona was 17.
‘Everything’s great with my boyfriend. We’ve been together for a long time. But we’ve always worked on our careers. It’s just now I’m a bit more high-profile and people know me.’
Many boyfriends would find the thought of their girlfriend jetting off to meet endless industry movers and shakers difficult to deal with, but Leona insists that’s not the case for her and Lou.
‘There’s no jealousy. In any career you’re going to meet new people, but we’ve got a strong bond and that’s all that matters.’
Leona is definitely not interested in following the celebrity trend for a fairy tale marriage, swiftly followed by mini-mes. ‘It’s too early to talk about settling down, at the moment we’re just taking things day by day, being happy and enjoying the moment.’
While she insists it’s all about the music, it would seem her management have other ideas. As well as the super-posh album launch and high-fashion photo shoots, there was the wildly extravagant video shoot for her single Bleeding Love, in which Leona donned a £100,000 crystal-encrusted Dolce & Gabbana dress and was joined by an entourage of 150 people on set – including five stylists flown out from the UK.
Surely backstage demands for white lillies and a bowl of M&Ms with all the brown ones removed can’t be far off?
‘I don’t want to become a diva, with a big entourage. I only need the people who are there to help and support me, the people who I trust. Although if I could have all my friends and family with me all the time that would be cool. But fame won’t change me, it’s just the dresses might be a bit more glamorous.’
Despite signing a £5 million, five-album deal with Sony BMG, Leona has yet to go crazy with the cash. ‘I don’t own my own home,’ she confesses. Although she has treated herself to a new Mini.
Aside from the money, there are other up-sides to being a rising star. ‘I met Kanye West in a studio in LA. He was lovely, so I was quite starstruck. He’s a really great performer and someone you can draw experience from. You never know, we could do a collaboration…’
Well, yes, especially now she’s becoming as well known across The Pond as she is here. ‘People started recognising me when I was in the US, which was incredible. I’ve had people asking for my autograph, which is really flattering. Over here I’ve had paparazzi taking my picture. It’s weird that people want to take my picture, but it’s cool. As long as I don’t look dodgy. I have to make sure I look good all the time now.’
And she also has to make sure she develops a thick skin…
‘Some people may say I need to toughen up, but I’m not going to do that because that would change who I am and I am an emotional person.
When peope say negative things about me or my family that really upsets me. I’m quite a sensitive person – basically, I cry easily – but that comes with what I’m doing and the good points of being a pop star far outweigh the bad.’
Such as being admired by the likes of Take That and the big-wigs at her record company. Although it was reported that British singer Jamelia was slightly less enamoured with the star, allegedly calling her ‘the poor man’s Mariah Carey’.
‘I don’t know if she did say it,’ says Leona. ‘If she did, it’s a shame, because the feeling’s not mutual. I think she’s great. It’s quite hurtful to hear that. As female artists we shouldn’t be bitching about each other, we should be supporting each other.’
And Leona is nothing but supportive of her fellow female pop stars, particularly Amy Winehouse, who Leona was at the BRIT stage school with. ‘There are so many great young female artists – Kate Nash, Katie Melua, KT Tunstall.
Amy Winehouse is a great performer and I know she’s been through some difficult times, but people should focus on her music instead.’
Not that Leona is worried about following a similar path to the troubled singer, who has battled drink and drug demons, reportedly suffering a drug overdose earlier this year.
‘Right now I’m so busy in the studio I don’t think I’m going to be drawn into that rock and roll lifestyle like Amy, it’s not me. In this industry you can fall into that more easily, but it’s just about keeping your head screwed on.’
Which, so far, Leona seems to be doing. Aside from Will Young, previous Pop Idol and X Factor winners have tended to fade into obscurity after the show finishes (Steve Brookstein anyone?) But Leona is determined to succeed. ‘I knew I wanted to take longer to do the album, get the greatest songs and really represent me – and that’s what I did. Anyone can do it, you just have to be dedicated and hard-working. If it doesn’t work, you just have to try and try again.’ Sounds like this girl could be sticking around for a while…
Leona on…
plastic surgery:
‘I think if people want plastic surgery then it’s their choice, whatever floats your boat. Personally, I’m happy with the way I am at the moment. If I wasn’t I guess I’d think about it, but I don’t think I’d have anything done.’
staying in shape:
‘I try and work-out whenever I can and I eat healthily. I’m a vegetarian so that helps as there are not too many options to eat a lot of crap. But there’s nothing wrong with having something bad to eat once in a while, as long as it’s not all the time.’
Leona’s album, Spirit, is out on 5 November
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