‘X Factor’ Champ Leona Lewis Breaks Records With Chart Topping Debut

Fans across the Atlantic crowned singer Leona Lewis the winner of “X Factor,” (Simon Cowell’s British version of “American Idol”) and now fans stateside have anointed the British sensation queen of the American charts.

Leona Lewis’ debut album, “Spirit,” and her hit single, “Bleeding Love” have garnered multiple distinctions for the young singer. This is the first time in music history that a British female artist has debuted at the top of the Billboard Top 200, and also the first time that a British artist has debuted in the top spot with a debut album, according to Billboard.

Leona also has the best-selling debut by a female solo artist since fellow singing reality show champ, Carrie Underwood who dropped her first album in 2005.

The Brit songstress also has the distinction of having the biggest digital album sales for a new artist.

“What Leona has achieved is simply incredible. This is the hardest market to crack and for her debut album to go in at number 1 is unbelievable,” Simon Cowell said in a statement released to Access Hollywood.

Much of Leona’s success is due to, “Bleeding Love,” which has been burning up the charts and slides back into the top spot on the Billboard digital singles chart, racking up over a million downloads.

But will this tremendous success last for Leona? According to one of the industry’s biggest music moguls, Clive Davis, who had a hand in her career – helping guide the chanteuse, alongside Simon Cowell, this is only the start.

“Leona Lewis will not be an overnight sensation. She is the real deal and this is just the beginning of a long and illustrious career,” Davis said.