Leona Lewis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leona Lewis OBE
Lewis at the 2014 Mercy For Animals charity event, in Los Angeles
Born	Leona Louise Lewis (1985-04-03) 3 April 1985 (age 40) Islington, London, England
Alma mater	BRIT School
Occupation	Singer songwriter actress model activist
Years active	2004–present
Spouse(s)	Dennis Jauch ​ (m. 2019)​
Children	1
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	R&B pop soul
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Syco J RCA Island Def Jam EmuBands
Signature

Leona Louise Lewis OBE (born 3 April 1985) is a British singer, songwriter, actress, and activist. She was born and grew up in Islington, London. Leona later went to the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology. She became famous after winning the third season of the TV talent show The X Factor in 2006. This win earned her a £1 million recording contract with Syco Music.

Her first single, "A Moment Like This", quickly became number one in the UK. It even broke a world record by getting 50,000 digital downloads in just 30 minutes! In 2007, Leona signed a big five-album deal in the United States with Clive Davis's record label, J Records.

Leona's first album, Spirit (2007), was a huge hit. It sold so many copies in the UK that it became one of the best-selling albums ever there. The song "Bleeding Love" from the album was number one for seven weeks. Her second album, Echo (2009), also reached number one in the UK. Leona has sold over 35 million records around the world. She is also known for supporting many good causes, especially animal rights. She is also vegan.

Early Life and Dreams

Leona Louise Lewis was born on 3 April 1985, in Islington, London, England. Her father is from Guyana, and her mother has Welsh, Irish, and Italian family roots. Leona has an older half-brother, Bradley, and a younger brother, Kyle.

Her parents saw how much Leona loved singing. They enrolled her in special schools like the Sylvia Young Theatre School and the BRIT School. They made sacrifices to help her follow her dream of becoming a singer.

Career Journey

2001–2005: Early Challenges

At 17, Leona left BRIT School to start her music career. She began writing and recording her own songs. To pay for studio time, she worked as a receptionist and a waitress. At 18, she got a main role in The Lion King show in Paris. However, she had to leave after hurting her back while ice-skating.

Leona made a demo album called Twilight, but it didn't get her a record deal. She also recorded another demo album, Best Kept Secret. A song from it, "Private Party", became popular in London's underground music scene in 2005. Leona shared that she tried hard to get a record deal on her own. She said that's why she decided to audition for The X Factor.

2006: The X Factor Win

Simon Cowell (pictured) was Leona's mentor on The X Factor.

In 2006, Leona auditioned for the third season of The X Factor. She sang "Over the Rainbow" for the judges, including Simon Cowell. Simon became her mentor. During the show, people compared Leona to famous singers like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.

On 16 December 2006, Leona won the competition. She got 60% of over eight million votes! As her prize, she signed a £1 million recording contract with Simon Cowell's label, Syco Music.

Her winner's song, "A Moment Like This", was released on 17 December 2006. It was downloaded over 50,000 times in less than 30 minutes, setting a world record. The song became the UK's 2006 Christmas number-one single. It stayed at number one for four weeks in the UK and six weeks in Ireland. It was the second best-selling single in the UK in 2006.

2007–2008: Spirit and Global Success

In February 2007, Leona signed a big £5 million deal in the United States with Clive Davis's record label, J Records. She recorded songs for her first album, Spirit, in many cities like London, Miami, and Los Angeles. She worked with famous songwriters and producers.

The album was released in November 2007. It quickly reached number one in the UK and Ireland. It became the fastest-selling first album in both countries. Spirit is one of the best-selling albums in UK history. It's also the best-selling first album by a female artist in the 21st century.

Spirit was released in other countries in 2008. It went to number one in New Zealand, Australia, Germany, and more. When it came out in the US in April 2008, it hit number one on the Billboard 200 chart. This made Leona the first British artist to have a debut album reach number one in the US.

Leona performing at the Clive Davis Pre Grammy Gala in 2009.

Leona's second single, "Bleeding Love", came out in October 2007. It sold over 218,000 copies in its first week in the UK. It was number one for seven weeks in the UK and eight weeks in Ireland. The song also reached number one in many other countries, including the US. "Bleeding Love" won The Record of the Year award in 2007.

Her third single, "Better in Time" and "Footprints in the Sand", was released in March 2008. It helped raise money for Sport Relief. Another song, "Run", became the UK's fastest-selling download-only single.

Leona on stage with Jimmy Page at the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

In August 2008, Leona performed "Whole Lotta Love" with Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin at the 2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony in Beijing. This was part of the handover to London for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Leona was nominated for three Grammy Awards in 2008. She was also nominated for four BRIT Awards. She won two MOBO Awards for Spirit and "Bleeding Love". Billboard magazine named her 'Top New Artist' in December 2008.

2009–2010: Echo and First Tour

Leona's second album, Echo, was released in November 2009. She worked with artists like Justin Timberlake on this album. Leona described it as "more guitar-driven" than Spirit. Echo reached number one in the UK.

The first single from Echo was "Happy", which came out in September 2009. It reached number two in the UK. Leona also sang the theme song for the 2009 film Avatar, called "I See You". This song was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

In January 2010, Leona sang on a cover of "Everybody Hurts". This song helped raise money for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Leona's first big tour, called The Labyrinth, began in May 2010. It supported her albums Spirit and Echo. A DVD of the tour was released in November 2010.

In October 2009, Leona released a book called Dreams. It was mostly pictures taken by photographer Dean Freeman. At a book signing, a man attacked Leona. He was arrested and later received help for his mental health.

2011–2013: New Sounds and Christmas Album

Leona performing a cover of "Locked Out of Heaven" at the Royal Albert Hall, London in May 2013.

Leona started working on her third album, Glassheart, after her Labyrinth tour. It was released in October 2012. Leona said Glassheart would be "energetic, deep, [and] unique". She wanted it to have a darker and more experimental sound.

In September 2011, Leona released the dance-pop song "Collide". It reached number 4 in the UK. The Afrojack remix of "Collide" was even nominated for a Grammy Award. Leona also released an EP called Hurt: The EP in December 2011, which had three cover songs.

In August 2012, Leona announced "Trouble" as the main single from Glassheart. It reached number seven in the UK. The album debuted at number three in the UK. Leona went on a 16-date tour in the UK in April 2013.

In July 2013, Leona shared that her next album would be a Christmas collection. It would have both classic covers and new songs. The album, Christmas, with Love, came out in December 2013. Its main single, "One More Sleep", reached number three in the UK. This made Leona the British female solo artist with the most top five singles ever, with eight! She passed Olivia Newton-John's record.

2014–Present: New Labels and Acting Roles

Leona at the 2014 Life Ball in Vienna.

In June 2014, Leona left Syco Music and signed with Island Records UK. She explained that she felt she was being asked to make music that wasn't true to herself. She decided to leave so she could make music that spoke to her soul.

In April 2015, Leona announced "Fire Under My Feet" as the first single from her fifth album. Her album I Am was released in September 2015. She then went on her third concert tour, the I Am Tour, in 2016. In September 2015, Leona sang "Bleeding Love" as a duet with Taylor Swift at Swift's concert in Nashville.

Leona in 2016.

Leona left Island Records in June 2016. In 2018, she sang with Calum Scott on a new version of his song "You Are the Reason". She also sang with Pitbull on "Amore" for the film Gotti.

During this time, Leona also started acting. She had a supporting role in the 2014 musical film Walking on Sunshine. In July 2016, she made her Broadway debut as Grizabella in the musical Cats. She also had a role in the TV series The Oath in 2019. In 2021, Leona became a judge on the Paramount+ show Queen of The Universe.

In October 2023, Leona voiced "London Lilly" in Snoop Dogg's children's series Doggyland. She also voiced "Glisten" in the animated Christmas film Glisten and the Merry Mission.

Musical Style and Influences

Leona Lewis has a mezzo-soprano voice, which means she can sing a wide range of notes, spanning four octaves. She has had classical training and practices opera singing every week. Music critics have praised her amazing control and power when she sings.

Leona has said her first album, Spirit, had "classic songs with a contemporary edge". It mixed R&B and pop styles, with both slow ballads and upbeat songs. Her second album, Echo, also mixed pop and R&B. For her third album, Glassheart, Leona wanted a more experimental and "different" sound. She said it would be "energetic, deep, [and] unique" and have a darker feel.

Leona says Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey are her biggest influences. She grew up listening to their powerful voices. She also looks up to artists like Sia, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé.

Activism and Charity Work

Leona is a strong supporter of animal rights. In 2008, she turned down a large sum of money to open a Harrods sale. She did this because Harrods sold animal fur, which she is against. She said, "I cannot make music that does not speak to my soul."

In 2013, Leona became a brand activist for The Body Shop and released a makeup line that was not tested on animals. She also supports Little Kids Rock, an organization that helps bring music education back to schools.

In 2016, Leona released a charity single, "(We All Are) Looking for Home". It was made with Diane Warren to support the Vanderpump Dog Foundation and fight against the Yulin Dog Meat Festival. In 2017, she became an ambassador for MTV Staying Alive to help educate young people about HIV/AIDS.

In 2018, Leona designed Christmas jumpers to raise money for Hopefield Animal Sanctuary. In 2019, she opened a vegan cafe in Pasadena called Coffee and Plants. It's plant-based, uses recyclable items, and plants a tree for every 100 cups sold. Proceeds from some items go to Hopefield Animal Sanctuary.

In March 2020, Leona hosted and performed at WE Day in Wembley. This event celebrates students who make a positive impact. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Leona joined other performers for One Humanity Live to raise money for COVID-19 efforts. She also released a cover of "Angels" to honor the NHS. Leona supports the NSPCC and Save the Children to help children.

In June 2021, Leona became the official patron of the Hackney Empire. She will mentor students and host workshops there. In April 2023, Leona released "One Step Closer", the theme song for the Apple TV+ series Jane. The show is inspired by Jane Goodall and focuses on animal activism. Leona also narrated a children's book with King Charles III to encourage kids to save the planet.

Leona was honored with the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2024 for her work in music and charity.

Personal Life

In 2010, Leona started dating Dennis Jauch, a professional dancer. They got married in July 2019 in Italy. Their daughter was born in July 2022.

Leona has been vegetarian since she was 12 and became vegan in September 2012. She was named PETA's Person of the Year in 2008. She supports World Animal Protection and is a patron of the Hopefield Animal Sanctuary.

In 2014, Leona shared that she felt very down when she left her old record label. She said that leaving Simon Cowell's company and practicing meditation helped her feel better. In 2017, Leona shared that she has Hashimoto's disease, a health condition that can cause pain and tiredness.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre Credits

Discography

• Spirit (2007)
• Echo (2009)
• Glassheart (2012)
• Christmas, with Love (2013)
• I Am (2015)

Tours

Co-headlining

• The X Factor Live Tour (2007)

Headlining

• The Labyrinth (2010)
• Glassheart Tour (2013)
• I Am Tour (2016)
• Christmas with Love Tour (2023)

Support act

• All the Hits Live (Very special guest of Gary Barlow) (2021)

Written Works

• Dreams. Hodder & Stoughton. 15 October 2009. ISBN: 0340918993.

See Also

In Spanish: Leona Lewis para niños

• List of artists who reached number one in the United States
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart
• List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
• List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Downloads Chart
• List of awards and nominations received by Leona Lewis