Alexandra Burke signs £3.5 million record deal

Alexandra Burke has signed a £3.5 million record deal in the US.

The 'X-Factor' winner has been snapped up by Epic - an offshoot of Sony - for a five album deal.

The 20-year-old star said: "I would love to crack the US. After seeing Coldplay take away the awards at the Grammys I was so inspired."

The US label signed the London singer following the success of Christmas single 'Hallelujah', and her Stateside launch is being orchestrated by the same team behind singing sensations Rihanna and Beyonce.

Alexandra will meet with music mogul and mentor Simon Cowell next month, to start planning her route to Leona Lewis-style global success.

An insider told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "Epic think Alexandra can follow in Leona's footsteps. The US market loves women with big voices - and Alexandra certainly has that. If she comes close to Leona's success it will be a job well done."

Alexandra - whose debut album is due out in November in the UK, and early next year in the US - is focusing on next week's BRIT Awards and her nomination for Best British Single.

She said: "I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the BRITs. I feel so honoured to be nominated so early on. Everything is happening so fast."