Leona finds status a struggle

8:27pm Friday 4th April 2008

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X Factor winner Leona Lewis said that she still finds it difficult to grasp that she is seen as a world star after becoming the first British female solo artist to top the US pop chart in 21 years.

The former receptionist and Brit School student, who turned 23 on Thursday, landed the Billboard Hot 100 chart Number One with her ballad Bleeding Love last week.

On Friday, she told ABC's Good Morning America that the experience had been "incredible" and added: "I'm still trying to get my head around it."

Asked what it was like to be a world star, Lewis said: "I can't really grasp it.

"It's amazing. I'm just so thankful for this opportunity to come here and to be able to sing in different places all around the world.

"The reception's been amazing, people have been really great."

She said most of the album was recorded in the US and she said she decided to take her time after winning X Factor before releasing any songs.

"I've been in the studio a lot, doing a lot of demos," she said.

"It takes a long time to make a full body of work, something that can represent me and that I can be proud of.

"I know that that needed time."