[Red Moon]

Stardom beckons for Alexandra even if she loses X Factor

WIN or lose in Saturday's X Factor final, Alexandra Burke is on course to become Britain's next big pop star.

The 20-year-old from Islington is favourite to win, but even if she loses to rivals Eoghan Quigg or JLS, industry sources say it is "only a matter of time" before the show's impresario Simon Cowell gets her in the studio working on her debut album.

Senior executives at Sony BMG, the label which signs up the finalists, believe Burke has the potential to be as successful as Leona Lewis, who won the show two years ago and has now sold more albums that any debut artist.

One industry source said: "There's talk of her spending a few months in the US with some of the producers who worked with Leona, but I've heard they may look to have a more 'British' sound for Alexandra in keeping with her mum's background with Soul II Soul."

Alexandra, who sang in the choir of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in Barnsbury, earned a standing ovation from the show's four judges for her rendition of Toni Braxton's Unbreak My Heart in the semi-finals. She will see her "dream come true" by singing with Beyoncé on Saturday. If she wins, Alexandra will release a cover version of the Leonard Cohen song Hallelujah, which could claim the Christmas No 1 slot.

Her 44-year-old mother, ex-Soul II Soul singer Melissa Bell, missed the semi-final because of kidney failure brought on by diabetes, but has vowed to be at the final. She is on the waiting list for a transplant and has three bouts of dialysis each week. Alexandra said: "Mum won't let me donate a kidney. Diabetes has killed every woman in my family - and it is triggered by having kids. If I donate a kidney I couldn't have a baby as I would only have one kidney left to fight the disease."

Alexandra applied for X Factor in 2005 but missed out on the live shows. She vowed not to audition again, but the loss of a family friend changed her mind.

Pauline Harty, who cared for the singer and her siblings while their mother was touring, died of lung cancer in March. She had wanted Alexandra to give the show another shot.

Along with her sister Sheniece, 22, and brothers David Jr, 21, and Aaron, 16, she has made up with her father, David, 50, who walked out on his family when Alexandra was six.

Source: Evening Standard