Music mogul SIMON COWELL has dubbed his protegee LEONA LEWIS a "great role model" for the example she is setting for young people.
The music producer first discovered Lewis when she was a contestant on TV talent contest The X-Factor in 2006, and has since shot to global stardom with her debut single Bleeding Love - which has been number one in more than 20 countries.
Lewis' huge success is reportedly set to earn her millions more than her current GBP4.5 million, five-album deal with Sony BMG, Simon Cowell's Syco Records and Clive Davis' J Records.
Reports now suggest Davis is on the verge of tearing up their old contract and offering the 22-year-old a $100 million record deal to keep her signed to the labels. The deal is expected to cover all her music releases and live shows around the globe.
But Cowell insists she hasn't let the fame and fortune go to her head, saying, "Leona has got her feet firmly on the ground and isn't getting carried away by all of this. She takes nothing for granted.
"She has an incredible future ahead - but I only want her to do it id she's happy and enjoying herself.
"Leona is a great role model for young people on both sides of the Atlantic. She is a lovely person and there is no chance of her going of the rails." (CAM/WNTMI/JC)