MONDAY'S "YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!" R&B FABNESS!

I feel happy, exhilarated, on top of the world. Leona winning the X-factor on Saturday just did it for me. Her rendition of A Moment Like This was spectacular. Anyone would think I were related to the girl the way I was screaming with joy at the TV, but you know, my reaction was all down to the fact that a breakthrough was achieved that night. Kind of like Halle Berry winning an Oscar because it's well registered over here that black folks don't win reality shows in the UK. And here, we have a pretty mixed raced black girl from London's Hackney who has been fighting half her life to get into showbiz without prevail. Then she finally gives black folks hope that future ethnic minorities can win instead of having to settle for second and third against their white counterparts (Andy Abraham, Lemar, etc). And I'm not saying a black person will win a reality show tomorrow or next week but Leona's victory has most certainly opened doors for coloured folks. And speaking of a reality talent show contender who once competed with the song A Moment Like This, check the oddest of oddball images right here:

Justin Gaurini has a new image which is enough to make anyone say WTF?!? Dude is straight up looking like nerdy Jim Carey but fret not, I am told this weirdo look is for a new movie role so his curly hair has been hidden under the guise of a dodgy wig. He looks mad cute in the middle picture which is his current look after ditching the fro he once sported during his American Idol days. I say thank goodness!

The 2006 Z100 Jingle Ball saw a host of R&B celebrities perform over the weekend. You saw the pictures I posted of Rihanna looking lush as she performed as well as her backstage pictures. Well, here is more from the latest action:

Ciara, Nicole Scherzinger (and the other Pussy Cat Dolls), Brooke Hogan and Nelly Furtado all made their presence felt at the event as did:

Rihanna, Chris Brown and Jojo. Brooke even brought her wrestler father Hulk Hogan along for the ride.

But the usually immaculate Nicole Scherzinger from the Pussy Cat Dolls was looking like she appeared from a drag queen contest with the dodgy fringe and hair and disastrous make-up. I don't know what is going on with her face but she use to be so pretty. Not so much in these pics. An image best preserved for someone like Rupaul but even then, Rupaul mostly has his ish together. And if I see her wearing that annoying black all-in-one at another performance (she has rocked it at every UK venue during their UK tour), I think I am just going to gauge my eyes out.

And when Ciara performed and her weave defied gravity, we got a snap of that hairline or lack of. What the HELL is going on with her edges? Soon, she'll be giving Brandy a run for the receding hairline award. And speaking of Awards...

It's nice to know that since Jennifer Hudson has been given rave reviews and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress, she is FINALLY getting some posters (thanks Fabizzle).

Niiiice. And you would have to admit, since she really is the star of the movie then most would agree that these posters were long overdue. But I still don't see her getting any mainstream covers or at least not as much as Beyonce who is in the latest issue of In Style. I posted some preview shots last week and here are the rest of the scans in bigger and better quality:

[CLICK ON IMAGE FOR BIGGER VIEW]

Just jaw-dropping gawjus! Still, despite everything, it's easy to see why she's a favourite amongst these mainstream magazines. Now Leona is also onto a winner as of late.

Leona and her friends and family must be nursing a hang-over after Saturday night's victorious spectacle. I know she's been drinking lots of champagne just thinking about that 1 million recording contact and how she's going to spend spend spend! Leona has done it people! Leona has won the X-Factor and made history. Not only is she the FIRST black woman/person to win the X-factor but she is the first female to win the X-Factor period, as well as the first black contestant to win a reality show in the United Kingdom really showing the true spirits of a kingdom that really has united. Leona's first single A Moment Like This has already sold over a staggering 1 million in pre-orders. Her single was available for download on Saturday and it is the fastest download in history with her single receiving over 20,000 downloads in just 5 minutes. Her first single is a Kelly Clarkson cover. Kelly is another reality show contestant who was the first winner of American Idol, for those who aren't familiar with the US version. Leona is a dead-cert to have the Christmas no1 when her single gets released on Wednesday morning which I downloaded but will also buy just out of support (I already have Kelly Clarkson's version because I bought Kelly's first album).

Leona was on GMTV this morning and she said she is going to America to do some songs. Simon says that he received a phone call involving J Records wanting to sign her up (don't go there Leona, we know Jennifer Hudson has signed up with them recently and another American Idol contestant who actually won - Ruben Studdard - is also with J Records and whilst their calibre of artists look good, truth be told, the only artist Clive goes all out for is Alicia Keys). Clive Davies rang Simon to say that he is eager to work with Leona and that she is definitely a cross between Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston and he is definitely interested in working with her. Simon says that he has received dozens of phone calls from America about Leona and that she is destined to become an international superstar. They will also be taking their time with the album and Simon has drafted in some of the best writers and producers. He says he has been sent in some amazing songs for Leona's album that are world-class and destined to be international hits. I can't wait for the album and think she should take her time with it, and I am glad at Leona saying the material on her album will be original and not have cheesy covers like last years winner Shayne Ward. Leona will also be co-writing her album. She will also be going to New York to negotiate something with J Records boss Clive Davis, although she is expected to sign up with SonyBMG. I downloaded Shayne's album last year and it was a very nice album with lots of R&B covers but it would've been refreshing to have lots of freshly written and produced music as well which is what Leona intends on giving us.

But yes, of course I am ecstatic. I have been rooting for this girl from the beginning of time posting her performances each week on my blog. We don't have singers like Leona. In the US, there's Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion, but who do we have? Nobody. At least not on that calibre anyway. So, you can check out her performance of the winners single in the next blog entry below showing exactly why she was rightfully crowned the X-Factor winner of 2006.