Alexandra Burke: 'Leona opened doors'

Alexandra Burke has credited Leona Lewis for giving her the opportunity to release music outside the UK.

The 'Broken Heels' singer, who won The X Factor in 2008, admitted that Lewis's global success set the standard for victors on the ITV1 show.

"Leona's opened the doors for people like myself to take the challenge to go away into America and Europe," she told The Sun. "It's great that we've come from the same show."

Burke revealed that she thinks recent winner Joe McElderry stands a good chance of success if he defines his image.

"I think it depends on where he goes," she said. "I love his voice and when he was on The X Factor I could not fault him.

"I see him more like a Michael Bublé kind of act - he can sing those kind of songs. Let's hope that he goes in that direction."

Burke is currently recording new material for the US release of her debut album Overcome.