Leona upbeat after fan attack

Leona Lewis is staying positive after being attacked by a fan.

The ‘Bleeding Love’ singer was left badly bruised after being punched in the face by a mentally imbalanced devotee, who had queued for hours to meet her at a London book signing two weeks ago.

Speaking about the incident for the first time, Leona – who rose to fame after winning the 2006 series of British TV talent show ‘The X Factor’ – said the incident was an unfortunate side effect of her success.

She said: “It could have been worse. I'm still alive.

"It is just something you have to deal with when you have fame - and the positives far outweigh the negatives.

"I don't like to dwell on the negatives. I'm a very positive person."

Following the attack Peter Kowalczyk, 29 – himself a former contestant from ‘The X Factor’ – was detained by Leona’s security team and charged with the assault.

He was then sectioned under the Mental Health Act, and deemed unfit to appear at a hearing at a London court on Monday.

Leona – who cancelled a promotional tour of Germany following the attack - also said she’s not going to go over the top and hire more security to protect her, as she already has enough people “looking out” for her.

Leona also said she believes she would have made it as a singer, even if she hadn’t entered ‘The X Factor’.

She added to Sky News: “I was singing and performing for quite a time, and yes, I think I would have made it.”

Leona will play a homecoming show in her home district of Hackney in London next week.