There's a hot new import in town.
Simon Cowell has officially tapped Cheryl Cole to be the third judge on the U.S. version of his singing competition, "The X Factor." The brunette beauty joins Cowell (whom she worked with on the U.K. version of the show) and record exec Antonio "L.A." Reed.
Check out her photos below:
"I'm thrilled for Cheryl. She is massively excited about this show, and has been fantastic to work with," Cowell said in a statement to Us Weekly. "She is also a complete brat! Most importantly, this girl can spot talent."
There is one remaining spot on the four-judge panel. Mariah Carey, Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul's names have been tossed around, but there have been no confirmations.
Cheryl Cole's rise to fame has mirrored Victoria Beckham's in many ways. Like the former Spice Girl, Cole auditioned for a British girl group and recorded several hits with Girls Aloud before embarking on a solo career. She married (and later divorced) soccer superstar Ashley Cole and has been a staple in both the tabloids and fashion magazines.
Watch Cole's "Fight For This Love" video:
One thing that might not be evident in the video is Cole's thick accent. The 27-year-old hails from Newcastle, a city in Northern England. FOX executives were reportedly worried that U.S. viewers wouldn't be able to understand her when she speaks, so we'll have to wait and see.
"The X Factor" premieres this fall and boasts the "largest guaranteed prize in television history" -- a $5 million contract for the winning artist or group. The name "X Factor" is derived from a term Cowell used regularly on "American Idol" to describe that intangible star quality a performer has.
Will you watch "The X Factor"? Sound of in the comments below.
