The Comet’s very own Idolholic, an industry insider who chooses to remain anonymous, strikes again and correctly predicts the first ever “X Factor” winner – Melanie Amaro!

The votes are in and The Idolholic (and I’m sure many others) correctly predicted that Melanie Amaro would win the first season of X Factor in the U.S. Now the action shifts to the X Factory as her mentor Simon Cowell and his Sony Music colleagues, L.A. Reid and others, set about the task of turning this vocally-charged young woman into a global superstar.

Let’s not forget that Simon at first passed over Melanie for the Top 12, quickly realized the error of his ways and…because it is his show after all, was accorded a “do over.” Talk about a Cinderella story if there ever was one.

It was pretty obvious from the outset that Melanie had one of the best voices, but she seemed to be holding back personally. We later discovered that she was masking her true island identity and accent, thinking that was what she needed to be to move forward in the competition.

So now that she has won it all, does she really have the illusive “X” factor the show claims to be seeking? Or can it be manufactured from the raw talent she possesses? She is not a musician, songwriter or dancer, like some of the other finalists. That said, she is in good company among vocalists she would ostensibly emulate. Will she finally be the one to pick up the Whitney, Mariah, Celine mantle and become a multicultural diva for a new generation?

With the type of backing and brand sponsorship support she has behind her, she certainly has an advantage few others will ever experience. I really wanted her to win, so I wish her – and the music industry – the best. Only time will tell if it all pays off.