CRYING into the camera, lost for words and gasping for air, she looked like any other stunned hopeful after winning the Chinese version of X Factor.

But this contestant was not your typical winner. This one had already enjoyed huge chart success, fame — and even a stint as a talent show JUDGE.

14 Jessie J's victory on the Chinese version of X Factor could be her last attempt at storming the charts and fame

Just six years ago Jessie J was the marque signing of the Beeb’s new big-budget singing competition The Voice, taking her place alongside music royalty Sir Tom Jones and super producer Will.i.am one of the coaches.

At that time the Londoner, whose real name is Jessica Ellen Cornish, was the most talked about pop star in Britain, with her early hits Do It Like A Dude and Price Tag becoming teen anthems.

So what was Adele’s old Brit School buddy — who once compared her own singing voice to Beyonce and Aretha Franklin — doing apparently slumming it on the other side of the world?

Talking of being asked to compete on the Chinese talent show Singer, Jessie, 30, explained: “I feel so grateful that I was given the opportunity to spark some kind of gap between the two cultures. I feel like China, to me, is another home now.”

14 Jessie J was the first ever international contestant on Chinese talent show called Singer - and she won it

And after her victory at the weekend, she declared: “This show has changed my life and made me a better person and a better performer.”

It has certainly made her a more relevant performer again, albeit more than 5,000 miles away from the country that first embraced her — and where the rising star once had a 2010 Bizarre session.

But tapping into the Chinese market could be a canny move and a financially rewarding one. Showbiz experts reckon Jessie now stands to rake in around £20MILLION.

Singer is huge in China. The show is designed to give artists with some experience of the music industry another shot at fame. And the winner’s prize is mega exposure to a massive potential market.

14 Jessie J burst into tears and was lost for words after becoming the reality show's champion Credit: Instagram

Jessie certainly made the most of her chance, progressing over eight weeks into Sunday’s final — watched by more than a billion viewers.

A source close to the singer said: “Jessie was entered just to remind people what she could do.

“Also, in China they’re only bothered about her voice, not by what she’s wearing or who she’s dating.

“But there was also a huge financial factor which can’t be ignored.”

14

14 Jessie J saw brief success in the US after realising her collaboration Bang Bang with Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj Credit: Getty - Contributor

Critics argue that the Asian market could be a last throw of the dice for Jessie, who is widely seen to have hacked off audiences in the West.

They point to her once breathtaking arrogance and diva-like demands.

Towards the latter end of her time on The Voice her backstage behaviour even began to overshadow her unique — some would say OTT — judging style, which grated increasingly on viewers as the series went on.

The first sign that the show had created a monster was when Jessie banned boss Danny Cohen, then the most senior figure at BBC1, from entering her dressing room when he tried to PRAISE her performance.

14 Jessie J served as a judge on the BBC's high-budget singing competition The Voice alongside Sir Tom Jones, Danny O'Donoghue and Will.i.am Credit: BBC

14 Jessie J's diva behaviour backstage at The Voice arguably began to take the focus over her unique talent Credit: BBC

Her ego got so out of control she stopped one of her solo performances mid-set and insisted her band start again. It was all captured on live TV.

Insiders believe her growing sense of entitlement was enhanced by the team in place around her, who “constantly blew smoke up her a***”.

A TV source said: “The diva in Jessie wasn’t helped by her inner circle. They refused to make her accessible, despite her being on a mainstream show. They made her feel like the special one.

“She is a very intelligent girl and extremely into her craft. Her pre-show preparations and after-show recoveries could never be interrupted and that quickly became known on set.

14 Jessie J shaved her iconic locks for Comic Relief in 2013 Credit: PA:Press Association

“She was the ultimate diva, which irked producers because Tom and Will were by far the more seasoned performers. Jessie was just the new kid on the block.

“But lots of people also thought she was very conflicted.

“Behind the scenes she was unsure and lacking in confidence but then she’d act like a diva, screaming, ‘I don’t need to rehearse!’ when the offer was put to her.

“She was inwardly nervous but outwardly full of bravado.”

14 Jessie J was awarded the Brits' Critics Choice award in 2011 after successful singers Do It Like A Dude and Price Tag Credit: Getty - Contributor

The source added: “Some people who get fame early on don’t know how to deal with it, especially when those close to her were always telling her how great she was.” In March 2013, just before her second series on The Voice, Jessie showed a more humane side when she shaved off her long black locks for Comic Relief, raising £500,000.

But it wasn’t enough for the British public, who were now falling out of love with her music, too.

After the monumental success of the singles Price Tag and Domino from her debut album, her second album, Alive, flopped.

Feeling unappreciated, Jessie moved to America.

Jessie J - Do It Like A Dude

14 In 2010, Jessie J performed her hit singles at The Sun's studio for a Bizarre session Credit: Dave Hogan - The Sun

In 2014 she hit No1 with Bang Bang — a collaboration with Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande — but in the same year Burnin’ Up, from third album Sweet Talker, scraped to No73. And Masterpiece, the album’s third single, only got to No159. Meanwhile, there was continued speculation about her sexuality — which she often fuelled.

Jessie, who proudly labelled herself bisexual when she burst on to the scene, also backtracked, describing it as “a phase” and saying she wanted to marry a man.

She also said: “In America they see me as a singer, whereas people here don’t appreciate my voice.”

Two years later she hit out at the Brits organisers for failing to recognise her achievements.

14 Critics have warned Asian markets could become turned off by Jessie J's attitude just like the West Credit: Rex Features

She blasted: “It makes me sad. I’ve done the Grammys, The VMAs . . . My profile in America is that I’m considered as one of the greatest singers and I love it. I wanna be up there with the Celine Dions, the Whitneys, the Beyonces and Arethas. I go hard because I hope and pray that one day, people look back and go, ‘She could really f***ing sing, you know’. Which is why I keep going.”

While working on her songwriting away from the spotlight in the US, she took a break Down Under as a judge on the Australian version of The Voice. During this time she had a change of management, handing the keys of her career to brothers Joel and Benji Madden — her fellow Voice coaches — of US band Good Charlotte.

After an enforced break from the spotlight due to “health issues”, Jessie embarked on a low-key comeback with a few minor releases and a return to her familiar pop sound. Then the Maddens entered her into Chinese talent show Singer.

The move could prove a masterstroke, simultaneously grounding her while feeding her ravenous ego.

14 The Price Tag singer once claimed America's believe she's one of the 'great singers' like Celine Dion and Whitney Houston Credit: PA:Press Association

One source said: “There’s no doubt a lot of that diva-ness went on but she’s stripped it all back.

“She’s far more grounded now and level-headed.

“Jessie knows she made some errors and would approach things in a different way now.

“She’s a changed woman and that was reflected by her exploits in China. She’s now extremely loved over there. Her whole comeback plan is going to change, with China now at the centre.”

14 Insiders claim Jessie J's issue could be that those who get fame early struggle to cope with it Credit: Rex Features

Jessie’s earnings are set to rocket, too, on the back of lucrative endorsements, record sales and tours in the Far East.

Entertainment expert and showbiz manager Professor Jonathan Shalit said: “If she gets it right, it’s an easy £20million.

“We shouldn’t underestimate the Chinese market, it was a genius move by her and her management.

“Jessie had the courage to enter and good on her.

14 Jessie J's net worth is expected to rocket to £20,00,000 following her success on China's version of The X Factor Credit: Getty - Contributor

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“This will make her a global star and move her right to the top of the premier league — she’ll be the Man City of singers.

“She’ll sell out stadiums and could become a huge TV star, while also reinventing herself all round the world.”

Hopefully this time without so much of the ego.