Looking every bit the superstar she is, Britney Spears beams bold on the cover of Elle magazine’s October 2012 issue.

The ‘Womanizer’ singer is gearing up for her star turn in season 2 of The X Factor USA – in which she serves as a judge alongside Simon Cowell, LA Reid, and Demi Lovato.

We’re still not entirely “sold” on the idea of Ms. Spears making decisions about the careers of others when she (literally) can’t make any regarding hers. That said, on the strength of who she “was”, who doesn’t love Britney? Hence, we’d readily eat humble pie should she actually defy the odds and deliver on the show. We won’t get out forks just yet, though.

Peep more pics below…

Tidbit: That mic pic is dripping all sorts of “ironic”.

Your thoughts?