The ladies of 2012 aren't just the next pretty faces: They're smart, strong women who offer the complete package. So, who moved up the ranks from last year? Who didn't make the cut? Who burst onto the scene and demanded our attention? And, out of all of these, who claimed the No. 1 spot?
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| WHY IS CANDICE SWANEPOEL NO. 10? Few women truly deserve the title "Angel," but one look at Candice Swanepoel is all you need to know that the moniker fits. In fact, upon closer inspection, it's probably an understatement. The 5'9" supermodel is currently walking the runways for Victoria's Secret, joining an elite list of women who can turn us into drooling messes simply by striking a pose. Add a sexy accent to that mix, a humble upbringing (she grew up on a farm in South Africa) and an admirable predisposition to walking around in her underwear, and it's no wonder Swanepoel earned her wings. |
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| WHY IS RIHANNA NO. 9? In her memoir Bossypants, Tina Fey cheered Beyonce for "bringing back the leg meat." Well, Rihanna has taken that "leg meat" torch and run with it. Watching her dance makes us forget that we ever desired supermodels with sticks for legs. Even the snooty Brits can't get enough of her. When Coldplay's Chris Martin needed a female vocalist for his recent "Princess of China,” he got Rihanna -- even though his wife Gwyneth Paltrow is trying to jumpstart her singing career. Sorry, Gwyneth, you've got no "leg meat." |
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| WHY IS KIM KARDASHIAN NO. 8? Sure, you may not have a shot with Kim Kardashian unless you're a pro athlete, but it's nice to dream, especially since the socialite is single again after a whirlwind, made-for-TV divorce from NBA power forward Kris Humphries. You may have had sticks of gum that lasted longer than their marriage, but Kim's impulsiveness isn't necessarily a bad thing. Hey, her killer curves make us willing to overlook a lot about the noted publicity hound. Because if there's any reason we're still keeping up with the Kardashians, it's Kim. |
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| WHY IS SCARLETT JOHANSSON NO. 7? Just when it looked like some of Scarlett Johansson's star was fading, she came back into the spotlight in a big way. It's a wonder what a couple of leaked nude photos will do. While a little of the mystery has been lost -- along with Johansson's privacy -- she was a surprisingly good sport about the ordeal. She laughed it off by admitting she "knows her best angles" and reminded us that the shots were for her then-husband, Ryan Reynolds. And after a public divorce from said husband, Johansson's officially back on the market. |
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| WHY IS EMMA STONE NO. 6? We can't blame Jim Carrey for his creepy proclamations of love for Emma Stone. With her disarming smile and raspy voice, the fiery redhead inspires that kind of devotion in a lot of men. In Crazy, Stupid, Love, Stone played a girl so completely perfect that she drove a career playboy to give up the game. The role really wasn't much of a stretch. When she's not causing men twice her age to record video testimonials or players to rethink their life plan, the star of the Oscar-nominated The Help is impressing us with her comedic timing and laid-back attitude. So, yeah, Jim, we like her, too. |
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| WHY IS NICKI MINAJ NO. 5? If you like your artists a little out-there -- but not quite Lady Gaga out-there -- then consider Nicki Minaj a good mid-range option. Normally, we'd warn you away from any woman with as many wigs, alter egos and odd fashion choices as the curvy "Super Bass" rapper, but this constant feature on the Billboard Hot 100 charts is soon to be a regular on the Top 99, too. With everyone from Rihanna to Drake collaborating with her, Minaj is in high demand these days. After all, it's not often you find a female emcee whose looks are as infectious as her rhymes. |
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| WHY IS MIRANDA KERR NO. 4? This elegant Aussie has dimples we could get lost in and never want to come out of. A Victoria's Secret model since 2007, Miranda Kerr was selected in 2011 to unveil the $2.5 million Victoria's Secret Fantasy Treasure Bra. If the company trusts her with its most prized product, we can certainly trust her with our fantasies. Unfortunately, she's spoken for by Orlando Bloom. The young married couple, who have to be in the running for World's Prettiest, had a son in 2011, and Kerr has only gotten more stunning as a mother. |
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| WHY IS ROONEY MARA NO. 3? She may have indirectly contributed to the rise of Facebook in The Social Network, but when David Fincher tabbed Rooney Mara to be the lead in his blockbuster adaptation of the best-selling novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the response was a universal "Who?" The cute, unassuming brunette had to undergo a total transformation in order to play Lisbeth Salander, completely committing herself to the gritty role. When the movie poster came out of Daniel Craig with his arm draped around a topless and heavily pierced Mara, punks everywhere officially found their new pin-up girl. The risk paid off in Hollywood, too, as the role snagged her an Oscar nom. |
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WHY IS KATE UPTON NO. 2? How does the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue still compete with all of the sexy photo spreads and porn found online these days? By featuring the most gorgeous bikini beauties in the world. And Kate Upton was 2011's best find. Upton's classically curvy body and face full of girlish charm make her an easy choice as a breakout model. Even a video of her doing the Dougie at a Clippers game went viral. If she can make the dumbest dance craze in years look sexy, just imagine what else she can do. |
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| WHY IS SOFIA VERGARA NO. 1? |
Source: AskMen.com
