The “Top 99 Most Desirable Women” of 2012

After more than 2.4 million votes were cast internationally, Hunger Games’ humble yet fierce Jennifer Lawrence took the number one position on AskMen’s “Top 99 Most Desirable Women” list. In the poll, which surveyed AskMen readers, Lawrence shot up ahead of her Hollywood peers, including Kristen Stewart (No. 7), Jessica Biel (No. 24), Charlize Theron (No.97) and reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who dropped from No. 8 on last year’s list to No. 98 this year.

The 12th edition of the Top 99 Most Desirable Women poll, calls on AskMen readers to elect women who most closely match their ideals. These men were tasked with voting on more than just sex appeal, taking into account character, intelligence, talent, sense of humor, professional success, achievements in 2012 and potential for 2013.

Lawrence‘s victory follows an incredible 2012 for the 22-year-old starlet, whose breakout performances inHunger Games and Silver Lining Playbook turned the heads of men worldwide and pinned her as the next big thing. Lawrence is followed by TED actress Mila Kunis, who has consistently appeared on AskMen’s Top 99 since 2008 a Sports Illustrated turned Vogue model Kate Upton stayed high up on the list,landing at No. 3, dropping only one spot from the 11th edition of the list.

With more than 40% of the women on the list appearing for the first time, it’s fair to say there is a new breed of strong and independent women taking over. Take Lawrence’s No. 1 ranking after her fearless roles, or Claire Danes, who earned an Emmy this year for her standout performance on Homeland, at No. 20. Anne Hathaway shaved her head for her dramatic role in Les Miserables and came in at No. 47. Other powerful women on the list include Marissa Mayer , President and CEO of Yahoo!, at No. 59, First Lady Michelle Obama at No. 33 and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova of Russian activist-punk group Pussy Riot at No. 85.

James Bassil , Editor-In-Chief of AskMen, commented, “The top-rated women on AskMen’s 12th edition of the Top 99 Most Desirable Women list speaks to men’s growing comfort with strong and independent partners.  While undeniably successful candidates like Marissa Mayer have rocketed up the list, the more ambiguous “career” women — like Kim Kardashian — have plummeted on it.”

The “Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2013” features a new generation of leading women:

  • Girls actresses Jemima Kirke (No. 51) and Allison Williams (No. 42), Mad Men actress Jessica Pare at No. 9, Beyonce’s sister, singer Solange Knowles, at No. 50, Australian Youth OlympianMichelle Jenneke at No. 10 and newlywed U.S. soccer team goalie Hope Solo at No. 30.
  • Music icons have historically pushed boundaries on what’s considered desirable, and this year is no different, with American Idol judge Nicki Minaj dropping off the list and making way for newbiesAzealia Banks (No. 49) and “Call Me Maybe” singer Carly Rae Jepsen at No. 75.

For a third year in a row, TV actresses dominated the list, with 24 TV stars claiming spots. Modern Family‘s Sofia Vergara topped last year’s list, and she continued to hold strong at No. 12 this year. Has dating bad boy Kanye West hurt Kim Kardashian ‘s image? The reality tv star dropped to No. 98 on this year’s list. Perhaps not, as “bad girl” Kristen Stewart ‘s public infidelity had no impact on her desirability, which resulted in a climb from No. 27 last year to No. 7 this year. Likewise, Scarlett Johansson fell fromNo. 7 to No. 45. Will her upcoming sultry performance in A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on Broadway restore her sex appeal?

Votes for the 12th annual list also prove that men are loving women over 40, including Vergara (No. 12),Sarah Silverman (No. 23), Lucy Liu ; (No. 69) and Rachel Weisz (No 72). First Lady, Michelle Obama , at age 48, is the oldest woman featured on this list, at No. 33.

  1. Jennifer Lawrence
  2. Mila Kunis
  3. Kate Upton
  4. Rihanna
  5. Emma Stone
  6. Miranda Kerr
  7. Kristen Stewart
  8. Jessica Gomes
  9. Jessica Pare
  10. Michelle Jenneke
  11. Candice Swanepoel
  12. Sofia Vergara
  13. Blake Lively
  14. Christina Hendricks
  15. Emilia Clarke
  16. Cheryl Cole
  17. Zooey Deschanel
  18. Olivia Munn
  19. Naomie Harris
  20. Claire Danes
  21. Katy Perry
  22. Lara Stone
  23. Sarah Silverman
  24. Jessica Biel
  25. Kate Middleton
  26. Chanel Iman
  27. Adriana Lima
  28. Freja Beha Erichsen
  29. Emma Watson
  30. Hope Solo
  31. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
  32. Beyonce
  33. Michelle Obama
  34. Alison Brie
  35. Erin Heatherton
  36. Olivia Culpo
  37. Sara Carbonero
  38. Rashida Jones
  39. Marion Cotillard
  40. Alessandra Ambrosio
  41. Lolo Jones
  42. Allison Williams
  43. Ronda Rousey
  44. Candace Bailey
  45. Scarlett Johansson
  46. Kerry Washington
  47. Anne Hathaway
  48. Natalie Portman
  49. Azealia Banks
  50. Solange Knowles
  51. Jemima Kirke
  52. Keira Knightley
  53. Antonija Misura
  54. Olivia Wilde
  55. Doutzen Kroes
  56. Selena Gomez
  57. Kat Dennings
  58. Amanda Seyfried
  59. Marissa Mayer
  60. Marcela Valladolid
  61. Heidi Klum
  62. Bar Refaeli
  63. Sherlyn Chopra
  64. Cobie Smulders
  65. Leryn Franco
  66. Morena Baccarin
  67. Bipasha Basu
  68. Paula Patton
  69. Lucy Liu
  70. Genesis Rodriguez
  71. Lana Del Rey
  72. Rachel Weisz
  73. Lindsey Vonn
  74. Chloe Wilde
  75. Carly Rae Jepsen
  76. Jessica Chastain
  77. Cassie
  78. Joan Smalls
  79. Tracy Spiridakos
  80. Tina Fey
  81. Iggy Azalea
  82. Liu Wen
  83. Rose Byrne
  84. Olivia Thirlby
  85. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (Pussy Riot)
  86. Imogen Poots
  87. Bar Paly
  88. Shailene Woodley
  89. Aubrey Plaza
  90. Jenna Marbles
  91. Rocsi Diaz
  92. Paulina Gretzky
  93. Katie Holmes
  94. Amrita Acharia
  95. Kate Moss
  96. Ana Ivanovic
  97. Charlize Theron
  98. Kim Kardashian
  99. Berenice Marlohe

For exclusive videos, photos and comments from this year’s honorees, visit www.askmen.com. Up-to-date coverage of the Top 99 Most Desirable Women can also be found on AskMen’s Facebook and Twitter.

Here is what some of the Top 99 women had to say:

“Thank you Ask Men for choosing me this year! It’s such an honor and I hope I can continue being park of the AskMen family!” – Jessica Gomes, No. 8

“I love AskMen.com. Thank you for including me amongst these incredible women. Honored!” – Candice Swanepoel, No. 11

“I am hugely flattered to have been voted on to the AskMen Top 99 Most Desirable Women list. Please pass on a sincere thank you to all the readers who voted for me.”- Emilia Clarke, No. 15

“Being on the Top 99 list of askmen.com is extremely flattering! Thank you xx” – Chanel Iman, No.26

“Thank you Askmen.com! It is so amazing to be on your Most Desirable list!”- Olivia Culpo, No.36

“I am honored. I will adore this moment because I fear this title will drop next year because it’s hard to look amazing in bobsled with snot running down your nose” – Lolo Jones, No.41

About AskMen
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