BOLLYWOOD’s reigning star Priyanka Chopra has been crowned the world’s sexiest Asian woman by Eastern Eye, knocking reigning champion Kareena Kapoor and three-times winner Katrina Kaif off the top spot on the annual list.
A record number of votes from all over the world ensured that Priyanka secured the top position, followed by with Kareena Kapoor in second place and Katrina, third.
Eastern Eye is a publication from the Asian Media and Marketing Group, which also publishes Garavi Gujarat and GG2, among other titles.
Chairman of the judging panel and Eastern Eye’s showbiz editor Asjad Nazir, who puts together the eagerly awaited annual list of the world’s top 50 sexiest women, said Priyanka is poised to be a Hollywood star in 2013.
Asjad said: “The sheer diversity of the projects that Priyanka did in 2012, combined with her close connection to fans online, worked in her favour and added to her already impressive fan base.
“That is why she was able to beat off pop stars, TV personalities, models and fellow film stars.
“I am sure she will build on this success by becoming a successful international pop star and cracking Hollywood in a big way in the next couple of years.”
The past 12 months have rounded off a dream year for Priyanka, starting with a starring role in super-hit film Agneepath, a superb performance in India’s official entry to the Oscars, Barfi, and the launch of an international pop career alongside chart-topping singer Will.i.am.
“I'm hugely flattered,” Priyanka said, reacting to the news. “Who wouldn’t want to have a title like this bestowed on them! A big shout out to everyone who voted for me.”
The biggest surprise of 2012 was the number of television actresses from India who entered the list for the first time.
Stars from the show Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai Nia Sharma (rank 5) and Krystle D’Souza (rank 9) became the first ever TV actresses from India to crack the top 10.
Fans of Nia were so determined to get her into the list that she was trending on Twitter for nearly a week during the voting process.
Other Indian television actresses who made the list are Drashti Dhami (12), Sanaya Irani (13), Kritika Kamra (19), Jennifer Winget (21), Yashashri Masurkar (24) and Asha Negi (32).
“The fact that so many television actresses made the top 50 showed that Bollywood is no longer the only dominant force in India and that television is playing a much bigger part in the lives of people around the world,” said Asjad.
Other notable stars in this year’s list include Deepika Padukone (4), Bipasha Basu (6), Sonam Kapoor (7), Diana Penty (15) and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (16).
The highest placed Pakistani was super model-turned-television personality Mehreen Syed (10) and the highest placed star from the west was once again Hollywood actress Noureen Dewulf (11), who is currently starring alongside Charlie Sheen in hit US sitcom Anger Management.
Others in the list are Parineeti Chopra (18), Rani Mukerji (22), Esha Gupta (23), Sussanne Roshan (25), Alia Bhatt (29), Giaa Manek (41) and singer Tasha Tah (47).
To read the full list, pick up your copy of this week’s Eastern Eye dated December 7.
