Actress Priyanka Chopra has been named the world’s sexiest Asian woman for a record-breaking fifth time and dethroned Deepika Padukone, who topped the globally renowned list in UK based newspaper Eastern Eye in 2016.
This rounds off another dream year for the actress, which saw her make incredible strides internationally with the release of debut Hollywood feature Baywatch, as well as winninganother People’s Choice Award for her acclaimed TV serial Quantico and signing further high profile films in the west.
The A-list star also continued to make giant strides as a producer and managed to consolidate her position as one of the hottest Indian stars on social media, surpassing 20 million followers on Instagram. “I cannot actually take credit for this at all. Full credit should be given to my genetics and your optics! Thank you Eastern Eye and to everyone who voted for me to be Asia’s Sexiest Woman, for what I’m told is a record breaking number of times! I feel grateful and am humbled. Consistency is key,” said Priyanka Chopra.
Now in its 14th year, the longest running list of its kind is based on millions of votes sent in by fans around the world, media coverage, impact and heat generated across various social media platforms. The mass interest in the 2017 edition of the list was such that it was trending on Twitter across different countries including India during the voting process. Eastern Eye’s award-winning Entertainment editor Asjad Nazir, who founded the list and puts it together annually, said: “Priyanka Chopra has become an incredible international ambassador for India and is smashing through glass ceilings all over the world. Apart from being courageous enough to fly into the unknown professionally, she has also done a lot of work for social causes, become a strong symbol for girl power and is making a young generation have big dreams. She is the perfect mix of beauty, brains, bravery and a kind hear”.
Small screen beauty Nia Sharma came in second and held onto her position as the sexiest television star on the list. Up one place from last year, the talented actress was thrilled to be second behind her inspiration. “I dare to dream of reaching where Priyanka Chopra is one day. But seeing my name next to her in the list is no less a dream and struck me with a frenzied happiness. What my fans have done, I can’t pay them back in words. They make me feel confident and I feel I exist because of them. Yes it’s a TV girl who is weird, fierce, bizarre, wannabe or whatever names they call her. I owe my fans this joy and want to share it with them despite not being able to digest the development,” said Nia Sharma.
Last year’s winner Deepika Padukone fell two places as she came in third, whilst the crown princess of Bollywood Alia Bhatt secured fourth ahead of popular Pakistani star Mahira Khanwho took fifth place in the list. The rest of the top 10 was Drashti Dhami (6), Katrina Kaif (7), Shraddha Kapoor (8), Gauahar Khan (9) and Rubina Dilaik (10).
The highest place newcomer and youngest on the list is 19-year-old television actress Shivangi Joshi (16), who has made an incredible impact on hit TV serial Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. The oldest on the list is 54-year-old Sridevi (49), who is one of two editor’s choices on the 2017 list. The other editor’s choice is Pakistani singer Momina Mustehsan (37), who has emerged from the male dominated music industry in Pakistan having made a massive impact and opening a debate about important social causes. “Momina has a heavenly voice and looks to match, but more than that she has opened up debate on important issues like woman empowerment, cyber bullying and mental illness. She is making a mark in a male dominated music industry, but is also becoming a strong symbol of girl power in Pakistan,” said Asjad.
Other names on the 2017 list include Niti Taylor (11), Sonam Kapoor (12), Sanaya Irani (13), Jennifer Winget (14), Esha Gupta (17), Krystle DSouza (21), Charli XCX (24), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (26), Erica Fernandes (28), Jacqueline Fernandez (30), Athiya Shetty (32), Humaima Malick (33), Anushka Shetty (42) and Anushka Sharma (44).