World's top 10 beautiful women in recent times

New Delhi: If one sits down to compile a list of the world's top 10 beautiful women since the time of recorded history, it will be a Herculean task. Right since the times of Cleopatra down to Marilyn Monroe and other divas, the list appears to be endless. Here we focus on on beautiful women in recent years selected from fashion, movies, music and other arenas. The women are exquisitely beautiful, each unique not only in respect of their talents but also in terms of their looks. The one thing linking them together is their beauty that shines through. Following is a list of the 10 most beautiful women in recent times: 10. Leryn FrancoIn 1982, Leryn Franco was born in Asunción, Paraguay. She was interested in sports as a young girl and specialized in the javelin throw. In 1998, Franco broke the South American national record for the Under-17 age group in both the javelin and triple jump. She competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and during the games became an Internet sensation due to her beauty. Franco's personal best javelin throw is 55.66 meters, which was achieved in June, 2011 in Buenos Aires at the South American Championships. Leryn is a great athlete, but is also famous for being one of the sexiest women in the world. She combines her athletic endeavors with a lucrative modeling career. After the 2008 Olympic Games Franco was seen with Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic, who has been ranked as the world's 1 player since July 4, 2011. However, the couple quickly split and Leryn's relationship status remains unclear. 9. Marian RiveraIn 1984, Marian Rivera was born in Madrid, Spain to a Spanish father and Filipina mother. After her parents separated Rivera's mother moved to the Philippines, where Marian grew up. At a young age, Marian starred in a collection of soap operas. She then moved to full-length feature films and has become a major star in the Philippines. Rivera has appeared in films that have grossed more than PhP 100 million at the box office. Marian Rivera has performed the choreography on two studio albums, Marian Rivera Dance Hits (2008) and Retro Crazy (2009), and sang a hit single, “Sabay Sabay Tayo” on Retro Crazy. For a couple years Marian has been dating Dingdong Dantes. He is a popular director/actor and model in the Philippines. In 2008, Dingdong was chosen as one of the “25 Sexiest Men of the World” and was the highest-ranking Asian on the list. 8. Laetitia CastaIn 1978, Laetitia Casta was born in Pont-Audemer, Normandy, France. Her modeling career began at the age of 15 when she was discovered by a French photographer. By 1993, Laetitia signed a contract with GUESS clothing. From 1997-2000, she appeared in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and was one of the company's signature Angels from 1998 to 2000. In her career, Casta has been the official face of L'Oréal, Dior, and Chanel. She was featured in Tommy Hilfiger, Miu Miu, and XOXO ad campaigns, as well as on the cover of over 100 magazines.In 2010, Laetitia Casta became the face of Ralph Lauren's newest fragrance, Notorious. Laetitia has appeared in a collection of movies. Laetitia Casta is currently engaged to Italian actor Stefano Accorsi. The couple has two children together, a son named Orlando, born in September 2006, and a daughter named Athena, born in August 2009. 7. ShakiraShakira is a Colombian singer-songwriter who emerged on the Latin American music scene in the early 1990s. She was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, in 1977. Shakira's debut album, Magia, was recorded in 1990 when she was only thirteen years old. In 1995, Shakira released the album Pies Descalzos, which was successful in Latin America and Spain. In 1998, she released the record Dónde Están los Ladrones, which has sold over 7 million copies worldwide. In 2001, Shakira broke into the English-speaking world with the album Laundry Service, which has sold over 13 million copies. In 2006, Shakira released Oral Fixation Vol. 2 which included the hit single “Hips Don't Lie.” The song became the best selling single of the 2000s.In 1995, Shakira founded the Pies Descalzos Foundation, which is a Colombian charity. She was invited to the Oval Office by President Barack Obama in February 2010 to discuss early childhood development. Shakira is currently the highest-selling Colombian artist of all time, and the second most successful female Latin singer behind Gloria Estefan, having sold over 70 million albums worldwide. She is recognized as one of the sexiest people in the world and has intrigued men and woman alike with her belly dancing.In 2000, Shakira started dating Antonio de la Rúa, who is the oldest son of former Argentine president, Fernando de la Rúa. On January 10, 2011, she announced on her website that after 11 years together, she and de la Rúa had separated. Shakira is now dating Gerard Piqué, who is the center back for FC Barcelona. She officially confirmed their relationship on March 29, 2011 via Twitter and Facebook. 6. Cheryl ColeCheryl Cole is an English pop and R&B recording artist. In 1983, she was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England and grew up in the districts of Walker and Heaton. Cole rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals. In 2009, the band announced a musical hiatus and Cheryl Cole decided to release two solo albums, both of which went to number one in the UK.As a member of Girls Aloud, Cole endorsed many products including Barbie, Kit Kat, Nintendo DS, Samsung, and Sunsilk. She was a judge on The X Factor for three series and has become a style icon in England. Cole is regularly written about in the press and followed by the paparazzi. She has been photographed for the covers of British Vogue, Elle, and Harper's Bazaar. In 2009, Cheryl Cole became the new face of the cosmetic company L'Oréal. She is regularly included in articles that discuss the world's sexiest woman.Cheryl Cole began dating England and Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole in September 2004. They announced their engagement in June 2005 and were married in July 2006. In early February 2010, news agencies reported that Ashley had cheated on Cheryl with five separate women. It was soon announced that they were separated. Cheryl has said that she will continue to use her married name, saying that changing it back would make her seem “ashamed” of the marriage. In 2011, it was reported that Cheryl Cole is dating Los Angeles-based producer Patrizio Pigliapoco. 5. Katrina KaifIn 1984, Katrina Kaif was born in Hong Kong to an Indian Kashmiri father and English mother, both of whom are British citizens. As a child she lived in a number of different countries before settling in Mumbai. After Katrina moved to India she changed her surname to Kaif. In 2003, Kaif made her film acting debut in Kaizad Gustad's movie Boom. She starred in Vipul Shah's Namastey London and Anees Bazmee's Welcome in 2007. In 2009, Kaif gained international recognition for her role in the film New York. The following year she starred in the political thriller Rajneeti . For her performance in New York, Kaif received a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actress.Due to her poor knowledge of Hindi (and other Indian languages) Kaif's voice is often dubbed by other actresses. However, since 2010, she has used her own voice in all films. Katrina has received a large collection of brand endorsements since turning famous, including commercials with Coca-Cola, Veet (skin products), Panasonic, and Etihad Airways. She was voted the sexiest Asian woman in the world by Eastern Eye from 2008 to 2011.In 2004, Katrina Kaif started a well publicized relationship with film superstar Salman Khan and broke up with him in 2008. She was rumored to be dating actor Ranbir Kapoor, but in 2011 told the press that she was single. 4. Irina ShaykIn 1986, Irina Shayk was born in Yemanzhelinsk, Russia. She started her modeling career at the age of 19 in Paris. In 2007, Shayk replaced Ana Beatriz Barros as the face of Intimissimi. She also debuted in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and has appeared in every issue since, making the cover of the 2011 edition. She has modeling contracts with Beach Bunny and Guess and has appeared on the cover of Annabelle,Bolero, Woman, Jalouse, and Paris Capital. Irina has also modeled for an Armani Exchange campaign and starred in Kanye West's video for “Power”.In 2011, she became the face of swim label Luli Fama. Shayk currently ranks 10th in the Top 20 Sexiest Models list on Models.com and was voted the Sexiest Woman in the World by Hungarian magazine Periodika. Since Spring of 2010, Shayk has been dating footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who owns the richest contract in European football history. The couple allegedly met through their Armani Exchange campaigns and will be married in 2012. 3. Miranda Kerr In 1983, Miranda Kerr was born in Sydney and raised in the small town of Gunnedah, New South Wales. At age 13, she entered and won the 1997 annual Dolly Magazine/Impulse Model Competition. Ten years later she became the first Australian model to be offered a contract with Victoria's Secret, replacing Gisele Bündchen. Upon her acceptance, Kerr became a Victoria's Secret Angel, joining Alessandra Ambrosio, Karolína Kurková, Adriana Lima, Selita Ebanks, Izabel Goulart, and Heidi Klum. In 2010, Miranda appeared in the Pirelli Calendar photographed by Terry Richardson. At the end of 2010 she modeled for Prada and Jil Sander, and was shot by Steven Meisel for the cover of Italian Vogue.In January 2011, Miranda became the first pregnant model for Vogue and was featured in Vogue Australia. Later in 2011 she appeared on the catwalk for Balenciaga's Ready-to-Wear collection as part of Paris Fashion Week. She was also chosen to wear the $2.5 million Victoria's Secret Fantasy Treasure Bra for their fashion show in November 2011. In early February 2010, Miranda inadvertently became the subject of global headlines when David Kiely, a banker in Sydney, was caught viewing explicit photos of her on his computer while his colleagues were on live television.Miranda Kerr began dating actor Orlando Bloom in late 2007. The couple's engagement was announced in June of 2010. In July, Kerr confirming that she and Bloom had married in “an intimate ceremony.” In 2011, Miranda gave birth to their first child, a son named Flynn Christopher Blanchard Copeland Bloom. 2. Lara StoneLara Stone is a Dutch model. In 1983 she was born in Geldrop, The Netherlands and raised in the small Dutch town of Mierlo. At the age of 14 Stone was first discovered in the Paris Metro and quickly impressed the Elite Modeling Agency. By 2009, Lara's modeling career was in full bloom. She was featured on the cover of the February 2009 edition of Vogue Paris, the August 2009 cover of W, and the May 2009 cover of Vogue (America) as one of the “Faces of the Moment.” In 2010, Stone replaced Sasha Pivovarova as the new face for Prada's fragrance, Infusion d'Iris. Her other 2010 campaigns included Louis Vuitton, Versus by Versace Fragrance, Jaeger, and H&M.Lara's sexy look has sparked a fashion trend. She has become known for her blonde hair, gap-toothed smile, large bust, and big lips. Also in 2010, Stone made fashion history when she signed an exclusive deal with Calvin Klein Inc., making the 28-year-old model the face of Calvin Klein Collection, ck Calvin Klein, and Calvin Klein Jeans. In 2011, Lara was featured in the Pirelli Calendar photographed by Karl Lagerfeld. She was also in the 2012 Pirelli Calendar photographed by Mario Sorrenti. For nearly two years Lara Stone has been ranked as the world's 1 fashion model on the site models.com.Lara Stone is married to English comedian David Walliams. David will be a judge on series 6 of Britain's Got Talent, which is scheduled to begin in April 2012. Lara and David were married at London's Claridge's hotel on May 16, 2010. 1. Rosie Huntington-WhiteleyRosie Huntington-Whiteley is an English model and actress that was born in Plymouth, Devon, England. She grew up on a farm in Tavistock, Devon. Huntington-Whiteley began her modeling career at the age of 16. Since 2006, she has been featured by the American lingerie brand Victoria's Secret. Huntington-Whiteley got her first British Vogue cover in November 2008, alongside Eden Clark and Jourdan Dunn. In late 2009, she officially became a Victoria's Secret Angel, modeling for the fashion show in New York City.In May 2011 she was voted No. 1 in Maxim magazine's “Hot 100″ list. In the summer of 2011 she was unveiled as the face of Burberry's newest fragrance, Burberry Body.Rosie Huntington-Whiteley dated Tyrone Wood, the youngest son of musician Ronnie Wood, from August 2007 until October 2009. In April 2010, it was first reported that she was in a relationship with English actor Jason Statham. The match has sparked media attention as Statham is 44-years-old and Huntington-Whiteley is only 24.