Rihanna Named Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive: Is She?

Every year, Esquire -- and just about every other men's magazine -- picks a new Sexiest Woman Alive to pose on the cover of their magazine and strut her stuff. This year, they picked Rihanna.

Here's the shot Esquire used on this month's cover to celebrate Rihanna's election as their Sexiest Woman Alive.


Now, she might be a sex icon when she's taking photos and filming music videos [on a conservative Irish farmer's property], but when she takes to the stage for her live concerts, it's all about the music. She tells Esquire, "At the end of a concert, I don't feel like I've been this sexy thing. Really, I don't even think about it."

But when she's in front of the camera, it's a different story.




The "S&M;" singer also surprised fans by congratulating former boyfriend Chris Brown, even though she's made it clear she doesn't like dwelling on that episode in her life. She told Esquire, "It's incredible to see how he pulled out of it the way he did. Even when the world seemed like it was against him, you know? ... I've always been a fan. Obviously, I had some resentment toward him for a while, for obvious reasons. But I've put that behind me."

Last year's Sexiest Woman Alive was "Friday Night Lights" actress Minka Kelly. In 2009 it was "Underworld" star Kate Beckinsale.