30+ Beauty Icons Who Are Considered To Be Among The Most Beautiful Women In The World
It's hard to really pin down what it means to be beautiful. It can be a pretty subjective term, and everyone has their own styles and opinions.
However, we can usually get a good idea of what the world at large considers beautiful. Here we attempt to showcase just a few of the talented women across the world who have made a tremendous mark with their beauty, but who have also turned it into a successful career in whatever profession they’ve gone into.
Mozhdah Jamalzadah
At a young age, Mozhdah's family fled from the civil war in Afghanistan. From there on, her family decided to settle in Canada. Once they crossed the pond, she was introduced to music.
Eventually, Dokhtare Afghan (Afghan Girl) became an instant hit on TV stations back in her home country. Since breaking out big, she has won several awards and began hosting television shows. She even got to try acting having a role in the drama Red Snow. According to CBC Books, she released a biography of her life called Voice of Rebellion.
Alicia Vikander
Alicia Vikander is originally from Sweden and trained as a ballet dancer (Condé Nast). Vikander gained recognition for playing Kitty in Joe Wright's adaption of Anna Karenina. In 2016, the actress would take home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in The Danish Girl.
Two years later, she starred as Laura Croft in Tomb Raider. Some of her other acting projects include Firebrand and Irma Vep.
Taraneh Alidoosti
Taraneh Alidoosti was voted as the best Iranian TV actress of the 2010s by Film magazine. She began acting at 17 years old, with the leading role in I'm Taraneh, 15.
Critics praised her performance, which ultimately led her to win the Bronze Leopard for Best Actress from the Locarno International Film Festival in 2002. Some of her most famous roles include Rana in The Salesman and Leila in Leila's Brothers.
Naomi Campbell
British model Naomi Campbell established herself amongst the most recognizable models of the late eighties and nineties. According to Time magazine, she was one of six models of her generation to be named a supermodel by the fashion industry. In addition to modeling, Campbell has embarked on other ventures.
She made an R&B-pop studio album, and starred in the movie I Feel Pretty. Throughout her career, Campbell has proved that there is nothing she can't do if she believes in herself.
Anne Curtis
Altogether, the Filipino-Australian actress is a model, television host, and a VJ. This caused her to earn the nickname of "Mulitmedia Superstar," according to web.archive.org.
With eyes that are truly unique, she starred in films like No Other Woman, which earned her a FAMAS Award for Best Actress. She has also released three albums, including Forever Young in 2016. Her first album was certified platinum by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry.
Manuela Arcuri
At an early age, Manuela Arcuri was attracted to show business, and eventually, she became a fashion model. In 1995, she was in soap operas and appeared in her first movie, Black Holes.
Arcuri has also made appearances on the stage, starring in Liola in 2006 and A Pretty Story of a Woman in 2010. According to TVzap, she has a black belt in karate.
Ronda Rousey
Hard work pays off for being the first woman to fight in the UFC. Since leaving the octagon for the WWE, it's no surprise that the mixed martial artist has always been the center of attention. After losing her title, she decided to take a break from the sport. She returned to wrestling in 2023, according to the New York Post.
Rousey has enjoyed a career as an actress which included appearances in The Expendables and Furious 7. She has also played herself on various television and movie roles.
Elizaveta Boyarskaya
The Russian theater and film actress got her big break in 2001. She made her debut in the serial film National Security Airport 3, and the 2004 film Downfall.
According to Life, in 2010, she married fellow Russian actor Maksim Mateyeev and the pair have two children. Some of her most famous projects include Catherine the Great and NO-ONE.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Following appearances in commercials, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan entered the Miss India pageant, finishing in second place. Her first commercial success was in the romantic drama, Jeans. Rai garnered critical appreciation for playing a passionate artist in Kandukondain Kandukondain.
In 2003, she became the first Indian actress to be a jury member of the Cannes Film Festival. Around 2010, Rai announced she would be leaving acting to take a break. She returned to the screen in 2015 starring alongside Sanjay Gupta in Jazbaa. According to CBS, her green-blue eyes and feminine appearance have made her a style icon in India.
Kate Upton
Kate Upton first modeled for Garage and Dooney & Bourke. The Michigan girl was named the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Rookie of the Year too. She was even the subject of the 100th-anniversary for the cover of Vanity Fair.
According to U.S. Weekly, she married Justin Verlander in 2017, and she gave birth to their daughter a year later. Upton has acted in various projects including Robot Chicken and The Layover.
Haifa Wehbe
At 16 years old, Haifa Wehbe won the title of Miss South Lebanon. She would become the runner-up at the Miss Lebanon competition too. In early 2008, Wehbe starred in the Pepsi-produced film Sea of Stars.
It was the same film where she appeared alongside Carole Samaha, Wael Kfoury, and Brigitte Yaghi. She has also released seven albums. According to Albawaba.com, she is a grandmother to two granddaughters.
Adriana Lima
Brazilian model Adriana Lima is most famous for being a Victoria's Secret Angel from 1999 to 2018. Additionally, she served as the brand ambassador for the Barcelona-based clothing brand Desigual. She also is the ambassador for IWC, Puma, Maybelline, and Chopard.
According to USA Today, Lima has worked on other projects in the entertainment industry. She made her acting debut in 2001's The Follow with Mickey Rourke and Forest Whitaker.
Amanda Cerny
Amanda Cerny began modeling at 15-years-old, but was convinced by Kelly Carrington to send photos to Playboy. Eventually, she caught internet fame through the use of the former social media app, Vine.
She now regularly posts to YouTube, where she has gained more than 2.6 million subscribers on her page. Thanks her success on social media, Cerny has begun acting and even starred with Nicolas Cage in the 2018 film 211. She also starred alongside best friend Miranda Cosgrove on the revival of iCarly.
Blake Lively
Known for her role as Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl, Lively was also in The Sisterhood of The Travelling Pants. Since 2012, she's been married to Canadian actor, Ryan Reynolds. According to Screen Rant, the two met while filming The Green Lantern, a film that was most memorable for their on-screen chemistry.
Lively describes herself to be a "foodie and a cook" and she got the chance to bake with her idol, Martha Stewart. She has also started directing and worked with Taylor Swift on the music video for "I Bet You Think About Me."
Gal Gadot
Gal Gadot first gained recognition when she was crowned Miss Israel 2004. After that, she spent two years in the Israel Defense Forces as a combat instructor. Her first film role came as the character Gisele Yashar in Fast & Furious.
She went on to earn worldwide fame for portraying Wonder Woman. She married Israeli real estate developer Jaron "Yaron" Varsano in 2008 and they have three daughters (Jerusalem Post).
Ashley Graham
After attending a model convention at 12-years-old, Ashley Graham signed a deal with Ford Models in 2003 (Wall Street Journal). Fast forward over a decade later, and in 2016, she became the first plus-size model to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
After making the cover, Graham gave a TED Talk about how you can look at your body positively, regardless of weight, shape, or size. She was also featured in DNCE'S music video for "Toothbrush." She's also the host of Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge.
Niki Karimi
Niki Karimi has won many awards on an international level. She was on the jury for more than 20 renowned film festivals, including the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Expanding her career as an actress, the Iranian wrote and directed the documentary To Have Or Not To Have. Karimi has acted since 1989 and began directing in 2001. Her films to date have won her countless awards at several film festivals worldwide (New York Times).
Gigi Hadid
According to Marie Claire, Gigi Hadid started modeling at the age of two when she was discovered by Guess co-founder Paul Marciano. In 2016, she was named International Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council.
She is also the sister to model Bella Hadid. Aside from modeling, she has acted in several projects as herself including Never Have I Ever and Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?.
Emma Stone
Emma Stone's acting debut came in 2004 when she competed on a VH1 competition reality show, according to E! Online. Following her breakout role in Superbad, the actress has reached new heights. She's the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Actress for La La Land.
The actress has acted in several critically acclaimed projects including Cruella, The Curse, and Poor Things.
Pia Wurtzbach
Pia Wurtzbach won the title of Miss Universe Philippines 2015 at the Binibining Pilipinas 2015 pageant. She even served as a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for Asia & the Pacific since 2016.
Wurtzbach is the third Filipina to win the title of Miss Universe, following Gloria Diaz and Margarita Moran who won in 1969 and 1973. She's also acted in numerous projects including My Papa Pi and My Perfect You (ABS-CBN News).
Fahriye Evcen
The German-Turkish actress Fahriye Evcen is best known for her role as Necla Tekin on Yaprak Dökümü. While studying sociology at Düsseldorf Heinrich-Heine University, she received an offer to work on a TV series as an actress. She would finish her studies then moved to Istanbul.
Her first film role was Aşk Tutulması. She has acted steadily since then in both film ad television, although she is yet to have her big breakout role in the United States. According to Takvim, she is married to actor and model Burak Özçivit and they have two sons.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is the daughter of actor Jon Voight. Jolie was in several critically-acclaimed projects including Laura Croft: Tomb Raider, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Maleficent. In addition to her film career, the actress is noted for her humanitarian efforts.
She received a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. According to The Guardian, Jolie has six children with three of them being adopted internationally.
Margot Robbie
Born and raised in Dalby, Queensland, Margot Robbie studied drama at Somerset College (Harper's Bazaar). After moving to the United States, she starred in the short-lived sitcom Pan Am. She would eventually have her big breakthrough in The Wolf of Wall Street.
Since then, she played Tonya Harding in I, Tonya, and Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad. In 2019 she starred alongside Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and played the title role in Barbie in 2023.
Deepika Padukone
One of the highest-paid actresses in India, Deeepika Padukone was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2018. She earned the Time100 Impact Award four years later. In 2012, the movie Cocktail marked a turning point in her career.
She earned high praise and Best Actress nominations at numerous award shows followed. n 2012, she reinvented herself as a comedic actress after her career began failing. She's also the daughter of a famous badminton player and even played herself before becoming a model (Hindustan Times).
Dakota Johnson
Fifty Shades of Grey was the breakout role for actress Dakota Johnson. She made her acting debut in the 1999 film Crazy In Alabama. She would go on to have supporting roles in The Social Network, Beastly, and 21 Jump Street.
She is the daughter of actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. In 2019 she starred alongside Shia Labeouf in The Peanut Butter Falcon. She also has a production company called TeaTime Pictures (Forbes).
Emma Watson
Emma Watson is widely known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film franchise. The actress continued to work outside of the Potter films with the movie The Perks of Being A Wallflower.
In 2017, she starred as Belle in the live-action adaption of the musical Beauty and the Beast. In a 2023 interview with Financial Times, she revealed she hasn't acted in five years because she "wasn't very happy" with the profession.
Taylor Hill
Taylor Hill is a former Victoria's Secret Fashion model, having left in 2018. In 2013, the Illinois native started her modeling career as a feature on Intimissimi's catalog (Bloomberg News).
A year later, she modeled for H&M and she even walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show for the first time. In 2016 she acted in her first major film, The Neon Deon. The movie, which also starred Ryan Gosling, was featured at several festivals, although it earned middling reviews. She married investor Daniel Fryer in 2023.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Priyanka Chopra Jonas is an Indian actress and producer. In 2016, the Government of India honored her with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award. Despite being an aspiring aeronautical engineer, she accepted offers to join the Indian film industry.
She has received numerous awards, including a National Film Award and Filmfare Awards in five categories. She married Nick Jonas in 2018 and the two welcomed a daughter via surrogate in 2022 (The Hindu).
Beyoncé
The former member of Destiny's Child garnered a ton of success. Following the trio's breakup, Beyoncé released her sophomore album B'Day which contained her fourth number-one single "Irreplaceable."
Throughout her career, and her marriage to Jay-Z, Queen B has sold over 200 million records worldwide, according to ChartMasters. She is one of the most successful female entertainers of all-time and continues to be a trailblazer today as she begins to transform her songs into experimental movies.
Lupita Nyong'o
Actress Lupita Nyong'o was born in Mexico City to Kenyan parents. She is also an Ivy League graduate, getting her master's at the Yale School of Drama.
Her breakthrough role came in 2013 when she was cast in 12 Years a Slave for which she won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award. Nyong'o has continued to land roles in television and film and has appeared on the cover of Vogue four times.
Natalie Portman
Now a veteran of Hollywood, actress Natalie Portman is still considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. She started her career in the mid 90's and has proven that she can do everything ranging from drama to comedy.
Portman is also an activist, director, and winner of several prestigious acting awards (Hey Alma). Some of her most coveted roles were in May December, and Thor: Love and Thunder.
Monica Bellucci
Monica Bellucci is an Italian model and actress who stole hearts in The Matrix franchise and as a Bond girl. Her looks are undeniable and she's been the face of high-profile brands including Dolce & Gabbana and Dior (The Daily Telegraph).
She's a mom of two and single, after divorcing her former costar, French actor Vincent Cassel. She represents Italy as a permanent member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Halle Berry
Another actress who has remained one of the most beautiful women in the world across decades is Halle Berry. The effortlessly cool mother of two has been ranked No. 1 on People's 50 Most Beautiful People In The World back in 2003 and still holds the hearts of many.
Before acting she was first runner-up in the Miss USA Pageant and finished in sixth place in the Miss World Pageant. According to People, she has been in a relationship with musician Van Hunt since 2020.
Miranda Kerr
Australian model Miranda Kerr has walked the runway as one of the most popular Victoria's Secret angels, and has one of the highest net worths of any model in the world. According to Celebrity Net Worth, hers is estimated to be $60 million.
She's married to Snapchat founder and billionaire Evan Spiegel. She has also done a bit of acting on shows such as How I Met Your Mother.
Rihanna
According to Sportskeeda, Rihanna has nine Grammy Awards, 12 American Music Awards and 12 Billboard Music Awards. Aside from her long list of accomplishments, Rihanna has stepped into both the beauty and acting industries.
Whether she's dressed for the red carpet or the street, Rihanna's look is ever-changing. The singer was even declared a National Hero of Barbados, which is her home country.
Hailey Bieber
Hailey Bieber is married to singer Justin Bieber and comes from the famous acting family, the Baldwins. The model has a unique background of Brazilian, Italian, Portuguese, English, Irish, Scottish, French, and German descent.
Baldwin started her modeling career in 2014 and has walked for Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Dolce & Gabbana, and others, taking part in New York Fashion Week and London Fashion Week (Mirror). Her international modeling career has taken off and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.
Eva Mendes
Actress Eva Mendes has been in the spotlight since her 2001 breakthrough role in Training Day. Born to Cuban parents, Mendes has been recognized as a beauty icon and has been ranked in Maxim magazine's Hot 100 issue, FHM magazine's 100 Sexiest Women in the World, and one of People magazine's Most Beautiful Women at Every Age.
While she stuns on camera, she keeps her personal life private. She and partner Ryan Gosling have two daughters together. According to E! Online, she is a pescatarian and practices Transcendental Meditation.
Zoe Saldaña
After appearing on Law & Order, the beautiful Zoe Saldaña moved over to the big screen, appearing in Center Stage, Avatar, and Guardians of the Galaxy. She's born of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent, and also has a bit of Lebanese and Haitian heritage.
In an interview with Self, Saldaña said that she plans on aging gracefully, opting to stay healthy, eat right, and exercise instead of using methods like plastic surgery in order to keep a youthful appearance.
