Lupita Nyong’o is our new Most Beautiful Person in the World!! People Magazine has declared her the 2014 Most Beautiful. Does this make you happy? It makes me happy… and nervous. Let’s be happy for a moment though: Lupita is the first African woman to ever be named Most Beautiful. She actually IS gorgeous and fresh and amazing. She’s having a really good year and people are really rooting for her. Now, the nervous: will this be used against her if and when there’s a backlash?
She may have won an Oscar for her role as the slave Patsey in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave and recently landed a contract with Lancome Paris, but Lupita Nyong’o “never dreamed” she would be touted as “Most Beautiful” for all the world to see.
“It was exciting and just a major, major compliment,” the 31-year-old says of gracing this year’s cover. And especially, ” I was happy for all the girls who would see me on [it] and feel a little more seen .”
Born in Mexico and raised in Kenya, Nyong’o first equated beauty with what she saw on television: “Light skin and long, flowing, straight hair,” she says. “Subconsciously you start to appreciate those things more than what you possess.” Her mother, Dorothy, who is the managing director and head of PR for the Africa Cancer Foundation, “always said I was beautiful,” Nyong’o adds. “And I finally believed her at some point.”
As a teen, Nyong’o dyed her hair every color – except blonde – and even went as far as shaving her head bald. “It was very strange and very cold!” she says, laughing. “It was scary but I like to dare myself.”
Now she says the best compliments are “when I have been called beautiful with not one drop of makeup on ,” she adds. “And also before I comb my hair or put on a pretty dress. Happiness is the most important thing .”
She’s charming. But I wish this cover came with an announcement of her future projects. Right? Anyway, you can see People’s Most Beautiful package here. Some of the ladies who made this year’s list include: Keri Russell, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Mindy Kaling, Pink, Amber Heard (HAHAHAHA), Gabriella Union, Molly Sims, Stacy Keibler and Kerry Washington. I will say this: People is doing a really good job with diversity this year.
Just a word about the build-up to Lupita’s Most Beautiful title. For one, Gossip Cop scooped People yet again! GC announced it more than an hour before People released their cover. Also, it was announced yesterday that Lupita has new representation: she’s now a CAA girl. Which means CAA helped get Lupita this cover. Which means Lupita is now going to spend time with Jennifer Aniston and Chelsea Handler. That’s the way it goes.
Photos courtesy of WENN, People Magazine.
I dunno, let me think about it…heck yeah! 🙂
Agreed. She rocks it, and seems like a lovely person inside and out.
It was a non-starter.. It COULDNT have been anyone else!!!
I also think this is a calculated ploy of her management ( cause you know this like People’s Sexiest Man Alive comes with a certain degree of disclosure and promotion) to give her exposure in regular America aka people who couldnt bring themselves to watch 12 years a slave or arent into fashion…. Acclimating em to our new Bening Overlord, The Lupita
Yep, get her on exposure, and get her some Orkney. Ok, I meant get her some work, and that’s what my autocorrect changed it to. So, I hope she gets some really good Orkney soon. Lol.
Lupita Orkney. 😀
“orkney”?! lol
sometimes I think my autocorrect is possessed…glad to see I’m not the only one who gets the “WTF correct” from time to time.
Like the Orkney Islands? I totally get why autocorrect would change that as the Orkney Islands are at the forefront of the collective conscience right now.
She’s stunning..great choice IMO.
While it could have been a title for others Lupita was the safe choice. She’ll talk about her rise to fame and her struggle with her dark skin. The interview will be good, but not new.
She does seem to be a very beautiful person inside and out, but if she starts hanging with Aniston, Handler, Uncle Terry, and Leto more it won’t be long until things take a bad turn.
@goodnames…I’m glad you clarified that “Orkney” was an auto correction. I thought it was some new slang word. I would have gone around saying “that ish is SO orkney!”. People would have thought I was even weirder than I already am. lol
Well, Hand clap to Lupita’s publicist….this year’s hardest working publicist!!
EDIT: Lupita is a beauty, but this cover accolade should be handed to the publicist. and i say that for every year for both genders, plus the winner is always asked if they want it, the one who says yes, gets it. So all the ones who didn’t make the list aren’t necessarily NOT in the running, they just didn’t accept when People approached them.
She’s beautiful and amazing, but inspiring story my ass. Rich girl did good. Hardly inspiring.
As a woman of colour, seeing someone who looks like she does, is as educated as she is and talented to boot – do well is inspiring as hell to me.
EZ
I do agree. While her life was by no means easy to achieve all she has Lupita did have a pretty big boost up.
And while it’s an important message for those with dark skin to know they’re still beautiful. That light features don’t make you attractive or more worthy it’s a message that is out there. Lupita brought the discussion back into the light, but only because it was no longer covered so publicly. Not because people stopped discussing it.
People will take what they want from her message. If it inspires them, Great! Sadly, I think it was more of a great Oscar campaign move to discuss it. A worthy topic, but also well and knowingly played. Win win all around.
In her Oscar campaign she was constantly portrayed as some underdog when she’s almost as privileged as Rooney Mara. And they keep doing it.
I get what you’re saying. She came from a privileged background in Kenya. Educated in at an Ivy League school. But her inspirational rise was not because of her financial background. She wasn’t considered an underdog because she was poor and rose to the top. Her story is inspirational because she is a dark-skinned black woman with short, natural. She represents everything that was and still is not considered beautiful. She was the underdog in a business which glorifies white women and pushes women of color – unless they look like Beyonce or Halle – to the back. Lupita is inspiring to all the black girls who heard the comment “you’re pretty for a dark-skinned girl.” It’s not economics here. It’s something much deeper.
Maybe because I’m not from America, but to me Lupita is the epitome of classical beauty. She isn’t an uncoventional beauty. Big eyes, small nose, full lips, clear skin. She’s got everything.
Was there such praise when Mo’Nique won her Oscar?
Yeah, I don’t get why people say Lupita is somehow unconventional when she is a textbook classical beauty.
Whatever happened to Mo’Nique?
Dani2/K.K: Africans are educated. This should not come as a surprise. Education is pretty important and placed at a premium whether one attends an elite school or their classroom is under a mango tree.
I don’t care how much of a” rich girl” or a” poor girl” someone may be-if they have talent, that’s what counts. And this woman has talent to spare. So yes..she is talented, gorgeous, smart and wealthy. She also seems to be genuine, funny, and kind. Too bad People doesn’t have a Most Beautiful Inside & Out issue. There wouldn’t be that much company for Lupita in that case.
@LAK It’s not a “shock”, it’s just refreshing to see, and I can appreciate her being educated because she’s an actress in Hollywood. She comes across as very well-spoken and eloquent. And I like that.
this is wonder. nothing against the lighter skin, long hair (whether its yours or not) sistas but it’s so refreshing to see a darker skin woman with kinkier hair. maybe one day we’ll see a size 14 on up as most beautiful
no, i dont think shes most beautiful. but i never think people’s most beautiful is accurate. seems to me it’s whoever has a lot of buzz gets on the cover
Are they really ever the most beautiful? When I see people like Halle or Angelina on the cover I say yes because those two women are stunning. Then we ran into people like JLo and Goop and I think not. Lupita though a step up from Goop is attractive, stunning, no.
She is becoming more of a celebrity than an actress and soon this award winning celebrity career will be hanging in limbo along with Adrian Brody and Cuba Gooding Jr who can no longer get good roles. People are going to grow tired of Lupita unless she proves she has talent and start acting in movies as oppose to being on covers of magazines.
@V4real +1
I hear you. It’s like my friend says they are doing smoke and mirrors. She is one of many on all these things, Lancome, magazine cover (Marie Cliare or whatever) and even Miu miu not the ONLY one. She def. needs to get some work and soon or she will be in that Oscar weird limbo talented as she is. They are doing a good job getting her face out there though.
Halle’s always been overrated IMO.
Lupita and Cuba cannot be put in the same category as Adrian Brody. Let’s stop acting as if there are tons of roles out there for either of them and the reason they Cuba didn’t make it was because of over-exposure. That wasn’t the reason. Hollywood is a different experience for black actors. So yes, to keep herself relevant, Lupita has to do campaigns and show that she is marketable and has the ability to make money. For a white actress, there are 5,000 roles and a bunch of blondes to fill the roles, yes, the over-exposure could backfire. But for a black actress, where there are not but 2 roles, she will be the go-to actress. Hopefully, she’ll open the market and show that black people can sell make-up, magazine covers and movie tickets as well.
@K.K. what in heavens name are you ranting about? If you don’t understand a comment, ask. When I say Brody and Gooding I’m simply talking about actors who have won Oscars but have disappeared into almost obscurity. I’m not talking about finding roles because of their race, I’m just saying they were a popular commodity at one time and now they are not. I didn’t say anything about over exposure. Calm down, breathe and remember everything is not about color.
@snowflake. I think Lupita is very pretty. However,if this were anyone else people would be talking about what a great publicist she had to get her on the cover. This IS a big step for people of color in People magazine. I applaud them for that.
I think she is beautiful, but I don’t get the fuss over her. Privileged girl that went to Yale, and did a great job in her first movie role. Not that inspiring. I get that her skin color is a big part of it, and I don’t like that. I wish that we as a society were a little more advanced than that.
I’m not addressing this just to you, atrain, because a lot of people have said it, but why do people hold it against her that she’s privileged? She can’t help that any more than someone can help being poor. Why is that a crime these days?
It’s not a crime. It bugged me a bit that she called herself middle class, the same as it buggs me when English actors pretend to be less posh or act like it doesn’t matter. The lack of acknowledgement of the privilege is annoying.
It also seems to me that she’s being portayed as some underdog and called inspiring just because she’s from Africa.
@Tatjana
Oh, ok, gotcha. I misunderstood.
I agree with Tatjiana, the lack of acknowledgement of privilege is annoying and suspicious. Privilege matters because it provides access.
Lupita is beautiful, but she will be inspiring only after she will have worked her ass off, an overnight success is not inspiring, it’s delusional. What is her advice for the African little girls that want to win an Oscar? Go to Yale when you’re 25 and then pray to hit the jackpot?
I totally agree, she is an exotic beauty and a well deserved title as the most beautiful person. She is definitely very photogenic.
Agreed! I don’t know why this is even being questioned since GOOP has win the award numerous times and she’s got to be one if the plainest people I’ve seen.
Picking Paltrow was a off year, IMO. Yes Gwennie is pretty but she’s not a stunning beauty.
@Francis – I thought she had one a time prior to 2013 when she was bigger in the late 90s/early 2000s. Perhaps I’m mistaken.
The thing I loved about Goop being picked was the fact that a 40yo was declared most beautiful. That doesn’t happen often.
And Goop was stunning when she was young.
I agree with you, but how is she exotic?
She is very pretty.
Lupita is beautiful. I wish she a project because, besides her beauty, she is a good actress.
I don’t get the dig at Amber Heard, even if you don’t like her, she’s a beautiful woman.
THIS. Totally agree. I feel like her branding thus far has been based on beauty. I love her and she is beautiful, and as a fellow POC, I’m stoked to see someone of diverse background scoop up all these beauty contracts and accolades but it’s starting to get tiresome. I get that we’re celebrating diversity and I’m all for that but how come Gabby from Precious was never rewarded with magazine covers and People’s Most Beautiful? How come Mindy Kaling can’t land the cover? While Lupita is lovely, she does still fall within the very slender, traditionally beautiful (albeit darker skinned) category. I also think there would be MAJOR backlash if JLaw had followed her Oscar win with a beauty campaign and the cover of People. Just sayin’.
+1
Even Melissa McCharty who is white ( that apparently still matters in Hollywood) rarely gets covers.
@kennedy, Yeah. I think it’s great that she’s making money and is out there, but it does feel like she is being passed over on her greatest gift. Also, there’s something about her being used only to sell products to a larger market ( in cosmetics, etc) that is beginning to make me uncomfortable, if that makes sense. I think I would feel a little less cynical if she had those contracts plus acting gigs. Maybe she is simply being uber careful with selecting a project, but it doesn’t seem that way.
@tatjana- That’s a great example. Melissa would NEVER land on People’s Most Beautiful. I would LOVE to be wrong but I can’t see it happening.
I wish she had…
I agree with Amber being a beautiful girl. Stupid when people trash her for being a gold digger to Depp, when they are both using each other for publicity. I actually feel sorry for her being the arm piece for Johnny rotten teeth Depp. The guy is nothing but nasty.
I just don’t dislike her. I have no strong feelings about her because I’ve never seen her in a film, or don’t recall it. But there is no doubt that she’s a very pretty woman. Lately, Johnny seems desperate, a little boring in films, so I do have some sympathy for her and all the crap tossed at her because it takes two to tango. Who really knows which person was doing the pursuing?
Ok yeah..I doubt anyone could truthfully say that Amber Heard’s ugly but can we stop talking about beauty as if it’s this entirely objective concept?
I mean, even if you take that standard chart that breaks down the symmetry in people’s faces and what is considered “universally beautiful”, there are still people who’s facial features fall outside of the graphics in that chart who are considered by many to be stunning people.
To me, Amber Heard has a very generic, interchangeable, forgettable appearance…she looks like a ScarJo or a K-Stew (when she was a blonde) and really like a bunch of other blonde actresses.
I can concede that she’s “pretty”, but to me she is not stunning or unique-looking at all.
That’s fine, but then we can laugh at *anyone* on that list by your standards, because you’re saying beauty is in the eye of the beholder, essentially. So why pick out Amber, other than that she is disliked?
I laughed because Amber’s inclusion is the equivalent of Justin Theroux’s inclusion on the “Sexiest Men Alive” lists – it’s bought and paid for by their significant other.
Are they not all bought and paid for, though?
Yeah totally. Personally I laugh at all of them because the whole idea of “Most Beautiful Person” is a fatuous, irrelevant title and yes, because the idea of beauty is wholly subjective.
..but do I think Lupita is a good choice? Hell yes because unlike Amber, she’s not the typical generic blonde that Hollywood is inundated with. If we’re going along with this farce, at least give this concocted title so someone who is uniquely beautiful, at least by Western Standards.
EDIT: If Depp bought Heard the title that’s even funnier. I mean, how can you not laugh at that?
These covers are always bought. Goop got her’s bc they were promoting Iron Man 3 last year. Funny thing, Lupita is with CAA now like most of the Avengers and there was a rumor she would be cast as Capt. Marvel. Now that would be AWSOME!
I just wanted to ask why is it funny that Justin T made the list of sexiest man alive?Besides those horrible skinny jeans he is a good looking man. There were plenty of men on last year’s list that I didn’t find sexy, Ed Sheeran being one of them. Maybe his mention was brought as well.
Way better than last years choice, she looks beautiful on the cover.
who was last years choice?
Gooooopy!
I agree,anyone is a step up from Goop. Though we know this is all brought and paid for just like Goop, I will take Lupita.
On one hand, it would be silly not to pick her. She owned the red carpet this past awards season. I don’t blame her for taking time in choosing her next project, she does need to choose carefully and this cover does keep her in mind of the people. And she is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
But there is no denying that these covers are usually PR motivated, so I am sure People wanted her and at the same time her PR wanted them. So both parties are happy. Fans (like me) are happy because we get to see her being beautiful self inside and out.
I am really glad they did not go with Julia Roberts or someone else with the cover.
She is beautiful, but why is it okay for her to PR her way to the title of most beautiful, but it was not okay for Goop?
Because people don’t like Goop.
Yeah, I got that.
Hypocritical much, isn’t it?
She’s starting to annoy me, and I really wouldn’t want that to happen.
Why isn’t any work announced? It’s been 2 years. And don’t tell me there isn’t any, because I’m sure she’s covered in scripts. Is she holding out for some major part?
I hope the Star Wars rumours are true because that would explain a lot.
For me, Lupita is a fresh face compared to the likes of Gwyneth and Julia. PR is involved no matter who it is. I feel like Gwyneth and Julia have gotten their due with this kind of thing over and over again.
@Tatjana, Lupita has to be getting a ton of scripts. No way do I believe that she is sitting at home twiddling her thumbs waiting for scripts. It’s just the pressure, I’m sure, is on her to follow up with a good part and maybe that is why she is taking her time deciding. Or, she is going to be announced for Star Wars shortly. It’s been said that casting is just about complete and they start principal photography next month. We’ll see. She’d be a big get for the Star Wars team, I think.
As I mentioned below the most recent Hollywood Reporter story says she’s not expected in be in Star Wars. If that’s the case this may all be part of the plan to keep her in the public eye and score some work.
I don’t believe she hasn’t got any offers. Maybe she wants a lead role with a big director?
She probably doesn’t want to play a stereotypical black woman role. This eliminates like 95% of scripts. And others are maybe not good enough or way too small indie movies to be the first movie she does after winning an Oscar? Whatever that is, i hope she gets back to work ASAP.
What is the stereotypical black woman role? I really don’t know.
@ Brienne Sassy and loud friend of the white girl who has nothing going on in her life. Hollywood always uses them as comedic relief.
I don’t really like the title, not because I don’t think she’s beautiful (she’s gorgeous). But it feels like, um, cheapening her? I dunno.
Jenna Dewan Tatum? *dies of laughter* Who’d her PR agent do to get her on that list?
And yes to Lupita.
Jenna’s beautiful
Jenna is beautiful. Can’t deny she’s beautiful. Maybe Jenna’s not a star, but she is gorgeous. Was Matthew Machonaugheys wife on it too,because she’s stunning also.
Jenna really is gorgeous, and refreshingly humble in my opinion.
While there is always a certain level of PR that goes with this list, Jenna is beautiful. Way more beautiful, to me, than Lupita.
And if you’re going to call out Jenna for the publicist buying her the spot, then how much more should you call out Lupita for her publicist buying her the cover?
She’s probably not the most beautiful woman, but IMO she’s the most beautiful celeb. Gosh, I hope she doesn’t go under the knife and lose her freshness.
Exactly what I was thinking!
She is Beautiful because she looks so natural.
I do hope she stays that way.
🙂
I just need to know what exactly is the criteria for being crowned this title,is it like getting a hollywood star and so much goes into it behind the scenes? She is pretty no doubt, just curious.
It’s basically just having good PR and actually wanting the title. Same with their ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ title.
At least this choice is far more likely to be universally liked than last year’s receipient. However at the end of the day these titles are meaningless.
It is probably up there with the Sexiest Man list-whom ever is the most hottest, buzziest, and in your face at the moment. And good PR.
I liked her performance in 12 Years but I wish the big announcement she was going to make was in the form of a movie role and not a cover of a magazine.
I always find it so hard trying to decide who is the most beautiful woman in the whole world.
Lupita is gorgeous.. but do I think she is more beautiful than Angelina Jolie? Or Rihanna? Or Beyoncè? Based on looks and looks only.. They all are incredibly stunning but I can’t pick one. the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder so..I’ll just say I’m happy she’s the first African-American non american citizen to be crown with that title.
Lupia is Black not African American. Halle was the first AA to have the title, Beyonce held the title also.
Congrats to Lupita
Lupita is Kenyan Mexican basically,African parentage Mexican born
I think its kind of silly to call her Kenyan-Mexican though. I mean, yes she was born there but she only lived there for less than a year of her life. Neither of her parents are Mexican. No one identifies Emma Watson for being “french” even though she was born in France, and no one considers Mischa Barton for being “english” even though she was born in England.
I think Lupita does recognize being born in Mexico though. And being African-Mexican? I read somewhere that when she was older she left kenya for awhile to go back to Mexico because she felt it was important to learn Spanish. So until I hear her say otherwise I won’t call it silly to refer to her as that.
Jeezz what a confusion: Lupita is African. Period. She was born in Mexico because her parents where there for a short period of time.
This, times 10000. She is African. Period.
YAYAYAYAYAY! So happy for her.
I love her, but I don’t understand why she hasn’t signed on to a project. The buzz is that she is getting offered tons of interesting roles….is she holding out for some huge role with like Scorsese? Better to sign onto a good indie role or a supporting role than to not capitalize on all the good will by holding out for some huge role….I hope the rumors about her being in Star Wars are true because that would explain the lack of announcements (and as much as I dislike the idea of Star Wars being rebooted, being in a franchise like that will guarantee her a career for at least seven-ten years sand the money to pursue passion projects).
I hope she focuses on good roles – even if small – rather than holding out only for a leading role. I just don’t want her acting to be eclipsed by being a celebrity. Best supporting actress winners often fade off into obscurity.
That’s what I’m afraid of…that’s she holding out for some huge leading role rather than taking solid indie work or supporting roles. She’s going to have enough trouble as it is as a POC women in Hollywood so I don’t want her to miss her moment
Lupita has signed to CAA it was announced yesterday. So this could be a step up with getting more aggressive agents.
Unfortunately (I guess?) the latest word in the Hollywood Reporter is that she is likely not in Star Wars. Get to work CAA agents!
I’m hoping the CAA folks really go to bat for her. I’m ready to hear about her next role.
She is a beautiful woman, but I do agree with Kaiser in wishing there was a announcement of some new film project as well.
Besides the Oscar win, the only new job is her hiring for a cosmetics company. There are going to be people who say Lupita is just a pretty face and her win was just a fluke.
Hollywood and the media are very fickle. When they decide to turn on someone it can be nasty.
Let’s hope she has some big announcement soon
She’s beautiful but I’m more enamored when she speaks. That does it for me. This would have been excellent if she had anything in store to announce. Moving to CAA is a great move since her agent mainly has foreign clients like Marion. I want to see her in something.
Excellent choice for the title.
Wow for once they got it right after years of having women who were well past their peak not just of beauty but general appeal I’m looking at you JLo,Goop, and Julia R.
No JLo is still a knockout. No talented lol but goop and Julia look like gerbils compared to her. Say what you want but she’s stunning and her body is still killing it in her 40s
past their peak…I just hope you’re not referring to age. If I’m happy for Lupita and the way slowly mainstream Hollywood is opening to black women, I hope the same happens to women past 30. Ageism is as bad as racism. I agree with Aly: Julia R and Goop are not gracious women at all. JLo on the other hand could be talentless and even stupid but has IT. More than those two wannabe divas.
I might sound ageist but I mean past their peak in Hollywood. Let’s face it like ’em or not Goop,JLo and Julia look great for their age but none of them are at their peak and are only relevant because they are riding on their past fame even if they are still working. Beauty is so subjective I don’t think you can actually say with a straight face so and so is more beautiful.
I do not know weather Amber Heard can act since I have not seen her in anything. But she is more beautiful most of the people in the list. Are you laughing because you think a PR firm bought this for her? In that case I think Jenna Dewan-Tatum and Stacy Keibler deserve laughter more.
I think that this is great for Lupita but she should not doing any more magazine covers or get beauty contracts before she announces new projects. Otherwise it will seem that she just wishes to be a celebrity. And I am not a big fan of the necklace.
I don’t get the haha over Heard either. People’s Most Beautiful has nothing to do with talent but looks in my opinion. Amber is attractive and I find her better looking than Lupita but her beauty doesn’t compare to Berry or someone like Kate Beckingsale IMO. I know beauty is subjective and all but just like Chinoiserie said what makes people like Jenna not laughable. When was the last time we’ve seen her in anything?
As for PR, it was brought for Lupita as well because they are trying to keep that “it” factor going for her. Maybe it will make the casting directors, directors and producers see that this girl should not be over looked and they should give her a chance to play in the major league. We do have other dark skin actressess in the business but they are usually featured in films where the majority of the cast is Black. A lot of people don’t even know who Tika Sumpter is and she was in one of the biggest box office hits this year. That movie was “Ride Along” with Kevin Hart and Ice Cube. She has talent and to me she’s prettier than Lupita but she has fallen prey to being cast mostly in Black films and TV shows.
amber heard was also charlize theron’s youger self in north country. she was acting long before mr depp came calling. i thought kerry washington and her new baby would have gotten the title. her baby was born months ago.. do the math.. if she was 5 months along in september.. that baby was born a while back. they probably will hope no one notices until september when he is already eating and walking on it’s own.
why they would do that stunt? I’m missing something?
amber is pretty in a way many starlets are. She is not unique or interesting looking. I think that’s why she never caught on as an actress besides her lack of talent. She hasn’t got that movie star X factor or charisma.
@4real beauty is indeed subjective Kate beckingsale for me is not beautiful pretty sure but nothing special like Angelina or someone like that.
@pretty kitty she may have been acting before depp but no one took notice of her before depp.
Yeah we laugh because Amber Heard got a mention because of her fiancee. Amber Heard has a nice C list movie roster in her future. Jenna because of Channing Tatum being a former Sexiest Man Alive I Am Sure and Stacy because George owed her one.
To me Lupita is gorgeous/beautiful and elegant. Glad for her to get the cover.
Ok do you think Lupita would have been on this cover if she hadn’t won that Oscar. She’s attractive but there is nothing unique or stunning about her looks.
I bet if Lupita wasn’t in this business and she passed by some of the same people on the street who is saying she is gorgeous they wouldn’t look at her twice.
I think Lupita is breathtakingly gorgeous. Even is she wasn’t famous. There are plenty of pretty-ish girls in Hollywood described as stunning ( JLaw, Aniston, Goop, Woodley, …), but Lupita isn’t one of them.
IMO I don’t see gorgeous when I look at Lupita so I guess we have differnt taste in beauty and that’s fine.
Yeah it seams People Magainze is scooping from the C and D List.. Next year they will put a reality star on this list.
Excellent choice! Spoke about this in the Bomer article- she is lovely.
They got it right this time.
Of course beauty is subjective but she is definitely the most obvious, deserving choice this year and anyone else would have seemed underwhelming. She looks lovely on the cover, I hate how they stick the little pics on the side, it’s so tacky looking/detracts from Lupita. Esp. J.Law’s bad hair. And of course Prince George squeezed onto the cover! I think this will be much more popular than last year’s dubious Gwyneth cover. Though their list is so obv. p.r. greased in some of the choices (Amber Heard, Jenna Dewan? Pretty women but who cares about them).
she’s not african american though.. ? she’s just african. and google says she’s specifically Kenyan-Mexican.
Born in Mexico because her parents were working there at the time. Both parents are Kenyan though and that’s were she grew up.
Amber Heard has been on that list before Johnny Depp.
Good choice – Lupita is gorgeous and natural as well.
As for the CAA & Chelsea & Jennifer thing – no way is Lupita going to hang out with them. Chelsea is a known racist and Jennifer is the kiss of death for any careers.
People seems to forget that Brad Pitt is represented by CAA as well but not by Huvane (thank god) but by one of the other main partners (forgot his name) who is much more powerful that Huvane. Maybe Brad got Lupita to sign with the same pr manager as well – never know.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Brad did help her get in with CAA–Michael Fassbender said that while they were promoting ‘Inglorious Basterds’ together, Brad went and talked him up to every producer in town.
I do hope that Lupita’s holding out for some better roles, and that CAA will be able to do this for her–hopefully she won’t end up like Freida Pinto–eye candy in EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HER MOVIES. Like seriously–what was the point of her being in that Planet of the Apes movie?
They got it totally right. But Lmao at that CAA Aniston Handler crack. Next up a Cabo marguerita swilling Thanksgiving at Jen’s Joe Francis estate with her girls girls. Runuun Lupita ruuun, like Mike Fassbender was after you!!!!
She is gorgeous! Really happy that someone like her won. She reminds me of certain East African models like alek wek. She could easily get modelling work if she wanted obviously I hope she will get some great acting work.
She’s way too short to be a model.
“Won”? Ummm, no. This is strictly a PR arrangement, it always is. She’s beautiful, it’s true, but People magazine is not to be given any credibility. It’s nice, but like “sexiest man alive” it’s really just standard, everyday PR.
Alek Wek isn’t East African.
I always laugh when the person acts so surprised to get the cover. These covers are all the work of good PR people.
Yeah like Paltrow’s, ‘tee hee when they told me I thought it was a joke.’ Bish, it was a joke. But that’s beside the point, your pr flack Stephen Huvane I’m sure was keeping you up to date on you getting that cover and the number of favors he had to pull to seal the deal.
I don’t really get the dig at Amber, say what you will about her acting or personal life, but she is obviously beautiful. More so than the other people listed actually.
As for Lupita, I hope this isn’t the ‘big announcement’ that was referred to.
She really is beautiful and most of all, she has an expression of confidence that makes a whole lot of difference. But I see they wrote the title “Her inspiring story’ and that’s BS. She may be black but she has had a privileged upbringing that led to her privileged life – as it should have. (how inspiring)
That being said, while I love seeing her outfits I wouldn’t pay to see her in a movie, but I would pay to see someone less famous but weekly amazing like Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black or even the Khaleesi. I don’t know what Lupita is waiting for, but I think great TV would be a very good move by showing her talent day after day and sending out the message that she understands she’s at the beginning. Matthew McConaughey is amazing on TV and he was bigger than Lupita, with or without his rom-coms.
I’m guessing they’re saying that she’s inspiring because of her race (she’s getting a ton of attention for a black woman in Hollywood–and not just because she’s on one of those stupid Housewives shows), and because of what she’s accomplished–getting an Oscar for her first film role. It has nothing to do with wealth. I think she’s inspiring simply because she is a dark skinned black woman, who is getting attention for her beauty AND talent. My mom, who is about to turn 50, would have KILLED for someone like Lupita to be in the spotlight when she was a kid.
+1
I think she would be inspiring to an underrepresented group of people.
I think the inspiring thing is all about her getting her first film role, and then knocking it out of the park and winning the big award – those who have done it are a relatively short list. I’d find that inspiring for anyone to do, regardless of their race, gender, upbringing, wealth, etc. Plus she managed to do it with such grace and class.
So happy for her, she is such a breath of fresh air with all the trashy celebrity culture in recent years. CAA is repping some high profile A Listers like Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock, RDJ, Clooney, Cruise, so this sounds great!
A lot more refreshing than last year’s choice of Gwyneth Paltrow.
I’m not sure why people are blaming her for not getting any roles when a few weeks back there was an article quoting insiders saying she was too dark for Hollywood. I’d guess sadly she isn’t getting the same offers that someone like the awful Rooney Mara is to work with a high profile directors because most of this art house films rarely feature people of color.
@Luca26 –
EXACTLY!!!!!!!! Thank you for pointing this out.
I think it’s strange, too. Everyone suspected that it would happen and felt bad about it. I think it’s still early, but how do you go for sympathy to anger so quickly and over the thing for which they pitied her. Hollywood is a cesspool for all actresses save for a few singled out individuals so it’s plain old hard out there even for the kind of beauty that Hollywood favours. We fan never know how any actresses manage their careers when they’re off screen.
This is so cool, People photoshopped the stars with their younger selves they nailed Julia Roberts and Drew Barrymore.
http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20360857_20807197,00.html
I THINK THAT SHE IS PRETTY. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT SHE IS OVERRATED. SHE IS THE IT GIRL OF THE MOMENT. A YEAR FROM NOW SHE WILL HARDLY BE MENTIONED. I DO WISH HER THE BEST.
I absolutely agree. She is a pretty woman but is definitely overrated.
Amazing choice! She shines so brightly.
Love her, love their choice. She’s so stunning. Gorgeous and talented.
Remember Lupita whatever Halle did in her career(after the Oscar) and personal life Do the opposite.
Lupita is quite lovely. I also think Charlize Theron should get it knew year,has she ever been the choice? She’s another stunning beauty who works and doesn’t create drama all over the place a class act.
lbr if it wasn’t her I would’ve frowned. No one came close to her this year.
Lupita is not only a beautiful but also an interesting celeb
but yeah I’d rather hear news that she’s had a spectacular casting than a magazine cover
bittersweet feelings
I think she is so beautiful, and just radiant. Excellent choice, even if those titles are completely stupid. If nothing else, it will help her profile up while she’s working with new management, and hopefully will get some good roles.
i think the dig at Amber is sort of fair – she’s a beautiful woman, but she was supposed to be the next big thing and her career never really took off hugely. I kind of doubt she’d be on their radar if it weren’t for Depp. (I’m looking at you too, Jenna Dewan-Tatum).
Glad to see Keri Russell on the list I think she is so pretty and she’s doing great work on The Americans, but the photo of her they chose is not great. Ditto for Mindy – she’s lovely but photo on the website is not good!
It could only have been – she’s the perfect choice this year!
I think she’s the perfect choice.
Meh. Nice looking, hardly “most beautiful.” I’ve always been unimpressed with their selections.
I happy with the choice. I think she is beautiful however, I wish she wouldn’t have her mouth open all the time. I don’t need to see her tongue.
Overall happy with the choices on the list. As a woman of European Spanish descent, I wish they had included some latinas. Heck, there are no Asian chicks either, apart from Mindy.
Oh, People Magazine just shows 10 people on their website. There are A LOT more people in that actual magazine.
Didn’t you hear? Diversity is limited to black and white. Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans need not apply. It’s just like the vanity fair cover with all the big and up and coming stars. Everyone was white or black and people couldn’t have been happier. Look how diverse!!
Did anyone know a biopic of Ceasar Chavez was released recently? One with popular actors that could have easily been recognized by moviegoers? Probably not. Hollywood didn’t even try to promote it. Typical.
LOL, good one, Aly 🙂
Aly, thank you x1000000 for saying this.
I love her and I think she was a great choice, but I do think she will be receiving some backlash about not getting roles and only being a “fashion girl” soon. And even though she pulls of the short hair, I sort of hope she grows it out, I think she’d look stunning in long hair – like a young Naomi Campbell (one of the most beautiful women of all time IMO!)
Naomi wears wigs/weaves.
I can’t even picture her with that type of hair. I mean, it’s fine if she want’s to play around with her look, but her short natural hair sends a message to Hollywood that the Eurocentric aesthetic isn’t the be all end all example of what is beautiful.
Off topic…Prince George is a chunky monkey! He looks so squeezable!
She is beautiful because she looks natural, glowing and different. She embraces her natural beauty and shows it to the world. That is why she is beautiful. Her beauty is not manufactured.
Most Beautiful Person in the World!!
Or more aptly, the most beautiful person among celebrities known by an american audience.
If every country had such a ‘title/list’ in one of their mags, and the list of “Most beautiful people in the world” resulted of a compilation of these, it would make a little more sense.
America IS the world, don’t you know?
Isn’t that the Miss Universe/Miss World pageants?
So absolutely no other country in the world has beautiful actresses (apparently all the beautiful people are in this field)?
The only beautiful women outside of the US are the pageanty type and the only way to have a glimpse of them is a Miss Universe contest? OK.
I was kinda expecting that it was going to be Jolie because of her mastectomy and she’s got a big movie coming out (just like Paltrow buying / getting the title when Iron man 3 was gonna be out) but I guess she don’t care about the title and have no time for People photoshoot.
But Lupita is beautiful and so it think she’s a great choice!
Who are the guys on the list?!
Where does it say SHE was most beautiful? Is it on the inside! All I see is a beautiful woman on the cover of people’s beautiful people issue. Was there a winner or something? It’s not like their “sexiest man alive” issue where they single out one person.
Either way good for her! She is pretty much my fave actress out there. I’d rather be hearing more of her than anyone else.
I dont even buy this crap. Lupita is very pretty but I see women more beautiful walking down the street than whats in this magazine. I thought Lupita did a fine job in TYAS but truthfully i dont think she deserved the Oscar after watching American Hustle nor did I think TYAS should have won best picture. It felt like I had seen it before. It was good but not great for me. Hopefully she will find more roles to showcase her talent.
My god, are you’re talking about Jennifer Lawrence? Lupita blew her out of the water. JLaw couldn’t hold a candle to her in that movie (which was incredibly overrated btw) but there was nothing oscar worthy about that movie, MAYBE Christian Bale but that’s it.
Lupita got the oscar she deserved.
That’s your opinion, I have mine. Agree to disagree.
bitter much lol
Lupita did not blow Jennifer out of the water, what load of bullshit * rolls eyes*
Just check some of Jennifer reviews and her critics wins for this movie
There are plenty people out there who think Lupita is overrated and other actresses deserve it more, your opinion is not more important than others.
@Maggie: I couldn’t agree more!.
Dee: Nope…Jennifer Lawrence DID blow Nyong’o out of the water. Nyong’o has one hell of a PR team, though! (LOL!). I mean, wins an Oscar for a small part in a big film where the actors surrounding her were leagues ahead of her. Where was the love for Alfre Woodard?…Sarah Paulson?…Chewitel Ejiofor?…Fassbender???.
Why, I want to know is Nyong’o being treated as if ALL the awards MUST go to her…all the scripts…everything…why?.
There are actresses, WOC actresses who have also been working their asses off and they aren’t getting the same attention (which is so freaking over the top) it’s insane. no one knows what Nyong’o is capable of as an actress, yet, she is being referred to as the greatest freaking actress in the world…LOL!. So, can Nyong’o do comedy?…action adventure?…a contemporary film where she loses the accent?. Nyong’o needs to pay her dues before anyone declares her genuinely a great actress. The woman simply isn’t there yet.
@Dee: Jennifer Lawrence doesn’t have to “dream about putting out” any kind of an incredible performance because it’s already a reality. Considering Lawrence has received critical acclaim for not just ONE freaking part in ONE freaking film but every single film she has been in since she started acting in film…beginning with The Poker House up to and including American Hustle.
Look, we can agree to disagree here….as far as I’m concerned, Nyong’o is vastly overpraised (very much in the decent but incredibly overrated camp). Jennifer Lawrence has proven herself over and over again with the critics and public since 2008.
Jennifer hardly deserved a NOMINATION for that role.
Wow. All she gave was a different opinion, I don’t see why people had to respond and tell she’s wrong? Art is subjective, there is no such thing as “best”.
@Brienne: Jennifer Lawrence not only deserved the nomination, she deserved to win. Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams received rave reviews and rightfully so. I saw both American Hustle as well as 12YAS and thought that Nyong’o was good not great…the actors surrounding her were far better. Nyong’o is incredibly overrated in my honest opinion.
I agree with Brienne. Apart from Winter’s Bone, Jennifer never blew me away.
I totally agree on all points. That’s why they say “The Oscar goes to….” The way everyone was fawning all over her and the film got so annoying. They were good not great.
What film did TYAS remind you of? Because I think that that is the closest picture we will ever have of what it was like to be a slave, in that time. Roots, et al didn’t even come close. Especially now that our world is more modern, and slavery isn’t the norm anymore. I had never heard of Solomon Northup before this film came out–my grandmother hadn’t either, and she bought his autobiography and the movie because I had told her about it (because I had read about it on THIS SITE).
And I think that TYAS was a unique story, in that we can relate to it–the feeling of being a free person, being able to make a living on our talents and merit, and then being taken away into a completely foreign circumstance–slavery—that we have never, ever witnessed or felt before. And learning how to temper ourselves, to learn how to survive, to not act out like any other normal, FREE person would–and then, to recognize and come to terms with the fact that we are never going to be free, or go back to our old life–and if we do, it is something that will never leave us (i.e. the ‘roll jordan, roll’ sequence where Solomon is numb, gets angry, and then cries while singing the song).
I cried when I saw the film.
I felt that American Hustle was a good film, but not Oscar worthy–especially for Directing. Half way through I got confused as to who and why Robert Deniro was in the movie. I think Jennifer was a standout (like Amy Adams and Christian Bale), and I’m not mad she got nominated–but I don’t think she should’ve won anything, based on the other nominees work.
TYAS was very oscar worthy I think. The movie as a whole was and I’m glad it won best picture. But for best supporting actress out of the JLaw, Lupita, and Sally Hawkins for Blue Jasmine…Sally Hawkins should’ve won I think.
What is the point to sign with CAA if now they just sign anyone and try to turn them into celebrities and this exactly what is happenning with Lupita? Since she is so talent why she has one movie on her credit and why winning an oscar all she got was magazine covers and clothes line? talk all you want but without campaignning Jennifer still won the GG and BAFTA despite Lupita PR machine all award season. Jennifer also won the majority of critics awards This speak volumes on how great performace Jennifer was. I sill think Lupita deserved the oscar there is nothing special about her performace and her career will prove how not special she is and if she don’t stop promoting herself as a celebrity she won’t even have time to have one because blacklash will overcome her.
I think you’re supplying enough backlash for the rest of us, sheesh.
Jfc I’m so sick of having a big group of white people with a few African Americans thrown in and having people tell me it’s ‘diversity’. NO it’s not. It’s a group of two races out of who world filled with amazing people. I’m thrilled we have black actors/actresses up there, they SHOULD be, but give me some Asian women (we have mindy at least, anyone else?) some Hispanics, Arab or god forbid we acknowledge some Native Americans.
Please don’t give me this list of black and white women and call it diversity. I know I sound bitter, but being a Hispanic woman I’m tired of never seeing myself in these big, supposedly DIVERSE groups.
Hispanic is not a separate race.
I haven’t seen this issue yet but JLo along with Sofia Vergara, Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz, Matt Mcconaughey’s wife and Zoe Saldana has been on the list and I think Lucy Lu. Even though it’s still not enough we can’t pretend that no one of a Hispanic background has never made the list before. JLo was the cover winner one year.
This gets a hell yeah! from me. I love her and I’m glad she got the cover. I hope it leads to more opportunities and yes, more work on the big screen.
Excellent choice! Beautiful woman inside and out.
Jess Cagle was right when he said this choice would be polarizing.I’m a little surprised by the reaction on Black blogs. There is a lot of negative and neutral comments especially amongst the men. The comments seem to be about 40% positive, 30% negative, 30% mixed(neutral). On mainstream gossip blogs it looks to be 50/50. America is not used to Black women with her features being called beautiful. 🙁
Most celebs are polarizing. Most celebs are criticized constantly. People shouldn’t have to treat her with kid gloves.
I don’t think it has much to do with her features, but she’s just not that attractive to some people. I also don’t think it has to do with her skin tone becasue Tika Sumpter is just as dark as Lupita and she is liked by men on the Urban Blogs. Men on the urban blogs used to love India Arie and she is a dark skin natural woman. Lauren Hill is a dark skin woman who wore her hair natural most of the time and she was loved and considered beautiful as well.
I LOVE the fact that magazines are starting to cover different types of beaty. But i HATE that Lupita became a celebrity more than an actress.
For the life of me, I don’t understand how Lupita is a “different” kind of beauty. She is textbook pretty.
I meant different from Hollywood standarts. You are right, she is stunning but she is not unique looking woman.
Because we’re not used to seeing an African woman, with African features being called ‘beautiful’, especially by Hollywood. And especially a woman with her natural hair texture. All of the famous black actresses tend to be mixed race, and have ‘good hair’–whether it’s natural or permed/weave, etc.
I said above, my mom would’ve loved to have someone like Lupita talk about how she never felt beautiful, because of her skin color–how dark she was–until she saw Whoopi Goldberg. That’s something that’s pretty prevelant in black families–one of my aunt’s godmother picked her as a godchild because she had the lightest skin out of all the kids.
I think that Lupita is unique by Hollywood standards, and that she is a very attractive woman, by normal standards as well.
I don’t find Goop all that attractive. I think when she was younger, she had a clean sense of style, and dressed nice–she was attractive, but she was never gorgeous or desirable looking to me. Not even by normal standards–a total plain jane, I think.
Apart from skin colour, I could never place certain features with a race, except maybe fuller lips with black people. I don’t see her feautures being different from Angelina Jolie’s for an example. Both have full lips, small noses, big eyes. I first heard the term “good hair” on this site.
Maybe it’s just me.
Yay! Now get her some great roles – I wanna see her at the movies!
Happy for LUpita. And even more happy that my new girl crush is in the list too: ROBIN WRIGHT…hail Mrs. Underwood
She is so beutiful. Very good choice indeed.
Awesome choice! Good for her 🙂
If she starts hanging out with other CAA alum such as Handler and co, it may take her shine off for me though… 🙁
Audrey Hepburn won for her first role and I wouldn’t call her a flash in the pan. We’ll have to see.
Her PR is obviously taking advantage of opportunities because everybody knows she is the flavour of the year and soon somebody else will be on her spot but if she doesn’t start getting roles nobody will put up with her for very long. Her people is trying to make her a star but she doesn’t even have a career to begin with. The fact she won an oscar and have just one movie on her credits and suddenly people think she can be a star is beyond ridiculous.
she looks like a queen. excellent choice.
I don’t agree. I also didn’t agree when she won her Oscar, I don’t think her performance deserved it, but oh well.
Love her. Since she came on the scene, suddenly every website has a dark-skinned, short-haired model. God bless her for moving the needle on what is beautiful!
I think is great that she is on that cover, I dont care how privileged she has been, I dont hear people mentioning that about other people
I do not think she is a classical beauty, “classical” beauties have for sure not been African woman at all, she is a gorgeous lady but classical is what we have been brainwashed with for the longest time, if she was “classic” I doubt we would all be making the comments we are making.
I truly hope one day people’s ethnicity is not even a topic.
50 Most Beautiful People in the Entertainment Industry.
When did anyone ever claim that it wasn’t?
What we are all experiencing by watching and synthesizing a ‘Lupita’ type woman is a challenge; A challenge in our centuries old subliminal ideology that was created by billions of “European whiteness” images that are digested and made to control group think on what is “classic beauty” ( if even this subjective term even exists ). And if “classic beauty” is real, and only in our ideology, than there MUST be a much broader and inclusive representation that can hold a match just as possibly long as a Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, and more recently Julia Roberts. Classic beauty is created from our thoughts and interact with our cultural references of that time. WE MADE an Elizabeth Taylor and so we either will learn that we are ready as culture to make a Lupita. Albeit, fear IS an underlying factor in dealing with your own internal challenge when looking at Lupita! The fear of fiercely beautiful underrepresented dark skin woman FINALLY taking her rightful place to be someday brought in to mind as among American’s CLASSIC beauty because she embodies everything WE Are!! Thanks Lupita for taking a challenge tha will hav lack luster back lash because of FEAR! You, Lupita may not get the roles you would expect as you are a caliber of actress similar to Jennifer Lawrence but YOU continue to act and make people challenge their thinking because it is Divine!