People magazine's 'most beautiful persons' since 2010

Actress Lupita Nyong'o poses with her best supporting actress award as she arrives at the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscars Party in West Hollywood, California on March 3, 2014. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
Actress Lupita Nyong'o poses with her best supporting actress award as she arrives at the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscars Party in West Hollywood, California on March 3, 2014. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
Lupita Nyong'o holds her award for best supporting actress in12 Years a Slave at the 2014 Independent Spirit Awards on on March 1, 2014 in Santa Monica, California. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
Actress Lupita Nyong'o attends 7th Annual ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon on Feb 27, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
Lupita N'yongo poses on arrival for the world premiere of the film "Non-Stop" on February 24, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. The film opens nationwide in the US on Feb 28. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
Kenyan-Mexican actress and director Lupita Nyong'o arrives on the red carpet for the BAFTA British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Opera House in London on Feb 16, 2014. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
Jennifer Lopez at the party for the finalists of American Idol XIII in West Hollywood, California, on Feb 20, 2014. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS 
Cinema still from the movie Enough, starring Jennifer Lopez. -- FILE PHOTO: STARHUB
Cinema still from the movie Maid In Manhattan, starring Jennifer Lopez. -- FILE PHOTO: REVOLUTION STUDIOS
Actress Jennifer Lopez from her film Gigli in this undated publicity photograph. -- FILE PHOTO: COLUMBIA PICTURES
Jennifer Lopez. -- FILE PHOTO: SONY BMG
Cinema still from the movie Monster-In-Law, starring Jennifer Lopez. -- WARNERS BROTHERS
Singer Beyonce performs at the BRIT Awards, celebrating British pop music, at the O2 Arena in London on Feb 19, 2014. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
Singer Beyonce watches the NBA game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in New York on Feb 3, 2014. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
American singer Beyonce. -- FILE PHOTO: SONY MUSIC
Cinema Still: Obsessed, starring Beyonce Knowles. -- FILE PHOTO: SINGTEL
Singer Beyonce Knowles wearing an outfit by designer Azzedine Alaia on one of her album cover image. -- FILE PHOTO: IHTBEYONCE
American singer Beyonce. -- FILE PHOTO: SONY MUSIC
In this file photo dated on Feb 26, 2012 shows actress Gwyneth Paltrow arriving on the red carpet for the 84th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
In this file photo dated on Feb 26, 2012 shows actress Gwyneth Paltrow arriving on the red carpet for the 84th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
US actress Gwyneth Paltrow speaks after receiving a Golden Camera award for best actres international at the 49th Golden Camera awards ceremony in Berlin on Feb 1, 2014. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
Cinema still: Iron Man 3 starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Guy Pearce. -- FILE PHOTO: WALT DISNEY PICTURES
Gwyneth Paltrow, American actress. -- FILE PHOTO: PARAMOUNT
Cinema still: Shakespeare In Love Starring Gwyneth Paltrow. -- FILE PHOTO: UNIVERSAL PICTURES
Julia Roberts at the 86th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 2, 2014. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
Cinema still from the movie Eat Pray Love, starring Julia Roberts. -- FILE PHOTO: SINGTEL
Cinema still from the movie Eat Pray Love, starring Julia Roberts. -- FILE PHOTO: SONY PICTURES
Cinema still from the movie Eat Pray Love, starring Julia Roberts. -- FILE PHOTO: SONY PICTURES
Cinema still Valentine's Day, starring Julia Roberts. -- FILE PHOTO: WARNER BROTHERS
Cinema still from the movie America's Sweetheart, starring Julia Roberts. -- FILE PHOTO: COLUMBIA TRISTAR
Actress Actress Lupita Nyong'o arrives on the red carpet for the 2014 MTV Movie Awards at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California, on April 13, 2014. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP

Who are the most beautiful people in the world? If you do not trust your own eyes, People magazine makes answering that question much easier.

Each year since 1990, People has been publishing the top 50 most beautiful people on earth. The ultimate beauty icon of the year then lands on the cover of their 'most beautiful' issue.

The first person to earn the "most beautiful" recognition is Michelle Pfeiffer. Other celebrities who have made the list include Cindy Crawford, Angelina Jolie Halle Berry, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mel Gibson and Tom Cruise.

We look back at the top beauty icons according to People magazine since 2010.

2014 - Lupita Nyong'o

Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o, who won best supporting actress at the Oscars this year for her role in 12 Years A Slave, has been touted as one of the most beautiful people in the world. And People magazine just made it official by declaring the Kenyan actress as the "most beautiful person" of 2014.

"It was exciting and just a major, major compliment," Nyong'o said as quoted by HollywoodLife.com.

In another report, the actress said the importance of beauty was something she learned from her mother. "She taught me that your presentation is an expression of how much you care about yourself and those around you," she was quoted telling People magazine.

2013 - Gwyneth Paltrow

At the age of 40 around this time last year, Gwyneth Paltrow said she's just an "ordinary mum" who just wears jeans and a t-shirt - and no makeup - when she's at home. To People magazine, she was the year's most beautiful person, and it was the mummy-factor that got her the vote.

"She's relatable as a wife and a mother who balances personal life and her career," People magazine managing director Larry Hackett was quoted as saying in Good Morning America.

He added: "She's family-oriented, grounded, close to her mother and looks great."

2012 - Beyonce Knowles

Beyonce Knowles is more than just a singer. Her name is a brand in itself.

When she was honoured as People's most beautiful woman in 2012, people in the marketing world believed the reason went far beyond her physical beauty.

"Beyonce is a smart businesswoman! There's no way she would have agreed to be on the cover of People, named as the Most Beautiful Woman in the World, if she didn't have business projects that she will be promoting," Hollywood Life editor-in-chief Bonnie Fuller was quoted saying in Huffington Post.

2011 - Jennifer Lopez

At 41, Jenny "from the block" earned People magazine's honour as the most beautiful person of the year.

"Rarely am I left speechless, but I feel honoured," actress, singer and TV host Jennifer Lopez said when she appeared on People's "most beautiful" issue in 2011.

Is it easy being a beauty icon? Here's what Lopez had to say: "I don't want anybody thinking it's easy. It does take time and it's hard work. HDTV wide-screen is nobody's friend!"

2010 - Julia Roberts

If being beautiful is a crime, Julia Roberts is a repeat offender. In 2010, Roberts was declared the world's top beauty icon for a fourth time after she received the same recognition in 2005, 2000 and 1991.

You can say she really is the ultimate "pretty woman".

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.