In People magazine’s quest to name the 2012 World’s Most Beautiful Woman, the publication has named Sofia Vergara and Madeleine Stowe to the Top 10 list.
The 39-year-old Colombian actress—who recently shined in her first guest-hosting stint on NBC’s Saturday Night Live—discussed her bombshell status in her SNL monologue.
“I always heard that immigrants had a really hard life when they came to America,” joked Vergara. “But when I showed up here everyone was so nice. The men bought me drinks and offered me a place to sleep. This country welcomed me with open arms… and pulled-down pants.”
But Vergara isn’t apologetic about her looks. “I’m not ashamed. It has opened doors,” the InStyle cover girl admitted to the magazine in April. And now that she’s about turn 40 in July, the Modern Family actress is both flattered and amused she’s still considered a head-turner. “I am on these lists for ‘best ass’ or ‘most beautiful’ with women like Mila Kunis, who’s, like, 20 years old,” she says with a laugh. “I have a son that age!”
Madeleine Stowe, who was lured back to Hollywood after a 12-year absence with a choice role on ABC’s instahit Revenge cracked the Top 10 as well.
“It’s fun being noticed on the streets,” says Stowe, whose perfect mix of beauty and talent led to ’90s box-office success in The Last of the Mohicans and Unlawful Entry. As for aging in Hollywood, the 53-year-old half-Costa Rican actress takes a rational approach: “My forehead moves! Some things, you have to let go.”
Meanwhile, several Latinas were featured in People’s “Beautiful at Every Age” feature.
Jessica Alba, 31
Turning 31 on April 28, Alba—who will soon be adding the title of “published author” to her resume— says she has finally reached a point where she’s finally comfortable in her own skin. “I’d been so afraid of criticism ever since I was young,” she told Elle. “Now I have no problem with it.”
Eva Longoria, 37
The former beauty queen and national co-chair for Obama’s re-election campaign says it takes more than good looks to look your best. “People think health only has to do with your physical being, but for me, it’s so much more,” the Desperate Housewives star told Health magazine. “I have a great diet and exercise routine. And I try to have a healthy outlook.”
Eva Mendes, 38
The Miami native—who will soon be starring as a neglectful mother inGirl in Progress—has no problem showing a little skin. Or even a lot of skin. Just check out her racy ads for Calvin Klein. “I’m not at all ashamed or frightened about showing my body,” she told the Spanish edition of Vogue. As for being labeled a sex symbol, Mendes says, “I like it when it doesn’t limit my career. It’s a part of my life, but on a secondary plane.”
Jennifer Lopez, 42
Named People’s Most Beautiful Woman in 2011, the American Idol judge—who gets hearts racing in the steamy video for her latest single “Dance Again”—says she values inner over outer beauty any day. “I feel lucky to be an attractive person,” she told People. “But I’ve always felt that real beauty always comes from your heart.”
