Who Is The Hottest Chick In the Game Right Now?

From Katy Perry to Nicki Minaj, we count down the girls who are running the world.

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Image via Complex Original
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Intro

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Jennifer Lopez

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10. Jennifer Lopez

This Is Why She's Hot: Caliente as she wants to be, this 42-year-old Fly Girl turned actress turned American Idol host has rekindled her pop music career 12 years after her first hit, "If You Had My Love." (Let's see Steven Tyler or Randy Jackson do that!) And who can forget her New Year's Eve performance a few years back in that sheer black bodysuit? As an added bonus, J-Lo is single again. That's got to raise the mercury a few extra degrees.

Men Lie, Women Lie: Her biggest single of 2011, "On The Floor" f/ Pitbull peaked at No. 3 and was certiified triple platinum, selling over 3 million copies. But her seventh studio album album Love? has yet to go gold—a mere fraction of her last platinum-plus album, 2002's This Is Me... Then, which moved 2,600,000 units (then).

Musical Temperature: J-Lo's is supposedly going to release a greatest hits album in 2012. Look for her to push it on American Idol this year.

Ex-Factor: After seven years of marriage, J-Lo announced that she was splitting with Marc Anthony—her third divorce not counting high-profile breakups with Diddy and Ben Affleck. She was soon spotted cavorting with tattooed backup dancers and whatnot.

Taylor Swift

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9. Taylor Swift

This Is Why She's Hot:  Somewhere between the time she made that video with T-Pain and the time she A&R'd the biggest hit of Nicki Minaj's career, we've been obsessed with Taylor Swift. Is she Country? Pop? Hip-Hop? Whatever you want to call her, honey is paid. According to Forbes, her tour grosses $750,000 every night. Plus you never know—Jeezy or T.I. might just come through on the strength to kick it with T-Swizzle.

Men Lie, Women Lie: With estimated earnings of $45 million last year, Taylor Swift ranked No. 13 on Forbes magazine's list of "Highest Paid Musicians."

Musical Temperature: Her third album, Speak Now, was released last year and has sold more than 5 million copies since. Swift has sold over 20 million albums worldwide.

Ex-Factor: Exes have served as inspiration for some of Taylor's biggest hits. Care to try your luck? Maybe you too can become a song on her next album. She said it best on her last album: "There is nothing I do better than revenge."

Britney Spears

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8. Britney Spears

This Is Why She's Hot: When last year's Max Martin and Dr. Luke produced bombshell "Hold It Against Me" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, 30-year-old Britney Spears scored the fourth chart-topping single of her career as well as her second No. 1 debut in a row. Even better, she did it more than 12 years after her first No. 1 debut. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Spears has now sold over 100 million records worldwide, and this teen-pop hottie turned reckless mega-milf just seems to get better with age. In October 2011, the music video for her single "Criminal" stirred up controversy when British politicians criticized Spears for using fake guns in an neighborhood that was scarred by last year's London riots. Her management dismissed the criticism, letting the pols know—in so many words—"It's Britney, bitches."

Men Lie, Women Lie: Forbes estimates that Brit earned $10 million last year.

Musical Temperature: Britney's seventh studio album, Femme Fatale, was released this past March, and is now certified platinum. Who else wants to see her drop a mixtape with Kreayshawn?

Ex-Factor: Last December Spears showed off her three-carat ring and announced her engagement to former manager Jason Trawick. Keven Federline had better back off.

Alicia Keys

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7. Alicia Keys

This Is Why She's Hot: How did Alicia Keys top her storybook wedding to super-producer Swizz Beatz and the birth of their first child? She got to work, stacking chips like Pringles. Since becoming a mom in Ocrober 2010, Alicia Keys has co-directed a short film, co-produced a Broadway show, and collected nearly $700,000 per night for a string of live concerts. “A lot of times, people make far more money than they could probably ever even think about what to do with,” AK told Forbes this year. How hot is that?

Men Lie, Women Lie: Alicia Keys earned an estimated $10 million last year—approximately $3 million more than her hit-making husband, according to Forbes magazine.

Musical Temperature: A 10th Anniversary edition of her debut album Songs In A Minor was released this past June. Her five original albums have sold more than 33 million copies worldwide.

Ex-Factor: She's married to Swizz Beatz with a baby on board. Messing with her would be "Unthinkable."

Lady Gaga

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6. Lady Gaga

This Is Why She's Hot: In 2012 nothing is hotter than world domination, and Lady Gaga truly is the Monster that ate pop music. Her 2011 hit "Born This Way" stayed at No. 1 for six straight weeks, helping her become the highest ranking woman on Forbes magazine's list of "Highest Paid Musicians." Thanks to a crazy touring schedule, Gaga raked in more chips last year than the next two women (Taylor Swift and Katy Perry) combined. Trailing only the megastars U2, Bon Jovi, and Elton John, Lady Gaga is quite simply killing the game.

Men Lie, Women Lie: With estimated earnings of $90 million last year, Lady Gaga ranked No. 4 on Forbes list of "Highest Paid Musicians." And she works hard for that money, performing 137 shows in 22 countries over a 12-month span.

Musical Temperature: Her latest album, Born This Way, was released this past November and is now certified double platinum.

Ex-Factor: In March Gaga announced that she was splitting with on-again off-again boyfriend Luc Carl, a drummer and part-time bartender.

Katy Perry

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5. Katy Perry

This Is Why She's Hot: With singles like "Fireworks" topping the charts and fireworks in her short-lived marriage to Russell Brand in the headlines, Katy Perry spent 2011 in the hottest spotlight imaginable. Just as she was transforming from quirky pop singer to sexy megastar with with pyrotechnnic pasties and 37 million Facebook friends, the church girl gone wild married the reformed British bad boy and their passion flamed hot until it burned out. We can only look forward to lots of reckless rebound hook-ups.

Men Lie, Women Lie: With estimated earnings of $44 million last year, Katy Perry ranked No. 14 on Forbes list of "Highest Paid Musicians."

Musical Temperature: Her latest album, Teenage Dream, was released in 2010, producing four chart-topping singles.

Ex-Factor: Did we mention that Rihanna took her on a post-divorce girls-only vacation to Mexico? Can't wait for the next episode of this saga.

Nicki Minaj

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4. Nicki Minaj

This Is Why She's Hot: How hot is Nicki Minaj in 2012? After her unprecedented run of hit singles and features changed the game for female MCs in the post–Lauryn Hill era, the Young Money Empress has the whole rap game hanging on her bra-strap. Not even Drizzy Drake has moved as many units of his debut album as Nicki. No wonder her sophomore album Roman Reloaded is one of the most anticipated projects of the year. These days she doesn't just talk about Barbies, she does things like strikes doll partnership agreement with Mattell for a Beverly Hills charity auction. Plus she still signs her fans' boobs from time to time.

Men Lie, Women Lie: Nicki Minaj broke two records this past June: by scoring the highest charting song by a female rapper in ten years and by becoming the first woman to make the Forbes magazine list of "Hip Hop Cash Kings," clocking in at number 15 with estimated earnings of $6.5 million last year.

Musical Temperature: Nicki's debut album, Pink Friday, is certified double platinum, with no fewer than seven charting singles. Her sophmore album, Roman Reloaded , is expected to drop this Valentines' Day.

Ex-Factor: Other than an argument with her supposed boyfriend that hit the tabloids last summer, NIcki keeps her business out of the streets—although the occasional nipple sometimes slips out of her dress.

Adele

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3. Adele

This Is Why She's Hot: Not since Celine Dion sang the Titanic soundtrack has an album spent longer at the top of charts than Adele's 21. The 23-year-old British phenom's soulful break-up songs locked down the Billboard charts in 2011. She's the Top Artist, she has the No. 1 album and the No. 1 song—which makes her the first artist to do that since Whitney Houston sang "I Will Always Love You." In other words 23-year-old Adele Laurie Blue Adkins is major. (Here's hoping she makes a full recovery from throat surgery.) We love her raunchy sense of humor—plus who doesn't have a thing for British girls? 

Men Lie, Women Lie: Adele earned an estimated $18 million last year.

Musical Temperature: Her sophomore album, 21, has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. The single "Rolling in the Deep" spent seven weeks at No. 1, and and "Someone Like You," spent another five weeks at the top spot.

Ex-Factor: Her whole album is about one messy break-up. But it turns out she's friendly with the guy now. Fancy a make-up shag?

Beyoncé

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2. Beyoncé

This Is Why She's Hot: Amidst all this talk about "baby money" and "my lady money" and "how much you love your lady money" it's worth nothing that, according to Forbes, 2011 was the first year Jay-Z earned more money than Beyoncé since the two got hitched in 2008. And the 30-year-old H-town diva (who fired her father as manager last year) just happens to rank lower than usual on this year's list because her most recent album didn't come out until late in the year. She might be in mommy mode for a hot minute, but don't sleep. When young B made up her mind to shut down last year's Billboard Awards, she let everybody know who runs the world.

Men Lie, Women Lie: Beyoncé ranked #18 on Forbes magazine's list of "Highest Paid Musicians," earning an estimated $35 million last year—which ties her with both Diddy and AC/DC, and puts her just behind her husband's estimated earnings of $37 million.

Musical Temperature: B's latest album, 4, sold a mere million copies, whereas her three previous solo albums combined to sell 25 million worldwide.

Ex-Factor: Dream on. This happily married new mom is the best thing you'll never have.

Rihanna

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1. Rihanna

This Is Why She's Hot: One of just five solo female artists to make last year's Forbes list of "Highest Paid Musicians," the 24-year-old Bajan beauty will continue her reign in 2012—so get your umbrellas out.

Her single "We Found Love" began its run at the top of the pop charts in early November, going on to become one of the longest-lived hits of 2011. That song became Rihanna's longest-running No. 1 single, breaking her own record, which were set by "Umbrella" in 2007 and "Love the Way You Lie" in 2010.

But really it's the intangibles that put Rihannna on top. Who gets more shout-outs in songs? Who's more of a fashion trendsetter? Who else shoots risque music videos on Irish farms? Who else curses out a Dutch magazine editors on Twitter and gets them fired? And when Katy Perry split with her husband Russell Brand, who else but Rihanna would clear out her schedule for some serious "Girls Night Out" action? That's what hot friends are for.

Men Lie, Women Lie: Ranking #25 on Forbes magazine's list of "Highest Paid Musicians," earning an estimated $26 million last year—RiRi reportedly grossed $1 million per night for 38 shows.

Musical Temperature: Her latest album, Talk That Talk, was released this past November and has already been certified gold. Her five previous solo albums sold a combined to sell a total of 22 million worldwide.

Ex-Factor: Miss Fenty is single and ready to mingle. One minute she's singing "Take Care" with Drake, next minute her tweets suggest a possible Chris Brown hookup.

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