The 25 Hottest Women of 2011

Image via Complex Original

From A-list actresses and Grammy-winning singers to super hot models, 2011 was filled with celebrity women taking their talents to the extreme, not apologizing for it, and entertaining us the entire time. Throughout the year, they've kept us in on movie nights, given us more than a few guilty pleasure pop anthems, stopped our hearts anytime the paparazzi caught them stepping out looking stunning. We feel lucky to document a culture that's dominated by beautiful women, so without further ado, take a look back The 25 Hottest Women of 2011, and see why this was a year we'll never forget.

25. ELIZABETH OLSEN

The younger sister of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen was catapulted into fame and gained critical acclaim with her role in Martha Marcy May Marlene, a film about a girl escaping an abusive cult. She was recently nominated for the coveted Independent Spirit Award for "Best Female Lead."

24. JESSICA CHASTAIN

She's one of the most underrated actresses working right now. On her brolic resume for 2011: The Debt, Take Shelter, Coriolanus, The Tree of Life, The Help, Wilde Salome, and Texas Killing Fields. Known as the "The Darling" of Hollywood by elite film circles, her work was recognized with her Golden Globe and SAG nominations for her turn as the bubbly but broken Southern housewife in The Help.

23. FELICITY JONES

Ironically, we fell in love with her in a movie that was meant to break our heart. The 28 year-old English actress was praised for her role as Anna in Sundance's "Best Picture" winner Like Crazy, a poignant film about the struggles of first love. Since its release, Jones has become one of the most buzzed-about young actresses, and this year she was named the new face of Burberry.

22. KATE MIDDLETON

Since her wedding to Prince William last April, Kate's life had continued to resemble a fairytale. The impeccably beautiful Duchess of Cambridge's travels around the world and fashion choices are consistently documented, and honestly, it's a refreshing break from stories about American socialites going to jail.

21. JENNIFER ANISTON

After a series of romantic comedy flops and real life romantic mishaps, this was the year Jen finally got her swag back. Just Go With It and Horrible Bosses were huge box office hits, her SmartWater campaign was a success, and she finally found love with fellow actor Justin Theroux.

20. KIRSTEN DUNST

This year, for the first time, we were able to see her as more than "the girl from Spider-Man." Kirsten's role in Melancholia has been one of the most raved-about of the year and earned her a slew of acting nominations from film academies across the globe. With three more major, non-comic book movies on the way in 2012, we imagine that things will only get better for her.

19. MICHELLE WILLIAMS

No one expected Jen from Dawson's Creek to make the A-list, but now, she's a two-time Academy Award-nominated actress, with an anticipated third nod for her compelling turn as the beloved yet broken Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn. Earlier this year, she earned an Oscar nomination for Blue Valentine and she's already won number of "Best Actress" awards for the Marilyn role.

18. KRISTEN WIIG

Funny girls don't have to look doofy. Case in point: Kristen Wiig. With her starring role in her self-written film, Bridesmaids, Wiig and her female co-stars made us realize that hot girls take dumps, and we weren't even turned off. The movie has been nominated for the Golden Globe's "Best Picture Comedy/Musical" trophy and put female-driven comedies on the map.

17. ZOOEY DESCHANEL

Despite separating from her rock star husband, Zooey had her best year ever. This is mostly due to her breakout role as the star of popular sitcom, New Girl. On top of that, she's still got a serious side hustle going with her indie darlings duo, She & Him.

16. SELENA GOMEZ

Dating Justin Bieber gets her a lot of attention, but Selena Gomez had a big year on her own. Not only did she star in Monte Carlo, but she also hosted the MTV EMAs, made a cameo in The Muppets, and earned her second platinum single with "Who Says."

15. KIM KARDASHIAN

It's amazing how Kim Kardashian has managed to stay on top of our news feeds for a solid four years. Reality show celebrities usually have stardom with a lifespan of one good year. Not Kim. With tabloids obsessing over her wedding to Kris Humphries, the subsequent madness of her divorce, and tons of endorsement deals to keep the money coming in on the side, it's obvious that Kim isn't going anywhere, no matter how many people despise her.

14. CAREY MULLIGAN

This year, Carey went from being the meek British lass in period pieces to surpassing her former Pride and Prejudice co-star Keira Knightley in international popularity. In 2011, she took edgier roles in male-driven films such as Drive and Shame, and finally lived up to her earlier hype, showcasing her impeccable versatility as an actress to watch.

13. KAT DENNINGS

Drake publicly stans for her on Twitter, and so do we. We put Kat on the cover, and not just because she's a (very) pretty face. Her roles in Thor and hit TV show 2 Broke Girls let us know that she really has a career on-screen ahead of her. We can't wait for her next move.

12. ROONEY MARA

The daughter of one of the bosses behind the New York Giants franchise went from being an unknown, relatively indistinguishable actress to adopting the darker look of the role that will make her a superstar, Lisbeth Salander in the American remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. With her newfound persona, mysterious confidence,and undeniable talent, Mara has become one of the most desired casting choices in Hollywood. Kathryn Bigelow and Terrence Mallick are already recruiting her for their new films.

11. BLAKE LIVELY

Her silver screen turn in Green Lantern was a disappointment, but you'd never know it by looking at her. The fashion-forward Gossip Girl actress was the muse for Karl Lagerfeld's most recent Chanel lines, had a gang a really hot nude photos leak, and she hooked up with Ryan Gosling, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ryan Reynolds all in one year. You can't knock the hustle.

10. BEYONCE

The reigning Queen of Pop captivated the world with her pregnancy announcement at this year's MTV Music Video Awards. Since then, fans have been counting down to her supposed due date, which sources say is in February. In the meantime, she released the platinum-selling 4 and covered our magazine.

9. KATY PERRY

The girl who people thought would be a one-hit wonder with "I Kissed A Girl" turned out to be the person to tie the Michael Jackson's record for the most No. 1 hits off a single album. With five chart-topping songs on Teenage Dream and her film debut in The Smurfs, Katy Perry officially secured her status as a pop culture icon in 2011.

8. ROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITELEY

After Megan Fox likened Michael Bay to Hitler, the search for her replacement in the Transformers franchise began. The 24-year-old English model, whom Bay had previously shot for a Victoria's Secret commercial was chosen. Since gaining international exposure as Sam Witwicky's new girlfriend, Huntington-Whiteley has covered Complex, was named FHM's "Sexiest Woman," No. 1 on Maxim's "Hot 100" list, and picked as the new face of Burberry.

7. PAULA PATTON

Aside from looking flawless on our cover, Robin Thicke's wife had the best career year of her career. Jumping The Broom flew under the radar, but it was a profit-turing hit at the box office. Then she landed the role as the agent starring next to Tom Cruise in the latest iteration of Mission: Impossible. She's the perfect example of beauty, talent, and intelligence combined.

6. EMMA STONE

After being known for having "the career Lindsay Lohan could've had," Emma Stone broke out on her own in a big way this year. The Crazy, Stupid, Love actress, who was nominated for a "Best Actress Comedy/Musical" at this year's Golden Globes for Easy A, has been on a streak with unexpected blockbusters like The Help. Next year, she star in the highly-anticipated reboot of web-slinger franchise, The Amazing Spider-Man.

5. LANA DEL REY

We knew that Lana Del Rey was a babe a few seconds into her "Video Games" video when we first watched it over the summer, and the rest of the year has panned out incredibly well for her. Her singles "Blue Jeans" and "Born To Die" have been well-received, and the the controversy about her past singing personas have only made her more alluring. She's coming for the top spot next year.

4. MILA KUNIS

This was the year that battle for "Best Friends With Benefits Movie" happened. Although Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher's No Strings Attached was a relatively worthy contender, Timberlake and Kunis' pointedly titled Friends with Benefits took the cake. The deciding factor: Mila Kunis. GQ's Woman of the Year and the Guys Choice Awards' "Holy Grail of Hot" winner was arguably the most sought-after women of 2011. So much so that a Marine sent her a YouTube invite to the U.S. Marine Corps Ball last month, and she's so cool, that she actually attended it.

3. NICKI MINAJ

This is the year that Nicki Minaj transitioned from our favorite new rapper to legitimate pop superstar. Her debut album Pink Friday hit No. 1 in its eleventh week of release, she performed on Saturday Night Live, toured with Britney Spears, and her single "Super Bass" also topped the charts. She ended the year on a high note by beating out Kanye West and her mentor Lil Wayne for "Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist" at the American Music Awards.

2. KATE UPTON

She doesn't act, she doesn't sing. Kate Upton will go down in history for simply being one of the hottest girls on the planet and flaunting it really well in pictures. She gave us our sexiest photoshoot of the year and did the same for Sports Illustrated in their swimsuit issue. Plus, we love how savvy she is with social media and how coy she is about her hotness. It only makes her more desirable.

1. RIHANNA

Every video Rihanna released this year shut down the Internet when it dropped. Her risqué outfits got just as much attention as her music, which is saying a lot, considering how many records she broke and set this year. Her latest chart-topper "We Found Love" brings her tally to eleven No. 1 singles, which puts her in a league with Elvis and The Beatles. She landed her first movie role in Battleship, which hits theaters next year. Simply put, 2011 reads like a long list of accomplishments for Rihanna and there's no question that she held our collective attention more than any other famous woman. Cheers to that.