"Most Beautiful" List Spotlights Applegate

Featured On Cover People Mag's Annual Issue; Berry Snags 13th Mention

(CBS)  Where does beauty lie?

On the outside and inside of People magazine's 2009 "Most Beautiful" issue, unveiled Wednesday on The Early Show.

Gracing the highly anticipated cover is Christina Applegate, star of the hit show, "Samantha Who." She was dagnosed with breast cancer last year at age 36, and decided to have a double mastectomy after testing positive for the "breast cancer gene."

Applegate has become a champion of early detection in young women, and founded a charity that pays for at-risk women to receive MRIs instead of mammograms.

"She's had such a harrowing and amazing year this year," says Amy Keith, People magazine writer and reporter.

Applegate's been in the "Most Beautiful People" issue three times before. This was her first sit-down interview since her reconstructive surgery.

"She's doing amazingly well," Keith told CBS News. "She is super-optimistic. She is living life to the fullest. ... She has a new beach house in Malibu and a boyfriend who really loves her."

"I love that People celebrates people that yes, of course, they're beautiful on the outside, but also for the beautiful deeds that they are doing," said Early Show guest co-anchor and model Kathy Ireland.

More than half of the celebs featured are first-timers on the list, including Freida Pinto, 19, and Dev Patel, 24, stars of the film "Slumdog Millionaire." And this week, says Keith, People confirmed that Pinto and Patel are now more than on-screen sweethearts -- they're dating.

Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez mentioned that Halle Berry appeared on the list yet again.

Keith said it was the thirteenth appearance for the Oscar-winning actress, adding that motherhood has made her beautiful once again.

Ireland herself made the cut -- for the first time. She called it "an honor." The issue includes a story called "Beauty At Every Age," from ages 20 to 60, and lists one beautiful star for each age. Ireland is the face of folkd 46 years old.

Simon Baker, star of the hit CBS series "The Mentalist" made this year's list. He was also named "Sexiest Blond" in People's "Sexist Men Alive" issue last fall.

Cindy Crawford appears in the "no makeup" category this year, as a true beauty. Many of the choices in that section are in their 20s, but Cindy clearly holds her own there -- with and without makeup.

Michelle Obama appears in the "Barack's Beauties" section -- something that's obviously new this year.

Putting together the list takes three months, Keith says; those selected find out on a rolling basis.

[keithle1]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Inner beauty is more important than outer beauty.
Every woman is beautiful. Even women who are 100 years old. We must be politically correct. Pay attention to all women. Talk to every female. Hit on them all! They are women, hear them roar.

BARF

[avigil2]

This is all a sad joke. You can't have a "most beautiful women in the world " contest or picks--when most of the women in the world are unknown.... the categories are so bogus. Posted by toldyouso29

You're taking this stupid contest WAY too serious.

[dsr57]

I love her too. She is very brave and still sexy.

Posted by some1has2sayit
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why is she brave?

[toldyouso29]

This is all a sad joke. You can't have a "most beautiful women in the world " contest or picks--when most of the women in the world are unknown. Most of us know women who are usually as beautiful and sometimes waaaay more beautiful than anyone in Hollywood. the categories are so bogus.

they should say the most beautiful in Hollywood, or the most beautiful actress/singer/ dancer,author in what ever little clique they are taling about. They don't speak for the world--they never have--they are speaking about a select club--who all the rest of us are supposed to care about and bleat over.

..And we all thought the bs, cliques. cheerleading, class president, and popularity fakeness stopped at highschool..... LOL

[Questionews]

Apple who? I would agree with Paris Hilton but, Apple? Has she had any important acting roles in her career other than low-class sitcoms?
Posted by budmag06 at 10:54 AM : Apr 29, 2009

I find it ironic that your name has "Bud" (Kelly's brother in the show) in it!

[trueblueusa]

" dagnosed''folkd'..
Who will remember ?

[whatsup49]

sorry, but the cancer and reconstruction story is old news. i guess cbs needed some fluff to fill some airhead space and this is what they came up with. the fact that anyone has been voted "most beautiful" by a magrag does not merit national news coverage. free publicity for people mag

[fleabag75]

Most normal people don't find 'spelling' such a matter of life and death that others do. Now I understand we're not as brilliant and of Mensa level that these 'spell-checkers' are but hey,, try to tolerate us. You'll be a bigger person for it. (I know, in your mind you can be no greater than you already are)

[walt1944]

Christina Applegate has come a long way since acting as the "ditzy blonde daughter" in Married With Children.

She's proved she is a good actress on her own, better than Lindsey Lohan and attempts at it by Paris Hilton.

[budmag06]

Apple who? I would agree with Paris Hilton but, Apple? Has she had any important acting roles in her career other than low-class sitcoms?

[jxknowles]

Christina Applegate has been a favorite since 'Married With Children'. She's beautiful in more ways than one. Nice choice by People Magazine.

[legacyabq]

Posted by buttonjockey at 8:56 AM : Apr 29, 2009

I'm curious.. I've nevber seen a speel checker anywhere near here..
When I type, it goes into an HTML box, then I hit submit.

Wheres this speel checker I keep hearing about?

[mick7744]

I admire her courage under terrifying conditions, but choosing to continue berathing in and breathing out over being burried with two full breasts is a real no-brainer.

Sorry for that no-brainer crack, Kelly...but ya did good...and being so public about it is a real service to others.

God bless...

[memensa]

buttonjockey; so pikcy pikcy!

[buttonjockey]

She was dagnosed with breast cancer?

dagnosed?

How is this possible? When I type that word in, just commenting on this site, the spell check sirens go off. How can it be that the CBS editors do NOT have a spell check tool anywhere to catch this?