Kerima

The She-Wolf in any adaptations of She-Wolf hereafter shall never satisfy like Kerima.

Melissandre Fuentes

Because in one figure eight, she's skated the circumference of her country.

Jurema Ferraz

Crowned Miss Angola last December, Ferraz is dedicated to intensifying the fight against AIDS.

Stephanie Winter

This former Miss Universe contestant is now a permanent fixture of our escapist Caribbean fantasies.

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

Kirchner channels the glamour and stentorian passion of Eva Perón. But don't cry: she not only succeeded her husband as president of the country in 2007 — triumphing where Hillary Clinton stumbled — but won in a landslide, by the widest margin in any presidential election since civil rule was reinstated in the country.

Anna Condo

Born in the former USSR, Condo — who plays mostly in French productions — has the dark, kind, knowing eyes of a Dostoevsky heroine.

Isabel Lucas

Of all the Hollywood starlets to come up from the Australian soap-opera farm system, Lucas is the only one who could hold her own against our homegrown Megan Fox (cf. Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen).

Nicola Mar

This former breaststroke champion has brought her Olympian vigor to Austria's Social Democratic Party, for which she is a parliamentary deputy.

Mehriban Aliyeva

Because here's a Goodwill Ambassador that can do her job without saying anything.

Shakara Ledard

You've certainly beheld her before. It could have been in the pages of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue at any point in the 2000s. Or maybe it was a Justin Timberlake video. But more than likely it was in The Defender, in which she played the romantic lead opposite Dolph Lundgren, with Jerry Springer as the President of the United States. Or at least the trailer.

Anika Kabir Shokh

Makes Bangladeshis drool as the spokeswoman for Nokia. Will now do the same for the rest of the world.

Rihanna

Transcended Caribbean dance-music roots, knee-jerk comparisons to Beyoncé, tabloid victimhood, and whichever song or video she happens to be gracing with a featured appearance.

Tanya Dziahileva

Because she's the only internationally renowned runway model who looks like she could be related to Gollum. In a good way.

Cilou Annys

Stood on the Belgian flag as a Flemish separatist leader cut her Miss Belgium sash. Then publicly trampled a poster of said separatist while slinging the Belgian flag over her shoulder. Balls.

Felicita Arzu

Because she dared to stand up to the organization that crowned her Miss Belize — on both moral and financial grounds — even if it meant relinquishing the title.

Chantal Boni

Because she's the first lady but looks like the president.

Carla Ortiz

One of the few excellent things America has been able to snatch away from Evo Morales and the insanity that is Bolivian television. Possibly even worth seeing the David Arquette vehicle Land of the Astronauts for.

Ivana Milicevic

Milicevic has been cast opposite two of the most notorious lotharios of popular culture — James Bond and Jerry Seinfeld — as a love interest for the latter (in the "jerk store" episode) and a, well, death interest for the former (in Casino Royale).

Tirelo Ramasedi

Represented Botswana in the 2010 Miss Universe contest. Have you ever seen a more perfect cheek?

Gisele Bundchen

Because the perfect is the enemy of the beautiful: her nose is large and aquiline, her chin jutted and masculine, and yet she's one of the most stunning women on the planet. Because she proves the rules of high school — the quarterback gets the girl — apply globally.

Maria

Known for her high-pitched voice and her hit (relatively speaking) single "Bisik Hati," Maria is the most famous female singer in the tiny East-Asian sultanate.

Rali Ivanova

Rumored to be inspiration for the word "bodacious."

Georgie Badiel

This former Miss Africa has strutted the international runways for DVF, Marc Jacobs, and Louis Vuitton, among other designers.

Aung San Suu Kyi

This is what a rebel does: meets violent suppression from freedom with words ("It is not power that corrupts but fear"), risks her life for democracy, gets elected prime minister only to have Myanmar's military force her out, wins a Nobel Peace Prize for it, gets imprisoned for twenty years for it, and begins her release fighting for one thing and one thing only: the right to vote. Amen.

Khadja Nin

Khadja hasn't released an album in nearly ten years, but her voice — sensual, swaying, nurturing, noble — still resonates.

Zain Verjee

For this World News anchor's serious work in journalism, her serious work with Wolf Blitzer, and her community efforts for children, like Operation Smile.

Geness Tebure

Former Miss Kiribati. Slightly resembles Pebbles Flintstone.

Jong Song-Ok

Holds the marathon world title in the World Championships in Athletics from 1999.

Shin Min-Ah

From our colleagues in Korea: "She's starred in many TV shows and films. She's considered one of Korea's hottest fashion icons. Korea is under Shin Min-Ah's spell right now."

Keshtjella Pepshi

Because she can wear a bun that large and still look good.

Halema Boland

The face of Arab World television is yet another reason to tell Saddam to suck it, even in his grave.

Rahima Sardi

Twenty-four-year-old triple-jumper for the 2008 Kyrgystan Olympic Team. Say that five times fast. Twice, even.

Boutsady Soudavong

For looking pretty calm about the whole "totally getting jump-kicked" thing.

Razan Jammal

Made her acting debut in Carlos this year. We'll be watching with great interest.

Her Majesty Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso

The first commoner ever to marry into Lesotho royalty, she becomes the acting regent when His Majesty King Letsie III leaves the country.

Kia Davis

For her T-1000 form.

Aurelia Frick

Minister of Foreign Affairs. Toothy.

Jurga Seduikyte

Her debut album from 2005 Aukso Pieva ("Golden Fields") swept the Lithuanian music awards, giving her one-name status in her home country. (Hint: It's not her last name.)

Princess Alexandra

You can't get more regal than her nineteen-year-old highness, who's related to every currently reigning European monarch courtesy of her father's lineage.

Katarina Ivanovska

Rumor linked this twenty-one-year-old fashion model with New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. Fact has her linked to ad campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana and Ralph Lauren.

Catherine Chikwakwa

Twenty-five-year-old runner cranks out five thousand meters in fifteen minutes.

Nadine Ann Thomas

Some clichés are true: Thomas was once a chubby, acne-pocked teen with braces, only to grow up and represent her country at the Miss Universe 2010 pageant.

Mueena Mohamed

Because table tennis is sexier than ping-pong.

Youma Diakite

This Naomi Campbell doppelganger became a successful model after getting her break with Benetton, then began acting in Italian films, eventually appearing on the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars.

Emma Heming

When this Victoria's Secret lingerie model married Bruce Willis in 2009, she immediately challenged the historic cultural mores governing step-motherhood.

Naha Mint Mouknass

This foreign-affairs minister always represents in style — and isn't afraid to speak out about anti-Islamism throughout Northern Africa and beyond.

Dalysha Doorga

This tiny island off the coast of Madagascar was the only known home to the now-extinct dodo. (And also Doorga, their entrant in the 2010 Miss Universe pageant.)

Irene Azuela

From our colleagues in Mexico: "She has won two Ariel Awards — the Mexican equivalent of the Oscar. Journalists usually end interviews smiling like innocent children under her spell."

Maria Ikelap

A hundred meters in 13.7 seconds? Christ.

Natalia Barbu

Singer and violinist who made the finals of the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest, whose surreal costumes and hyperkinetic performances make American Idol look like a high-school talent show.

Princess Camilla de Bourbon

Born in Rome, educated in America, and very blond, the Duchess of Castro promotes charitable endeavors and supports the arts in southern Italy.

Gundegmaa Otryad

Silver medalist in the women's 25-meter sport pistol at the 2008 Olympic Games. So, she shoots guns for a living. Nice.