No.10 - Rihanna
Growing up in Barbados, we can only assume that Rihanna spent her formative years perfecting the art of wearing a bikini; then she became a superstar, got involved with an insecure pip-squeak whose last name rhymes with "clown," saw her personal photographs leaked online, and now must battle to regain her rightful place atop the pop charts. Might we suggest doing it in a bikini?
No.9 - Danica Patrick
Even though Danica Patrick is hell-bent on taking over the testosterone-fueled world of IndyCar, she's still very much in touch with her feminine side. She recently finished third at the Indy 500, but we'd like to assert that her sultry spreads in the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition and Shape will forever be career highlights, at least in our books.
No.8 - Audrina Patridge
Although reality soap The Hills is the most successful show in MTV's history, many have questioned how "real" the show actually is. The situations seem fabricated, the dialogue is often robotic and the lighting is just too perfect, too often. But after popular cast member and all-American ditz Audrina Patridge appeared in a bikini on the net, we quickly realized that the most fake thing about The Hills is, in fact, Audrina.
No.7 - Kim Kardashian
Although she may be everywhere these days, we still have trouble figuring out why Kim Kardashian is famous. Is it because she's friends with Paris Hilton? Is it because we've all seen her on tape with Brandy Norwood's little brother and posing for Playboy? Is it because she has her own reality show or perhaps because Hollywood hasn't seen a butt like that since Jennifer Lopez's? Whatever the reason, we're grateful. What would we do without or weekly dose of Kardashian paparazzi bikini pics? We shudder to think.
No.6 - Alessandra Ambrosio
Gisele Bundchen isn't the only Brazilian body making waves internationally. Tyra Banks has referred to Alessandra Ambrosio as "the future of modeling," and she earned the No. 6 spot on our 2009 Top 99. And although many may rag on the Victoria's Secret swimsuit campaign star as being nothing more than a perfect physical specimen, Alessandra is also a national ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Philanthropy never looked so good.
No.5 - Katy Perry
In just under a year, Katy Perry has become the most ubiquitous pop star since Britney Spears in her heyday, all because she kissed a girl and just so happened to like it. Her debut album, One of the Boys, is a single machine and her love of vintage clothing and bold colors has her name fluttering off the lips of fashionistas from around the world. But it wasn't until Katy Perry was paparazzied in a two-piece on the beaches of Mexico that she made the transition from kooky pop star into full-blown sex symbol. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you Katy Perry: the best body in pop music.
No.4 - Marisa Miller
Everyone was put on this earth for a reason: Tom Hanks was put here to win Oscars, Alex Rodriguez was put here to lie and cheat, and Marisa Miller was put on this earth to wear bikinis. The former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover girl and current face (and body) of Victoria's Secret's swimsuit campaign is widely considered one of the sexiest women alive. Finally, we understand what Mike Love meant when he wished they all could be California girls.
No.3 - Heidi Montag
Since joining The Hills in 2006, Heidi Montag has alienated America's sweetheart and former best friend Lauren Conrad, married notorious slimeball Spencer Pratt, and erroneously referred to herself as a singer. If you saw the music videos, please let us recommend a doctor. About the only thing she's done right has been to showcase her surgically enhanced body to the world in a series of obviously staged, bikini-clad paparazzi photo shoots. In April, Heidi signed on to appear in the reality show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! which will be shot in Costa Rica, meaning, you guessed it: all Heidi, all bikini, all the time.
No.2 - Megan Fox
Megan Fox and the sun have one major thing in common: They're both way too hot. Fox is the one actress in Hollywood who's actually too attractive, to the point that it may actually prevent her from appearing in anything that doesn't feature giant robots and/or her exposed midriff. After gritty photographer Terry Richardson got a hold of Fox for a steamy GQ photo shoot, the giant killer robots officially became the second reason we'll be lining up for this summer's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
No.1 - Bar Rafaeli
When Leonardo DiCaprio and Gisele Bundchen ended their tumultuous relationship in 2005, many thought the actor was mad to give up a woman often pegged as the most beautiful in the world. Then photos of Leo and a relatively unknown Israeli model named Bar Rafaeli surfaced, and the world collectively wondered, "Gisele who?" Since then, Rafaeli has emerged as one of the most recognizable supermodels in the world, and after gracing the cover of the latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, Bar instantly became the gold standard for bikinis in 2009.