The interest for South Africans is how our local girls fare in the FHM 100 Sexiest poll. "In as much as the poll-topper is inevitably an international superstar because of the global scope of the voting, it's always interesting to see who South Africa's sexiest women are, and how they stack up against the international girls," says FHM editor Brendan Cooper.

Internationally, 21 countries participate in the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll. They include the UK, USA, Australia, France, Germany, Hungary, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, the Ukraine and others.

FHM's Sexiest Woman in South Africa 2003 was model Megan McKenzie who narrowly beat off the previous year’s title-holder, Wonderbra model Kerry McGregor, in the tightest race in years. McGregor and McKenzie are known to be good friends with Kerry dating Megan’s brother, Protea’s cricketer Neil McKenzie.

South African stunners accounted for more than a quarter of the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2003 poll.

Apart from McKenzie (#2) and McGregor (#3), the 10 sexiest local lasses were former Miss Teen SA Gina Athans (#7), Miss SA finalist Lee-Ann Liebenberg (# 9), 5fm DJ Nicole Fox (#12), TV presenter turned rocker Candice Hillebrand (#22), celebrity model Beneatha Hunter (#25), model and Craig David’s girlfriend Roxy Ingram (#30), Bad Brad’s fantasy squeeze Ilse Nel (#33) and Iraqi War pin-up Minki van der Westhuizen (#36).

Although both top three honorees McKenzie and McGregor are fair-haired, poll results show that SA gentlemen prefer brunettes. Of the 26 South African women named, 15 have naturally dark tresses, including triathlete Dominique Donner (#46), 5FM DJ Zuraida Jardine (#54), the singing doctor Jerusha Naidoo (#69), PopStars 101 bandmember Erin Samson (#86) and Yfm’s Unathi Nkayi (#99).

Who's likely to fare well in the 2004 poll? Internationally, Cooper is gung ho about current FHM cover star Caprice (#60). Locally, he predicts strong debuts for FHM 2004 Calendar girl Tanit Phoenix, FHM Lingerie supplement cover star and former Miss SA Vanessa Carreira as well as FHM Homegrown Honey winner winner Julie Christodoulides. Cooper also forsees strong upward surges for last year's poll honorees Charlize Theron (#26) and Hlubi Mboya (# 64). "Otherwise it's anybody's game — and may the best girl win".

The voting procedure has been streamlined this year and already traffic is "brisk", according to FHM publisher Kim Browne. Readers can vote online at www.fhm100sexiest.co.za or via SMS. Send a text message with the name of your candidate to 083 123 1 FHM. People can cast as many votes as they like, but only one name can be sent per SMS.

Voting closes on Wednesday 05 May, and the full results of the FHM 100 Sexiest Woman in the World 2004 poll will be published in a special supplement with the July issue of FHM.