Internationally, 15 countries participated in the poll, including the UK, USA, Australia, France, Germany, Hungary, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan and Turkey.

Altogether 30% of the FHM 100 Sexiest, up from 24% in 2001, are South African women.

FHM's Sexiest Woman in SA is Wonderbra model and covergirl Kerry McGregor. McGregor's star placing, up three notches from last year's #5, put her just behind the poll's international winner, tennis pin-up Anna Kournikova.

Commenting on her new found status as the Sexiest Woman in the country, McGregor said that she was "very pleased and in fact proudly South African".

Although both McGregor and Kournikova are fair-haired, poll results show that SA gentlemen prefer brunettes. Of the 30 South African women named, 17 have naturally dark tresses, including Zandi Nhlapo (67), Tima Reece (71), Candice Derman (72), Natalie Becker (84), Khanyi Dhlomo Mkhize (99) and Kerishnie Naicker (100).

The highest new entry on the poll is Dark Angel star Jessica Alba, who debuts at #11. Fastest climber honours goes to Kylie Minogue whose 64 place rise sees her soaring from last year's #83 to this year's #19.

"Visibility is one of the biggest determinants of celebrity, and certainly the poll list reflects that the most popular girls are those who are the most famous" says FHM editor Neil Bierbaum.