South African readers of lad mag FHM have voted their favourite in the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World line-up for 2012, and their preference was clear: 26-year-old model Genevieve Morton. "I was thrilled!" says Genevieve of the surprising news.

"At that stage I couldn't tell anybody so I had to carry this massive and exciting secret around. I was over the moon. Winning this title is great for my career but personally it also means a lot to me as I’ve been working with FHM for a long time," she says.

"It does make me blush when anyone mentions my win, but then again the idea of what makes someone sexy can differ from person to person. I personally see the appeal of girls like Candice Swanepoel and Kate Upton – to me they’re very sexy," she says.

Genevieve was born in Benoni, where she and her family lived until she was 12. The family then relocated to Scottsburgh, a small town on Durban’s South Coast.

"At school I don't think I was popular or unpopular. I was middle of the range. I think I grew into my looks late in high school and after school. I was quite a gawky-looking child and often teased," Genevieve adds.

Genevieve entered a few beauty pageants during school but only started working as a model after school. She met a scout at one of the pageants, and the rest is history.

Modelling since 2005, Genevieve moved from Durban to Cape Town in early 2006 to pursue her career. Her first trip abroad was for the 2007 FHM Calendar, which was shot in Mauritius.

At this time Genevieve also started travelling within Europe for work. She attributes much of her success so far to her agent Marlon Stoltzman, who she's been working with since 2009.

"He placed me with my New York agency and helped me take my career to the next level. We decided it would be a good idea for me to spend more time in the US," she says.

Fans will be delighted to know that she is single and enjoys going out with her girlfriends and having fun. She describes herself as fun- loving, quirky, sporty, caring and passionate.

"My philosophy in life is to keep trying and not let life get you down. Learn from mistakes and disappointment by trying harder and making sure to hold on to what makes you unique."

Genevieve recently shot an eight-page story for the July issue of FHM. "It was a wonderful shoot – we shot in Cape Town with photographer Steve Tanchel, and it was great to work with such a cool team."

The July issue of FHM, featuring Genevieve and the rest of the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2012, is on sale now.