Do you know how people say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder? That may be true, and some people might find beauty where others find none, but when it comes to women, there are a few beauties who turn every head and make every jaw drop. No matter who you ask, these women are universally considered a balm to the eyes.
Ghana - Kate Menson
Once known as the ‘Gold Coast’, the Republic of Ghana is known for the gold and chocolate that it provides to the rest of the world, and is a tourist destination that is now growing in popularity as an exotic location. Kate Menson is the most well-known model to hail from the country, and was named the face of Africa in 2008. She has since had an international presence and can be spotted at fashion shows, product launches and on magazine spreads.
India - Tamannaah Bhatia
India always brings to mind vivid colours, scents and sounds. It evokes pictures of dancing people, humid forests, hot deserts and crowded marketplaces that are a delight to the senses. Their women have the same exotic quality of dusky skin, limpid eyes and dark tresses. Actor, model and brand ambassador Tamannaah Bhatia brings all these qualities to life and is a perfect representation of Indian beauty.
Sweden - Petra Silander
Nothing represents the calm splendour of Sweden’s lovely natural landscape as well as blue skies and blue lakes. Except maybe the blue of Petra Silander’s eyes. It is no wonder that the blonde-haired, blue-eyed DJ, actor, and model was considered the perfect representation of Sweden and its beauty. Petra has been on the scene since she was merely 15, winning competitions and campaigns that have put her on the map.
Mongolia - Haku
A land-locked country with rough terrains and landscapes that once forced its people to wander from place to place in order to eke out a living from the hostile land, is probably best known as being the birthplace and empire founded by Genghis Khan, the famous conqueror. Although the country is sparsely populated, it is home to some of the most beautiful women in this part of the world, one of which is Haku. She is an actor and model, whose sultry eyes and lips have inspired many an anime character.
Israel - Gal Gadot
Although officially a country for less than a century, Israel has been a source of conflict almost since the very day of its inception. Israeli women and their beauty, however, have been legendary since historic times, and even now, the women in their army have become viral sensations for their delicate yet tough features. Most popular among these beauties has been Gal Gadot, who has been on the modelling scene for quite a while, but shot to popular fame when she played Wonder Woman. In Wonder Woman, she perfectly displayed the very quality of fierce beauty that has made Israeli women famous all over the world.
Mexican/Filipino - Jasmine Villegas
Mixed race women who combine the best features of two different kinds of people have always been considered breathtaking, simply because they are so rare and exotic. This is exactly what makes pop singer Jasmine Villegas so uniquely lovely. Her combined genetic heritage gives her the large eyes and thick hair typically associated with Mexicans, as well as the delicate jawline of someone from the Far East. Of course, it also helps that she is an incredibly talented singer.
Malaysia - Noor Neelofa Mohd Noor
Although a tiny island, Malaysia is a melting pot of many languages, cultures and races. With a myriad of different kinds of beauty to choose from, it is interesting to note that the most beautiful woman from here is a multifaceted wonder. Noor Neelofa Mohd Noor, popularly known as Lofa, is not just an actor and commercial model, but also a television presenter and a successful entrepreneur.
France - Laëtizia Penmellen
Hailing from the Land of Love (and also wine and cheese and all things good), Laëtizia is a French model and pageant titleholder who discovered modelling by accident. When she was 19, someone signed her up for the Miss France pageant, and having reached all the way up to the finals and finishing as second runner-up, this inspired her to continue competing and win more titles, while advocating for prevention of climate change and other environmental issues.
Bhutan - Jetsun Pema
A tiny mountainous country in South Asia, Bhutan is in the lap of the Eastern Himalayas and is breathtaking for its ice covered rugged landscape. Known mostly as the home to many Buddhist monasteries, Bhutan is also one of the few countries in the world that is a monarchy and still has a royal family. It is therefore no wonder that the people here named Jetsun Pema, the ‘Dragon Queen’, and wife of their king, as the most beautiful woman in the world. The king himself said that she is beautiful inside and out when he chose her as his lifelong companion.
Australian Aboriginal - Samantha Harris
Although the aboriginals were the original inhabitants of Australia, their number in the country has been greatly diminished over the years. Most of them have now become part of civilization and have started taking up careers that are part of the modern world. That is how Australian model Samantha Harris broke onto the scene at the very young age of 11 when she won the ‘Girlfriend Covergirl’ competition and was featured in Glamour soon after.
Denmark - Nina Agdal
Hailing from the land of the Vikings, model Nina Agdal was discovered while sauntering along on the streets of Copenhagen, her hometown. She entered competitions with no prior modelling experience, but was such a natural, that she soon signed on with an agency and was featured on numerous international magazine covers. No matter where she is, or what she does, she always encourages people to visit her home country and experience the joys that it has to offer.
Norway - Emilie Marie Nereng
Popularly known as ‘Voe’, Emilie Nereng is a blogger and musician who gained popularity all over the world even though she writes in Norwegian. Not only was her blog the most read in Norway within a year of its conception, but it was also featured onvarious other platforms, like Reddit and other online communities. The multitalented Voe has also given lectures, tried her hand at modelling, and released a hit single.
Ghana - Philomena Kwao
Known for her infectious smile and unique look, Philomena Kwao was born in London to Ghanaian parents. She has a background in economics and international hotel management studies, which has led her to various interests as an ambassador for women with Women International. Although she started out as a model for a plus-sized retailer, other brands have also signed her on to more realistically represent their clientele. She also has many philanthropic interests and has focused on the need for diversity in the beauty industry.
China - Liu Yifei
A Chinese-American actress, singer and model, Crystal Liu is popularly known as the ‘Fairy Sister’ for her sweet and delicate image and ethereal beauty. Although she spent part of her childhood and most of her teen years in New York, she returned to China to launch a career in acting, which propelled her to fame. She was raised solely by her mother and was supported by her when she initially went into television acting before gaining fame as a movie star. She began modelling at a young age and has also been trained in singing, dancing and playing the piano.
Ivory Coast - Nina Keita
Originally from Ivory Coast, Nina Keita now lives and works in New York City where she is a regular fixture in New York fashion shows and her face has been featured many times on the billboards at Times Square. Discovered when she was just a young student in France, she is known for holding on to her West African values even though it would have been easy to succumb to the superficiality that was expected from her profession. Although she loved the discoveries that come with travel, she still misses her traditional family and her homeland.
Western Sahara - Aziza Brahim
Born in a Sahrawi refugee camp in Algeria to a mother who was fleeing the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara, Aziza Brahim has been shaped by the severe conditions of the desert camps. This is where she discovered music as a natural language to express herself in, bringing comfort to herself and to others around her. She has since performed in many parts of the world with her group and has composed the soundtrack for as well as acted in several Spanish movies.
Cuba - Melissa Fumero
Although American, Melissa Fumero was born to Cuban parents in the US. She is a famous television actress and is known for her long-running roles on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and One Life to Live, apart from many minor roles on other television shows as well as some movies. She has also directed a few episodes of each show, further cementing her place in show business. She has been nominated for numerous awards and her work has been critically acclaimed.
Venezuela - Scarlet Ortiz
Known for its scenic landscapes, Venezuela is also known to be home to numerous Latina beauties, one of whom is Scarlet Ortiz, an actress known for acting in Spanish television. Although she started her career in her native country, she eventually acted in shows from all over the world before returning to Venezuela. She started acting as a child on a children’s show, and has never looked back since and is still going strong.
Bolivia - Claudia Tavel
Although Bolivia itself is a little known country from South America, Claudia Tavel has managed to put her country on the map. She is a model and pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Bolivia in 2013 and represented her country in the Miss Universe 2014 competition. She has since been a part of many other ventures and has had an international presence in the modelling world.
Uganda - Florence Odaru
Florence Odaru is another model who is working on making diversity more common in the beauty industry. Although black women have been under represented in the modelling world, Florence aims to be a role model to other dark skinned girls growing up in Africa, encouraging them to embrace themselves and their beauty. She is also an advocate to curvy women everywhere and believes that the fashion industry should better represent people of all shapes and sizes.
Uganda - Kiara Kabukuru
A veteran model, Kiara Kabukuru has represented some of the top names in fashion and is known best known as a CoverGirl model. She moved from her native country as a child due to political unrest, and has since lived in California, where she was discovered in a mall at the tender age of 16. Having been a model for over 20 years, Kiara has walked the most popular fashion shows and is friends with many of the world’s top models.
South Africa - Noni Gasa
Although she is considered one of South Africa’s top style and media personalities, Noni Gasa began her career as a features editor in Media24. She has since held a position in multiple women’s magazines and fashion blogs. She was the first ‘It-Girl’ the country ever saw and has established herself as an authority in her field. A veteran TV personality, she is currently one of the judges on Project Runway South Africa and is a sought after PR specialist with experience in both agency and corporate settings.
Trinidad and Tobago - Kenisha Thom
Kenisha Thom is a Trinidadian beauty queen who was crowned Miss Trinidad & Tobago World 2004 and Miss Trinidad & Tobago Universe 2006. She is also a qualified business woman and is currently the director of an NGO called Arts-Insight through which she aims to help people with disabilities and also underprivileged youths. She has also done extensive work to raise awareness for HIV AIDS and has worked with many organizations in this capacity.
Chile - Juanita Ringeling
Juanita Ringeling is a Chilean actor who has ventured into theatre, television and movies over the last two decades. She has not only acted but also directed many successful projects and has also starred in music videos. She has also performed as a singer and has displayed her multifaceted talents in many ways. She is also passionate about environmental issues, especially those related to water quality and conservation and she has not only written about it, but has also been a part of documentaries and campaigns to raise awareness about marine parks.
Colombia - Geidy Mena Cuesta
Columbia is known for being home to a bevy of beautiful, fierce women who take the world by storm. Although known for its dusky skinned beauties, it has a few women with ebony skin, and Geidy Mena Cuesta is one of them. She has competed in many competitions and has been on the local beauty scence for quite some time. Her unique eyes and skin have brought the attention of many agents and she is one of the most sought after models from the country.
Senegal - Veronique Boubane
Although she hails from Senegal, Veronique Boubane now lives and works in Belgium, where she is well known as a model and actress. She won Miss Belgique in 2008, and her ebony skin, captivating smile and lovely eyes have led her to fashion shows and magazine spreads all over the world. She loves to travel and does so even when her job does not require her to, turning heads all over the world.
Germany - Cosma Shiva Hagen
Although she was born in Los Angeles to two globetrotting musicians, Cosma Shiva Hagen grew up in touch with her German roots. She grew up in London, Ibiza, Berlin, Paris and Hamburg. She speaks many languages, but is not very well known outside of the German speaking world, as her acting has been confined mostly to German films and television shows. She has however starred in an Irish film and is looking to venture into other countries cinema.
Brazil - Gisele Bündchen
Probably one of the most well-known names on this list, Gisele Bundchen has been a model for over 25 years. She has consistently been one of the highest paid models in the world for over two decades, and is in high demand for fashion shows, magazine covers and endorsements in an industry that is not usually favorable to most women her age. She is also an environmentalist and supports many charities and causes, which inspired her appointment as the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program.
Brazil/Nigeria - Yaya DaCosta
Born in the US, Yaya is of Brazilian and African American descent which gives her an exotic beauty. She finished second on America’s Top Model and has since appeared on numerous commercials, magazine covers, and billboards. She has also ventured into acting and has had guest appearances and recurring roles on various television shows. She was heavily praised for her performance as Whitney Houston in the Lifetime movie about the singer’s life.
Nigeria - Collete Nwadike
Collete Nwadike is a famous model and actor from Nigeria who has been crowned a winner in a number of beauty pageants. She competed in the Exquisite Face of the Universe Pageant and won, making her the first African woman to claim this honor. She has worked with the top names in fashion and filmmaking in Nigeria and has also judged and mentored many upcoming models. Although she might not be as well known in the rest of the world, in Nigeria, she has become a household name and is looked up to for her down-to-earth demeanor in spite of her ethereal beauty.
Honduras - Francia Raisa
Francia Raisa is a well-known American actor who is of Mexican and Honduran descent. She has played starring roles in various teen dramas and comedies and has also guest starred in various television shows. She has modelled for print ads and appeared in various commercials from a very young age and is a familiar face to those in the United States. She is also known to be an incredibly kind and generous person, and even donated one of her kidneys to her friend Selena Gomez, who suffers from lupus.
Honduras - Brina Palencia
Although Brina Palencia left Honduras when she was 4, and has grown up in the US her entire life, she still holds onto her roots and childhood memories from her native country. She is most well known as the voice of many anime characters in the English versions of these shows. She has also directed a few productions and acted in independent films but voice acting has remained her forte, especially for translated Anime shows.
Egypt - Arwa Gouda
Arwa Gouda is a world famous Egyptian model and actor who is known for playing the starring role in many Egyptian shows and movies. Before her acting career began, she had been modelling from the very young age of 13, and won the title of Best Model of the World in Turkey in 2004, and has never looked back since. She is fluent in English, French and Arabic and is now venturing into taking her acting career into new territory.
Czechoslovakia - Iva Kubelková
Iva Kubelkova is a Czech model, actor and presenter who is extremely well known and loved in her home country. Although she is not very well known to the rest of the world, in Prague, she is very famous. She has acted in multiple theatre productions, television shows and movies and has even ventured into writing screenplays for movies. She has won many pageants and competitions and is considered a classic beauty.
Czechoslovakia - Eva Herzigova
As if her Czech blood was not enough to make her a classical beauty, model Eva Herzigova is also part Italian, which is what lends an exotic, fiery quality to her incredible loveliness. She began her career in modelling after winning a beauty competition at the age of 16, and her popularity only increased once she moved to Paris. She started as a model for the Wonderbra campaign, and has been highly sought after as a lingerie model ever since.
Croatia - Elizabeta Burg
Although not very well known as a country, Croatia too has deep blue lakes and chilly mornings that are making it a popular vacation spot in recent times. Model Elizabeta Burg is a classical Scandinavian beauty who hails from this lovely country, with lovely blue eyes, flowing hair and legs that seem to go on forever. She has been named Miss Croatia Universe in 2012 and represented her country in the Miss Universe pageant in the same year.
Nicaragua - Indiana Sanchez
Indiana Sanchez is one of the most popular models to come from Nicaragua. She was Miss Nicaragua 2009 and then went on to represent her country at the Miss Universe pageant that year. Although she was a favourite and was predicted to place that year, she did not make it into the top 15. She did, however, place second in National Costume. Although she was training to be a nurse, she had to put her studies on hold in order to fulfill her duties as Miss Nicaragua.
Guyana - Niketa Barker
Guyana is a country off the Northern Coast of South America and although it is part of the mainland, it is similar to the islands surrounding it, in terms of culture and diversity. Niketa Barker is a model who was named Miss Guyana in 2014 and represented the country in the Miss Universe pageant that year. She did not place in the top 15, but was quite popular among the judges and voters. She is currently a medical student and would like to eventually specialize in obstetrics and gynecology.
Russia - Kristina Asmus
Kristina Asmus is a Russian theatre and film actress who was named the sexiest woman in Russia by Maxim magazine in 2010. Although she started off as an athlete and was trained as a gymnast, she eventually went to acting school and has since been popular for various roles that she has played on television and in movies. She started by acting in theatre production in her mid-teens and acting onstage remains her first love.
Japan - Mao Inoue
Although Japanese culture is immensely fond of its animated shows and movies, its live action actors are also highly acclaimed. Mao Inoue is one such popular television actress who has become a household name as the star of two major drama series. She started acting when she was 5 years old, and has since performed in theatre productions, appeared in print and television endorsements, and has lent her voice to a few animated characters.
Vietnam - Van Trang
Van Trang is a famous actress, singer and television presenter from Vietnam. She ventured into acting as a teenager and has been part of many successful projects on television as well as the big screen. She has also performed as a singer, and ventured into producing and directing. Interestingly, she is also the owner of a spa salon and has represented Vietnam in various ventures internationally.
Switzerland - Tatiana Eva-Marie
An extremely talented vocalist, Tatiana Eva-Marie is the daughter of two jazz musicians, Loius Crelier and Anca Maria of Romania. Although she grew up in Paris, she moved to the US in 2004 to start a band and has been based in Brooklyn ever since. She specializes in 1930s-style swing and gypsy jazz and has been influenced heavily by her mother’s Romanian heritage, which is reflected in the music she chooses to perform. Her band has opened for famous vocalist and pianist Norah Jones.
Canada - Tinsel Korey
Tinsel Korey is a familiar face to people who have watched the Twilight Saga, as she appeared as a Makah tribe member in both New Moon and Breaking Dawn. She started her career by appearing in various print and television commercials and then was given small roles in a few movies. Since then, she has appeared in many roles and has even performed as a singer in some award shows.
Algeria/France - Rachida Brakni
Rachida Brakni is a French actress of Algerian descent, who has acted in multiple roles in both film and theatre. She is critically acclaimed and has won awards, but ironically, is most famous as the wife of actor and former footballer Eric Cantona. She has since directed her husband in a contemporary play, which garnered appreciation for both of them. She has also been a part of a number of advertisement campaigns and endorsements.
Greece - Katerina Geronikolou
Greece has always been a land of legendary beauties, the most famous of which is probably Helen of Troy, whose face launched a thousand ships. But in modern times, Katerina Geronikolou is a well-known Greek actress popular for both her recurring roles in television as well as her starring roles in films. She has had a brief stint as a model and has made appearances on magazine spreads and covers.
Namibia - Marichen Luiperth
A Nigerian model who was crowned Miss Namibia and then represented her country in the Miss Universe pageant, Marichen Luiperth is a rare beauty indeed. As Miss Namibia, she was eager to address the plight of orphans and vulnerable children in her country. She also passionately worked to raise awareness about unemployment in the country. She later graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a focus on information studies and she continues her work with the youth of Namibia.
Somalia - Waris Dirie
Waris Dirie was discovered by a photographer in her early twenties and since then, her career as a model has taken off, and she has worked with some of the top brands in the industry in addition to walking in the most prestigious shows. She has written an autobiography about her life in her homeland which soon became a bestseller. She has also acted in various films and has been part of many social activism ventures in her home country.
Thailand/Bahrain - Shu Aldoseri
Although she lives and works in Thailand, Shu Aldoseri has a mixed race ethnicity and is half Thai and half Arabic. Her sultry beauty and defined cheekbones have made her immensely popular and in demand as a model. Even though she is still based out of Thailand and calls Bangkok home, she works all over the world, and has been part of many product endorsements, fashion shows and magazine shoots.
Thailand - Farung Yuthithum
Farung Yuthithum, popularly known as ‘Kwang’, is a famous Thai actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder. She was named Miss Thailand Universe in 2007 and appeared in the Miss Universe pageant, and placed in the top 15. Since then, she has ventured into acting and has played many roles in both television and film. She has also performed at various events as a singer, and is still active in the modelling scene.
Philippines/Polynesia/India - Nicole Bonifacio
Although born and brought up in the US, Nicole Bonifacio is of Filipino, Polynesian and Indian descent. She initially wanted to be a singer and performed all through school, until she participated in a Project Runway venture and discovered her talent for modelling. She has worked with some of the top names in the fashion industry, and is much sought after. She has now ventured into acting, and has performed roles in television shows as well as movies.
Philippines - Mercedes Cabral
A Filipino actress, Mercedes Cabral is best known for starring in independent and arthouse films in the Philippines, where both her performance, and the movies themselves have been critically acclaimed. Her interests also lie in fine arts, and she has been trained in sculpture making which is something she enjoys doing. She has also made multiple television appearances, and is popular among art and culture enthusiasts.
Sierra Leone - Mariatu Kargbo
Although she started out as a model and was crowned Miss Sierra Leone 2008, in addition to participating in the Miss Universe pageant in China, Mariatu’s true love has always been Chinese culture. She has now taken up Chinese opera and travels the world performing with opera groups. She has also been involved in multiple philanthropic activities in both Sierra Leone and China, and her dream is to bring together African and Chinese cultures.
Yemen/United Arab Emirates - Balqees Ahmed Fathi
Born to a Yemeni father and a mother from the Emirates, Balgees Fathi has always had an inclination toward artistic performance. Her father was a well-known Yemeni musician, and she was trained in singing and playing a number of instruments from a very young age. She released her debut album in 2013, and her second album in 2015, which has allowed her to break onto the international music scene.
Poland - Magdalena Frackowiak
Magdalena broke onto the modelling scene when her mother sent pictures of her when she was 16 to a modelling agency for a competition. After winning this competition, she began appearing on international runways in 2006 and has performed many print and television endorsements for international brands. She was declared as one of the top 30 models of the 2000s by Vogue Paris and has repeatedly walked Victoria’s Secret fashion shows. She has also started designing jewellery, and has subsequently started her own brand.
Namibia - Vicky Michael
When she was a student in China, Vicky Michael was offered the chance to be a model by a random stranger, and her life has been different ever since. She has since worked towards making black beauties more acceptable in Chinese culture and in bringing and showcasing African culture in China. She is a computer science major and now lives and works in Beijing, where modelling is only a part-time venture for her.
Kazakhstan - Bayan Yessentaye
A Kazakhstani producer, television presenter, actress, and singer, Bayan Yessentaye gained popularity and fame for her role in a melodramatic television show. Following her appearance on that show, she continued as a journalist and TV presenter for quite some time, before taking on more roles in films and television.
Lebanon - Haifa Wehbe
A Lebanese singer and actress, Haifa Wehbe has released multiple studio albums and has acted in a feature film that was quite popular. She was named one of the most desirable women in the world, and her performances and clothes have been considered controversial in some places where she has performed, but she has not let that faze her. Although she moved to Egypt during the conflict in Lebanon, she always looked forward to returning to her home and her people.
Tajikistan - Nilufar Sherzod
Although she originally hails from Tajikistan and was born and raised there, Nilufar Sherzod now lives and works out of Utah in the US. She has won the Miss United Nations USA pageant as a representative of Tajikistan and has participated in many other pageants since, setting new precedents, as there have no participants from her homeland in over two decades. She has now also ventured into acting.
India - Shreya Ghoshal
Shreya Ghoshal is a famous playback Indian singer who has won multiple awards for her performances in a myriad of film soundtracks. She started learning music from the tender age of 4 and was trained in classical music right from the time she was 6 years old. She was discovered when she was performing on a televised national singing competition, which she won, and has been acclaimed internationally. She is one of the few Indian celebrities who has been honoured internationally and has a wax figure in Madame Tussaud’s, London.
Pakistan - Ayeza Khan
Ayeza Khan is a Pakistani actress who started her career as a television actress which helped her become a household name. She then established her career by taking on lead roles in the most popular drama series of the time. Since then, she has acted in a number of other television and film roles that have cemented her as the top actress in her field. She has a dignified and refined beauty that has made her popular in other parts of the world as well.
Latvia - Ginta Lapina
Ginta Lapina was born and grew up in Latvia, but is now based out of New York. She made her first runway appearance at New York Fashion Week in spring 2008, and has since made a name for herself as an extremely versatile model and has walked for the top designers. She has been in advertisements for top beauty and fashion brands, and was placed 27th on a list of the top 50 models in 2010.
Italy - Nicole Minetti
Nicole Minetti was born to an English dance instructor and an Italian businessman. Dance was a part of her life from a very young age, and she gained proficiency in it. She briefly worked as a dancer on a comedy variety show before training to work as a dental hygienist. It was while working in a dentist’s office that she got the step up she needed to enter the next phase of her life, which was as a politician. After a brief stint in politics, following several scandals and investigations, Minetti now works to avoid the limelight.
Bahrain/India - Shaila Sabt
Shaila Sabt is an actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder, who lives in Bahrain, but is of Indian origin. She rose to fame for being named Bahrain’s Top Model in 2010, following which, she has ventured into acting. She was later named Miss Middle East as well. She has also received a degree in Human Relations from New York Institute and hopes to continue acting in the future.
