LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2004--MAXIM Magazine, the #1 best-selling men's general interest magazine in the country and the world, unveils their highly anticipated 5th annual Hot 100 list. Pop culture phenomenon Jessica Simpson ("Newlyweds") heads up the list with the #1 spot. Rounding out the Top 10: Destiny's Child Diva Beyonce Knowles (#2); pop-sensation Christina Aguilera (#3); tennis sensation Anna Kournikova (#4); pop icon Jennifer Lopez (#5), "The O.C's" Mischa Barton (#6); "Godsend" and "The Punisher's" Rebecca Romijn-Stamos (#7); "The Simple Life's" Paris Hilton (#8); "Honey's" Jessica Alba (#9) and Oscar® winner and star of "Catwoman," Halle Berry (#10).
Source: MAXIM Magazine
The MAXIM Hot 100 continues to be a barometer of Hollywood cool and this marks its 5th anniversary. Each year, MAXIM chooses 100 of the most successful women of the year in film, television, music, sports and fashion. All of the women on the list have one thing in common, and that is their careers promise even greater things to come. Editors are given the daunting task of selecting which of these women will keep people talking throughout the year. "We single out beautiful women whose careers are on fire," says MAXIM Editor-in-Chief Keith Blanchard. "The selection process is top-secret and extremely labor-intensive. We have two interns working fulltime just keeping our wives and girlfriends out of the room."
Simpson, who has seen her stardom rocket since the debut of her MTV reality show "Newlyweds" and her multi platinum CD "In The Skin," says of her #1 status, "It's such an honor to be chosen as #1 on MAXIM's Hot 100 list. I'm such a girl's girl, so it's nice to get the stamp of approval from the boys. It's way better than being number 101." Up next for Simpson, "The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour" on ABC (airs on Sunday, April 11th), a comedy pilot for ABC and the launch of her edible fragrance line "Dessert."
Simpson joins past #1 picks Christina Aguilera (2003), Jennifer Garner (2002), Jessica Alba (2001) and Estella Warren (2000). Each girl continues to captivate audiences and garner worldwide attention. Last year, MAXIM first brought such stars to our attention as Maggie Gyllenhaal, who the magazine placed on the list at #55 (now #25) when she was only known for starring in the indie film "Secretary," and Eve at #71 (now #11) when her hip hop career was just beginning to take off.
Just as they have in the past, women in music dominate the 2004 Hot 100 list. The successful, up-and-coming female artists on the list include:
Kelis (#48)
Fergie (#64)
Paulina Rubio (#77)
Thalia (#82)
Blu Cantrell (#83)
Dido (#84)
The MAXIM Hot 100 supplement will hit newsstands on May 15th and is available with the May issue of MAXIM featuring actress and model Josie Maran ("Van Helsing") on the cover. The May issue also features the girls of "Van Helsing," Elena Anaya and Silvia Colloca, as well as a Q&A with Nascar star Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Based on the huge success and national appeal of the Hot 100, VH1 will be airing a 1-hour special on June 13th at 10:00 P.M. This special will include interviews with many of the Hot 100 girls and other celebrities who will comment on the list.
Dennis Publishing, Inc. is a media company that publishes the two most successful modern men's lifestyle magazines in America -- MAXIM (2.5 million rate base) and Stuff (1.2 million rate base) -- along with general interest music magazine Blender (Advertising Age's Launch of the Year), MAXIM Goes To The Movies and The Week, a compilation of the week's most important domestic and international news. MAXIM, Stuff, Blender and The Week are registered trademarks of Felix Dennis.
MAXIM HOT 100
2004
1. Jessica Simpson 51. Gina Gershon
2. Beyonce Knowles 52. Mya
3. Christina Aguilera 53. Naomi Watts
4. Anna Kournikova 54. Shakira
5. Jennifer Lopez 55. Catherine Bell
6. Mischa Barton 56. Kelly Hu
7. Rebecca Romijn-Stamos 57. Anna Faris
8. Paris Hilton 58. Rachel Bilson
9. Jessica Alba 59. Eva Mendes
10. Halle Berry 60. Monet Mazur
11. Eve 61. Rachel Perry
12. Carmen Electra 62. Tricia Helfer
13. Scarlett Johansson 63. Shannyn Sossamon
14. Brittany Murphy 64. Fergie
15. Janet Jackson 65. Larissa Meek
16. Kim Smith 66. Brooke Burns
17. Angelina Jolie 67. Christina Applegate
18. Keira Knightley 68. Rachel Hunter
19. Kirsten Dunst 69. Milla Jovovich
20. Michelle Branch 70. Monika Kramlik
21. Elisha Cuthbert 71. Victoria Beckham
22. Cameron Diaz 72. Cameron Richardson
23. Josie Maran 73. Mandy Moore
24. Portia de Rossi 74. Bianca Kajlich
25. Maggie Gyllenhaal 75. Eva Green
26. Kate Hudson 76. Elena Lyons
27. Nicole Richie 77. Paulina Rubio
28. Shannon Elizabeth 78. Vanessa Marcil
29. Ashanti 79. Zooey Deschanel
30. Sara Foster 80. Rachel Nichols
31. Jessica Biel 81. Daisy Fuentes
32. Mariah Carey 82. Thalia
33. Gwen Stefani 83. Blu Cantrell
34. Uma Thurman 84. Dido
35. Pamela Anderson 85. Maria Menounos
36. Britney Spears 86. Victoria Pratt
37. Krista Allen 87. Christina DaRe
38. Liv Tyler 88. Lindsay Price
39. Amber Arbucci 89. Rosario Dawson
40. Shania Twain 90. Jill Wagner
41. Gisele Bundchen 91. Eva Longoria
42. Brooke Burke 92. Melissa Howard
43. Charlize Theron 93. Nadine Velazquez
44. Kate Bosworth 94. Giuliana DePandi
45. Liz Phair 95. Brody Dalle
46. Paige Butcher 96. Tamie Sheffield
47. Ana Hickmann 97. K.D. Aubert
48. Kelis 98. Missi Pyle
49. Kylie Minogue 99. Amanda Swisten
50. Amber Brkich 100. Tamala Jones
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040409/95096_1.html
Maxim's Hot 100 List! 
it's cool she's on there though. Jessica? SERIOUSLY. Ew. CHRISTINA?! ASFDJAKSDFJ 
why britney is number 36 
