Kylie most beautiful pop star, says poll

SEXY singer Kylie Minogue was voted the most beautiful woman and top pop star of 2002 in a poll released yesterday.

The pint-sized star, known for her skimpy stage outfits, beat off competition in the beauty category from Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez.

Last year's winner, Friends actress Jennifer Aniston, failed to make it into the top three.

Millionaire singer Robbie Williams and Pop Idol loser Gareth Gates were forced into second and third place in the favourite pop star ratings, with Kylie scooping this title as well.

The annual survey by waxworks museum Madame Tussaud's named former TV presenter John Leslie as the third most hated person of the year, behind Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden.

Hitler failed to make an appearance on the list of villains for the first time.

Leslie former host of This Morning was also voted the most scandalous person, ahead of sacked Have I Got News For You frontman Angus Deayton and former lovers Edwina Currie and John Major.

World War Two leader Winston Churchill, who was recently declared the Greatest Briton in a BBC survey, was named as the year's favourite politician.

Chancellor Gordon Brown came second, ahead of Prime Minister Tony Blair. Footballer and style icon David Beckham was voted most handsome man and sports personality of the year.

In the film stakes, Tom Cruise was the most popular movie star. Boy wizard Harry Potter was the best fictional character, ahead of cartoon scamp Bart Simpson and The Lord of the Rings' hobbit Frodo Baggins.