Sexy Spears A Brit Tasty

Updated:15:51, Thursday March 25, 2004

Perky pop star Britney Spears has been voted the world's sexiest woman.

Britney is top

The vamped-up singer knocked previous title holder Halle Berry off the top of the annual FHM poll who this year came sixth.

Single again Rachel Stevens came second in the mouth watering list with Beyonce Knowles third.

She was followed by Starsky and Hutch actress Carmen Electra, singer Holly Valance, Bond star Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez at number seven.

Glamour model Jordan - last year's number 25 - moved up the list to number eight.

This year's highest new entry is EastEnders actress Michelle Ryan, who plays the soap's Zoe Slater, at number 22.

Rising fast: Beyonce

FHM's editor David Davies said: "It's great to see Britney Spears at the top of the list.

"She's had an exciting if controversial 12 months but throughout everything she has always remained sexy.

"The key to winning this competition is sex appeal and as our readers have overwhelmingly demonstrated, Britney's got it.

"Her antics with Madonna in her video for Me Against the Music helped her secure the top slot."

FHM 100 Sexiest Women 2004: (2003 position in brackets)

1 Britney Spears (3)

2 Rachel Stevens (4)

3 Beyonce Knowles (15)

4 Carmen Electra (5)

5 Holly Valance (2)

6 Halle Berry (1)

7 Jennifer Lopez (6)

8 Jordan (25)

9 Angelina Jolie (32)

10 Elisha Cuthbert (14)