SNEAK PEEK OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE LIST: LUPITA NYONG'O, GABRIELLE UNION, KERRY WASHINGTON, PINK & MORE

Though she grew up thinking that "light skin and flowing, straight hair" made women desirable, World's Most Beautiful Woman Nyong'o, 31, tells PEOPLE that her mother "always said I was beautiful. And I finally believed her at some point." The Oscar winner, who's now a face of Lancôme Paris, is excited for this honor in part because of "all the girls who would see me … and feel a little more seen."

GABRIELLE UNION 

This 41-year-old stunner – who drinks one gallon of water every day to keep her skin hydrated – doesn't just have beauty idols like Janet Jackson and fellow honoree Kerry Washington; she actually knows them. "I'm more about inner beauty," she told Essence, "so most of my beauty icons are people … I can confirm are nice, and also happen to be beautiful."

KERRY WASHINGTON Not only gorgeous, Washington, 37, is also ageless (seriously, she doesn't look a day over Save the Last Dance). But she demurs such compliments. "The 'imperfections' are actually the gift," she told Doobop.com. "The reality is we all have nerves and moments of insecurity … But if I said to myself that I'm only going to show up, or speak or be visible when I'm perfect, I would never get out of bed."

MINDY KALINGThis beauty has brains, too, in the form of a Dartmouth degree, a writing credit on her hit show The Mindy Project and a New York Times best-selling book. So how does she juggle it all and still look great? By catching plenty of Zs. "I have the sleep patterns of a 12-year-old boy, so I could sleep until 2 in the afternoon," the 34-year-old recently told PEOPLE. 

"Pampering for me is sleeping."

PINK This CoverGirl, 34, has never been one to follow conventional beauty "rules" – and that's just fine. "Beautiful has never been my goal," she told Redbook. "Joy is my goal – to feel healthy and strong and powerful and useful and engaged and intelligent and in love. It's about joy. And there's such joy now."

STACY KEIBLER 

For mom-to-be Keibler, 34, looking good starts on the inside. "I believe you are what you eat," she told NewBeauty, adding that she centers her diet on organic fruits and vegetables, drinks water and meditates daily. "I really try to focus on keeping my body, my mind and soul all in balance."

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BOO GAZING; CELEBS OUT; GABRIELLE UNION, KIM KARDASHIAN, ALICIA KEYS, PINK, BORIS KODJOE, MILEY CYRUS& MORE

Is she talking to Swizz? Alicia Keys hits all the right notes – and even finds time to make a call! – Wednesday while performing at the Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia.

Stedford wife Kim Kardashian stands out from the crowd on Wednesday, showcasing her post-baby curves in a silk dress and Max Mara coat at The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment breakfast in Beverly Hills.

Zoe Saldana hosted premier luxury, lifestyle publishing company Niche Media’s Art of the Party in Miami. The exclusive event, presented by Merrill Lynch, took place at a private residence on Miami Beach and featured select works by celebrated mixed-media artist John Cox.

Pink and Janelle Monáe turn the red carpet into their own silly stage at Billboard's Women in Music event, sponsored by Target in New York City.

Melanie Fiona attends Billboard's annual Women in Music event at Capitale in New York City.

Gift wrapped in Red, Boris Kodjoe arrives at the 6th Annual 'Manifest Your Destiny Toy Drive' in Hollywood, California.

Gabrielle Union and George Daniels pose together during an advanced screening of "Being Mary Jane" at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago.

Home wrecker LeAnn Rimes and husband Eddie Cibrian at the 2013 American Country Awards at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Melyssa Ford attends Bravo’s “Blood, Sweat & Heels” premiere event in New York City.

She really can't stop! A festively dress Miley Cyrus has a jolly good time with a dancer's hair onstage at the 101.3 KDWB Jingle Ball in St. Paul, Minn.

Giuliana & Bill Rancic took time out of their busy schedules to shop for holiday gifts for family members at RadioShack. They also made their way over to the toy wall to try some of the latest electronic cars for their little one. Bill tested the electric blue remote controlled Camaro while Giuliana said, “Look we can get a Porsche for Duke!”

Jada Pinkett Smith is all smiles while shopping in Beverly Hills, looking like a tough man.

BOO GAZING: CELEBES OUT: ROBIN THICKE, BEYONCE, DIDDY,ROBERT DENIRO, PINK & MORE

G'day, girls! Beyoncé and baby Blue, 21 months, stick together as they arrive in Melbourne on Tuesday ahead of the singer's two-and-a-half week Australian leg of the "Mrs. Carter Show" world tour.

Robin Thicke and Paula Patton are seen leaving the Dorchester Hotel in London, UK.

Still killing the game...Angela Bassett attends the 17th annual Hollywood Film Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

Lala Anthony walks out of her NYC apartment heading to a Photo shoot with her glam squad.

Mary J. Blige, A$AP Rocky, Rick Ross, Jamie Foxx, and more joined Sean “P. Diddy” Combs in celebration of the release of Revolt Television Network at Slate, NYC on October 21st, 2013. In anticipation for the Revolt TV in-studio launch, the crowed counted down and celebrated with two large cakes featuring the Revolt logo, lit up bottle flares, and over 100 bottles of Ciroc.

HAZE Nightclub’s red carpet was a revolving door of celebrities this Friday in Las Vegas. The men of the much anticipated film Last Vegas lined the red carpet of HAZE for the official screening after party. 

David Oyelowo, recipient of the Hollywood Spotlight Award for The Butler, Lee Daniels, recipient of the Hollywood Directors Award for The Butler, Michael B. Jordan, recipient of the Hollywood Spotlight Award for Fruitvale Station.

Pink brings her "Truth About Love" tour – and her impressive six-pack! – to Vancouver's Rogers Arena.

BOO GAZING: CELEBS OUT: HALLE BERRY, GABRIELLE UNION, SARAH JESSICA PARKER, PINK & MORE

Wissam al Mana and Janet Jackson attend the Giorgio Armani fashion show during Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2013/14 in Milan, Italy.

This outfit is to die for...Joan Smalls walks the runway at the Emilio Pucci fashion show during Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2013/14 in Milan, Italy.

La La Anthony visits the SiriusXM Studios in New York City.

It's a sunshine day for Halle Berry and 4-year-old daughter Nahla, who happily head home from school in Studio City, Calif. 

Gabrielle Union takes a break from filming “Being Mary Jane” to pick up Burger King’s new smooth roast coffee for her cast and crew in LA.

Date night comes with a good cause for Matthew Broderick and wife Sarah Jessica Parker, who stay close in N.Y.C. Love 'N' Courage Benefit for TNC's Emerging Playwrights Program. 

She's no longer playing orphan Annie, but nothing's slowing down Willow Smith Monday on the N.Y.C. set of her music video. 

Fergie attends Kanye West concert in Paris, France.

Pink spends the day on the beach in Miami, Florida with their daughter Willow.