For years, Victoria’s Secret’s What is Sexy list has named the hottest women in entertainment, offering up its sexy awards to the likes of Taylor Swift, Beyonce, and Emma Stone.
But this year, they’ve surprised fans by adding a few new categories to the competition, asking shoppers to vote for the sexiest social media stars in three categories: fashion, beauty, and fitness.
That means that having a successful YouTube channel or blog could earn three ladies coveted spots on the same list as megastars like Rihanna, Margot Robbie, and Chrissy Teigen.
Who will you choose? Victoria’s Secret has launched three awards for the sexiest social media stars, with one of the categories featuring some beauty-focused favorites including Bethany Mota (right) and Zoella (left)
Tone up! The fitness category of the sexy social media awards includes pilates expert Cassey Ho (center right) and Australian health and wellness guru Kayla Itsines (left)
Style stars: Some of the world’s most popular fashion bloggers are also given their chance to shine, with hugely successful blog stars Rocky Barnes (right) and Sonya Esman (left) included in the nominations
This isn’t actually the first time that Victoria’s Secret has spotlighted social stars — but the lingerie brand is certainly giving them a bigger pretense.
In 2015, there was only one category for Sexiest Social Star, which went to YouTuber Tess Christine.
That meant Tess joined the ranks of Ms. Swift, who was deemed to have the Sexiest Legs, Queen Bey, who earned the Sexiest Bikini Body award, and Ariana Grande, who was named Sexiest Songstress.
But this year, Tess isn’t even in the running, and the social categories have been split into three.
Popular lady: Bethany, 20, appeared on Dancing With The Stars in 2014, and has also amassed an impressive 9.9 million subscribers on YouTube, and 5.6 million followers on Instagram
The British are coming: Zoe, AKA Zoella, 25, has an even more impressive following, with a staggering 10 million YouTube subscribers, and 7.5 million Instagram fans
Meghan Rienks
Natalie Jill
Shining bright: YouTuber and budding actress Meghan Rienks and fitness fanatic Natalie Jill are also included in the line-up
Up for Sexist Social Star: Beauty are Zoe Sugg (YouTube’s Zoella), Meghan Rienks, Ingrid Nilsen, and Bethany Mota, who earned fame away from her popular YouTube channel by appearing as a contestant on Dancing With The Stars in 2014.
The nominees for Sexist Social Star: Fashion include Rocky Barnes (of RockyBarnesBlog.com), Negin Mirsalehi (NeginMirsalehi.com), Annabelle Fleur (VivaLuxury.blogspot.com), and Sonya Esman (ClassIsInternal.com).
Finally, the four women up for the title of Sexiest Social Star: Fitness are Australian health and wellness guru Kayla Itsines (KaylaItsines.com), Hannah Bronfman (HBFIT.com), pilates expert Cassey Ho (Blogilates.com), and Natalie Jill (NatalieJillFitness.com).
The brand gave fans 24 hours to vote for their favorites online, but the ballot box is officially closed — meaning their millions of combined YouTube followers will just have to wait until Victoria’s Secret announces the winners.
Multi-talented: Although Hannah Bronfman is featured in the fitness list, she has also made a name for herself as a successful DJ, and as a model
Body positivity: Cassey, who is based in California, is renowned among her fans for spreading a message of self-confidence
Huge following: Aussie star Kayla has a huge global audience thanks to her helpful fitness tips and weight loss plans, which thousands of people follow
Past winners: The winning ladies will join the likes of Rihanna and Beyonce who have both been awarded What Is Sexy gongs in the past
Other categories that have been on the list in the past include Sexiest Smile, Sexiest Eyes, Sexiest Lips, Sexiest Film Cast, Sexiest Breakout Star, and Sexiest Selfie.
But while the inclusion of three social media categories might seem shocking for some, it becomes less so when the numbers are broken down.
Bethany, for example, boasts an incredible 9.9 million subscribers on YouTube, and a whopping 5.6 million followers on Instagram.
Meanwhile British blogger Zoe, who is known among fans by her online name Zoella, has more than 10 million subscribers on YouTube and 7.5 followers on Instagram — more than some Victoria’s Secret Angels have on the photo-sharing site.
