Because the shocking news that Sandra Bullock has adopted a baby boy without anyone in the world knowing about it takes precedence, her story is the main focus of this week’s cover of People magazine. But People has another big story to share with the world this week, its annual 100 Most Beautiful People list! Here are a few of the folks who made the list this year — including Jake Gyllenhaal, Channing Tatum and Bradley Cooper — but the celeb chosen as THE most beautiful person might come as a bit of a surprise, or maybe not really … she has previously made the 100 Most Beautiful List 12 times and has previously been THE most beautiful person 4 times:

Julia Roberts, who began her career as “Pretty Woman,” is now the most beautiful person in the world, according to People magazine’s Most Beautiful Person issue released on Wednesday. This is the fourth time the 42-year-old timeless beauty has headed People’s list and the twelfth time she’s been named one of the world’s 100 Most Beautiful people. The announcement was made live Wednesday on TODAY by People senior editor Galina Espinoza … A dozen appearances are the second-most in the history of the exclusive list. Only Halle Berry, who this year makes her 14th appearance on People’s iconic list, has more. Following Roberts are nine-time honorees George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman. Of those, only Lopez is back this year … The “Most Beautiful People” issue is broken down into sections celebrating various aspects of beauty. For the fourth straight year, there’s a section on “Stars without Makeup” that celebrates eight women photographed in just moisturizer and lip balm. They include Diane Kruger, 33, of “Inglourious Basterds”; Ashley Greene, 23; Kerry Washington, 33; supermodel Heidi Klum and Selena Gomez, 17. There’s also a section honoring “Beautiful Jessicas,” new to the edition this year. Those include Jessica Biel, 28; Jessica Simpson, 29, and Jessica Alba, 29, who reveals that her real name is Farrahdawn Louisa Alba. “Surprise Jersey Girls” is another new section, honoring women with connections to the Garden State. Those include Sarah Jessica Parker, 45, who was educated in Englewood; Newark natives Queen Latifah, 40, and Keshia Knight Pulliam, 31; former Princeton student Brooke Shields, 44; Jersey City native Martha Stewart, 68, and Christina Milian, 28. “It Runs in the Family” features four celebrity daughters: Meryl Streep’s daughter, actress Mamie Gummer, 26; Phil Collins’ daughter, actress Lily Collins, 21; Jack Nicholson’s and Rebecca Broussard’s daughter, actress Lorraine Nicholson, 20; and Alfre Woodard’s daughter, Mavis Spencer, 18, a student who will attend Columbia University in the fall … On the “Hot List” are reality star Kim Kardashian, actress Zoe Saldana, and singers Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus. This year’s “Hot List” includes 20-year-old Kristen Stewart and 27-year-old Gabourey Sidibe, the “Precious” star and Academy Award nominee, who told People, “For my own happiness, I had to learn to like myself — and take the way I look out of the equation” … “Twilight” heartthrob Robert Pattison, 23, is also on the list as is “American Idol” runner-up Adam Lambert, 28.

While I generally agree with People‘s choices of the “most beautiful”, I can’t help but believe their decision to name Julia Roberts the most beautiful person — again — as a p.r. stunt in her favor. Julia has a new movie coming out so this “honor” will help with promotion of that film. Of all the people People could’ve chosen, like Sandra Bullock perhaps, I cannot for the life of me understand why Julia Roberts would be chosen as the stand out. In any event, People‘s 100 Most Beautiful People list is pure feel-good fluff for everyone involved … it’s nothing really to take seriously at all. Which of YOUR fave beautiful people made the list?

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