She has an “angel” of a boyfriend, Dutch bass player Martyn Lenoble, “who loves me from head to toe.” She has a cozy Malibu beach house that she calls “the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.” And, after a very public battle with breast cancer that has given her a gratifying “feeling of purpose,” Christina Applegate has a new lease on life. “I used to be really shy but I started to come into my own in my late 20s and early 30s,” Applegate, 37, tells PEOPLE in the cover interview for the annual Most Beautiful issue – her first interview since her reconstructive breast surgery last November. “Now I’m not afraid to speak up in a room full of people and be a part of the conversation.” The Samantha Who? star says she’s finding balance and embracing her body after undergoing a double mastectomy in July. “You have to get through the physical transformations then buck up, go to work and try to be the normal, happy Christina for everyone around you,” she says. One source of strength has been Lenoble. “He’s been a friend for about 13 years,” Applegate says. “Our relationship gets stronger and stronger. I’m really lucky.” And, more importantly, he makes the actress feel “beautiful” about her new body. “I’m very grateful to Martyn for coming along at a time that he did because he’s been my rock through all of this,” Applegate says. “He gave me something to really want to live for and something to smile about.”

Considering the life-changing effect that enduring a double mastectomy has on a woman, I am very impressed with Christina’s attitude about her beauty (which is on full display in this issue of People magazine). I, for the life of me, cannot imagine what it must be like to survive a bout with cancer so my hat is off to her in that respect. I suppose congrats are in order for being named by People magazine as one of the 100 Most Beautiful People. But, there are 99 other folks who have been deemed beautiful by People — after the jump, check out a few of those pretty faces …

There is no denying that each one of these people is beautiful but I gotta question the selection choice of some of these photos. The 90210 girls were photographed without make-up (on purpose) but the photo is set in the harsh beach sun which makes each of the young girls look haggard. Also, I think the mag could’ve selected better photos of Robert Pattinson and Michelle Obama. Each one of them is incredibly beautiful and, yet, these photos in my opinion do not showcase their beauty at all. I do love the photo of Kristen Wiig and, of course, Tristan Wilds and Zac Efron both look supercute. I know the People magazine list of the 100 Most Beautiful People is meant to be fun and I think they generally get it right … but what do you think? Who would YOU have selected for the cover of this mag?

[Source, Source]

Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth joined the cast of CW’s 90210 spin-off Saturday at a beachside bash to celebrate the show. The party took place on the Malibu shore – about 20 miles away from the Beverly Hills zip code, the AP reports. Doherty and Garth, who will reprise their roles as Brenda Walsh and Kelly Taylor in the new show, arrived separately. Joe E. Tata, who played Peach Pit owner Nat, also attended. Party guests expecting to get a glimpse of the show’s first episode were out of luck: The premiere was not screened. (The CW recently announced pre-broadcast copies of the series would not be distributed to TV reviewers and reporters as a “strategic marketing decision.”) Meanwhile, Garth recently said reuniting with Doherty (with whom she once got into a fistfight) wasn’t “as bad as I thought it would be. We’re both grown women, both professionals,” she told TV Guide. “Once we were working, it felt like a good fit.”

Tori Spelling, who continues to get the shaft from the new 90210 was, obvs, not in attendance at last night’s affair. Again, I’m excited at the prospect of the new show but I fear that expectations may be too high. I understand why the show’s producers are keeping the first ep under wraps until the series premieres next week but … I dunno, can it really live up to the hype? There are a lot of fond memories about the original show … I dunno if anything can really measure up.

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]

After the jump, check out individual cast photos of the 90210 kids and 3 of the adults (tho, none of the “special guest star” Beverly Hills, 90210 alums) …

The kids:

Okay … can I get a big WTF? is going on with the pic of Tristan Wilds, the sole African-American cast member (who plays Dixon Mills) on the show … do you think they told him to pose like that? Cuz, the first thing I thought of when I saw this pic was the signature fingerpoint pose made famous by Isaac the Bartender, the sole African-American castmember on The Love Boat. Please tell me this wasn’t intentional!

The adults:

I’m not entirely sure which characters are sleeping with which but I’m sure all will be revealed very soon. It’s a pretty good looking cast … let’s see if they’re able to live up to the caliber of the original cast of kiddies from 90210.

[Source]

Even tho the amazing CONFIRMATION that Shannen Doherty WILL BE coming back to 90210 came out earlier this week, none of the former castmembers of BH, 90210 were at yesterday’s event. As I’ve been saying, they are not the main focus of the new show. This new cast of characters will be the central focus of the story and the other “guest stars” will provide support, linking the original show to the new show. I can’t wait … at first, I was very lukewarm to the idea of a 90210 spin-off but the more I hear about it, the more I see — I’m totally on board now. I just hope that my expectations haven’t been raised too high. BH, 90210 was such a cultural phenomenon the first time around, I’m not sure if this new incarnation will have the same impact. It’s possible but … the jury’s still out. Here’s hoping the kids at West Beverly High can take the country by storm again — but just in case, we still have the Upper East Siders on Gossip Girl to fall back on if need be.

[Photo credit: Wireimage]