AfterEllen.com did a response to the Maxim Hot 100 that's pretty fun to browse through. We're so used to seeing the women that men have picked out as hot that I, personally, couldn't be more fascinated by the chances I get to see where women's tastes in hot chicks overlaps and differs.
One thing I noticed from a fannish perspective particularly is that women -- maybe just the women who vote in internet polls, but I think women in general -- are (nature? nurture? both? could care less? right, that last one for me) more responsive to character and personality. I mean, that's why there are fans who think quite average-looking men like Peter Wingfield or Garrett Maggart or David Nykl are SMOKING HOT: because we love *them,* and that makes us hot for them. I think that's why you'll find everyone who was ever on The L Word on the AfterEllen list, as well as lots of other people who gained and cemented their lesbian cred because of one lesbian or lesbian-icon role (don't think we won't love Scully UNTIL WE DIE, unlike those faithless bastards at Maxim); they'll always be hot to us -- they're our whatever the dyke equivalent of a BSO is. BDO? BQO?
Anyway, of course tastes are always different, so half the fun of these lists is going through them, alternating between "GOD, YES" and "Her? Are you HIGH?" Below the cut-tag is the list, and I bolded the ones that I personally am attracted to. Obviously "attracted" covers a range of meanings, especially when everyone on this list is both pretty and, for the most part, righteously awesome. But I sort of confined my responses to the ones I had a really carnal GUH! type reaction toward. Try it yourself -- yeah, why not, even you mostly-straight girls! How dykey are your tastes in women?
100. Catherine Deneuve
99. Carrie-Ann Moss
98. Amelie Mauresmo
97. Allison Janney
96. Jackie Warner
95. Susan Sarandon
94. Nicole Kidman
93. Sandra Oh
92. Liv Tyler
91. Deanna Casaluce
90. Amber Benson
89. Michelle Williams
88. Parker Posey
87. Michelle Pfeiffer
86. Evan Rachel Wood
85. Stephanie March
84. Katee Sackhoff
83. Elisha Cuthbert
82. Angie Harmon
81. Mia Kirshner
80. Sara Ramirez
79. Lindsay Lohan
78. Lauren Lee Smith
77. Kelly Clarkson
76. Jennifer Connolly
75. Neve Campbell
74. Alyson Hannigan
73. Rose Rollins
72. Lucy Liu
71. Stockard Channing
70. Sarah Michelle Gellar
69. Emma Thompson
68. Monica Bellucci
67. Jennifer Garner
66. Karina Lombard
65. Katherine Heigl
64. Sandra Bullock
63. Renee O'Connor
62. Carmen Electra
61. Catherine Zeta-Jones
60. Jorja Fox
59. Demi Moore
58. Rachel McAdams
57. Maura Tierney
56. Kristen Bell
55. Queen Latifah
54. Penelope Cruz
53. Olivia Wilde
52. Naomi Watts
51. Famke Janssen
50. Ellen DeGeneres
49. Mandy Musgrave
48. Cate Blanchett
47. Meryl Streep
46. Gina Gershon
45. Maggie Gyllenhaal
44. Rachel Weisz
43. Charlize Theron
42. Drew Barrymore
41. Jessica Biel
40. Clea DuVall
39. Kristanna Loken
38. Jessica Alba
37. Pink
36. Lucy Lawless
35. Gillian Anderson
34. Portia de Rossi
33. Carly Pope
32. Lauren Graham
31. Helen Mirren
30. America Ferrera
29. Mary-Louise Parker
28. Kate Beckinsale
27. Rachel Shelley
26. Guinevere Turner
25. Mariska Hargitay
24. Michelle Rodriguez
23. Erin Daniels
22. Evangeline Lilly
21. Emily Blunt
20. Simone Lahbib
19. Halle Berry
18. Elizabeth Mitchell
17. Kate Moennig
16. Jodie Foster
15. Keira Knightley
14. Kate Walsh
13. Piper Perabo
12. Scarlett Johansson
11. Eliza Dushku
10. Natalie Portman
9. Salma Hayek
8. Jordana Brewster
7. Tina Fey
6. Jennifer Beals
5. Sarah Shahi
4. Lena Headey [although I may well change my mind if it turns out I'm into The Sarah Connor Chronicles]
3. Kate Winslet
2. Angelina Jolie
1. Leisha Hailey
So that's 33 out of 100. For some kind of frame of reference, I did the same thing for the Maxim Hot 100 list, and I came up with 17 out of 100 (with 5 who appeared on both lists, fwiw -- Kristen Bell, Elisha Cuthbert, Kate Beckinsale, Keira Knightley, and Jessica Alba). So...I'm think just about twice as much like a lesbian as I do like a straight man? That sounds fair, I guess. The AfterEllen list, however, remains exponentially cooler, because every name I *didn't* bold, I generally looked at and went "Oh, yeah, she's cool!" On the Maxim list, my reaction was usually "Who? Oh."
One thing I noticed from a fannish perspective particularly is that women -- maybe just the women who vote in internet polls, but I think women in general -- are (nature? nurture? both? could care less? right, that last one for me) more responsive to character and personality. I mean, that's why there are fans who think quite average-looking men like Peter Wingfield or Garrett Maggart or David Nykl are SMOKING HOT: because we love *them,* and that makes us hot for them. I think that's why you'll find everyone who was ever on The L Word on the AfterEllen list, as well as lots of other people who gained and cemented their lesbian cred because of one lesbian or lesbian-icon role (don't think we won't love Scully UNTIL WE DIE, unlike those faithless bastards at Maxim); they'll always be hot to us -- they're our whatever the dyke equivalent of a BSO is. BDO? BQO?
Anyway, of course tastes are always different, so half the fun of these lists is going through them, alternating between "GOD, YES" and "Her? Are you HIGH?" Below the cut-tag is the list, and I bolded the ones that I personally am attracted to. Obviously "attracted" covers a range of meanings, especially when everyone on this list is both pretty and, for the most part, righteously awesome. But I sort of confined my responses to the ones I had a really carnal GUH! type reaction toward. Try it yourself -- yeah, why not, even you mostly-straight girls! How dykey are your tastes in women?
100. Catherine Deneuve
99. Carrie-Ann Moss
98. Amelie Mauresmo
97. Allison Janney
96. Jackie Warner
95. Susan Sarandon
94. Nicole Kidman
93. Sandra Oh
92. Liv Tyler
91. Deanna Casaluce
90. Amber Benson
89. Michelle Williams
88. Parker Posey
87. Michelle Pfeiffer
86. Evan Rachel Wood
85. Stephanie March
84. Katee Sackhoff
83. Elisha Cuthbert
82. Angie Harmon
81. Mia Kirshner
80. Sara Ramirez
79. Lindsay Lohan
78. Lauren Lee Smith
77. Kelly Clarkson
76. Jennifer Connolly
75. Neve Campbell
74. Alyson Hannigan
73. Rose Rollins
72. Lucy Liu
71. Stockard Channing
70. Sarah Michelle Gellar
69. Emma Thompson
68. Monica Bellucci
67. Jennifer Garner
66. Karina Lombard
65. Katherine Heigl
64. Sandra Bullock
63. Renee O'Connor
62. Carmen Electra
61. Catherine Zeta-Jones
60. Jorja Fox
59. Demi Moore
58. Rachel McAdams
57. Maura Tierney
56. Kristen Bell
55. Queen Latifah
54. Penelope Cruz
53. Olivia Wilde
52. Naomi Watts
51. Famke Janssen
50. Ellen DeGeneres
49. Mandy Musgrave
48. Cate Blanchett
47. Meryl Streep
46. Gina Gershon
45. Maggie Gyllenhaal
44. Rachel Weisz
43. Charlize Theron
42. Drew Barrymore
41. Jessica Biel
40. Clea DuVall
39. Kristanna Loken
38. Jessica Alba
37. Pink
36. Lucy Lawless
35. Gillian Anderson
34. Portia de Rossi
33. Carly Pope
32. Lauren Graham
31. Helen Mirren
30. America Ferrera
29. Mary-Louise Parker
28. Kate Beckinsale
27. Rachel Shelley
26. Guinevere Turner
25. Mariska Hargitay
24. Michelle Rodriguez
23. Erin Daniels
22. Evangeline Lilly
21. Emily Blunt
20. Simone Lahbib
19. Halle Berry
18. Elizabeth Mitchell
17. Kate Moennig
16. Jodie Foster
15. Keira Knightley
14. Kate Walsh
13. Piper Perabo
12. Scarlett Johansson
11. Eliza Dushku
10. Natalie Portman
9. Salma Hayek
8. Jordana Brewster
7. Tina Fey
6. Jennifer Beals
5. Sarah Shahi
4. Lena Headey [although I may well change my mind if it turns out I'm into The Sarah Connor Chronicles]
3. Kate Winslet
2. Angelina Jolie
1. Leisha Hailey
So that's 33 out of 100. For some kind of frame of reference, I did the same thing for the Maxim Hot 100 list, and I came up with 17 out of 100 (with 5 who appeared on both lists, fwiw -- Kristen Bell, Elisha Cuthbert, Kate Beckinsale, Keira Knightley, and Jessica Alba). So...I'm think just about twice as much like a lesbian as I do like a straight man? That sounds fair, I guess. The AfterEllen list, however, remains exponentially cooler, because every name I *didn't* bold, I generally looked at and went "Oh, yeah, she's cool!" On the Maxim list, my reaction was usually "Who? Oh."
no subject
Date: 2007-07-16 08:31 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-07-16 09:14 pm (UTC)From:My second response? OMG, no Emma Samms (whose performance in General Hospital in um 1983 made me realize for the first time in my whole life--and I was born in 1955--that I was bisexual). *happy sigh* That was an incredible week of revelation (Luke? Who's he? Shove him off that
bedscreen and let me at her!!!!).Looking a bit more carefully, it's quite possible a number of the women on the list weren't even born back in '83....hmmm.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-16 09:33 pm (UTC)From:99. Carrie-Ann Moss
98. Amelie Mauresmo
97. Allison Janney
96. Jackie Warner
95. Susan Sarandon
94. Nicole Kidman
93. Sandra Oh
92. Liv Tyler
91. Deanna Casaluce
90. Amber Benson
89. Michelle Williams
88. Parker Posey
87. Michelle Pfeiffer
86. Evan Rachel Wood
85. Stephanie March
84. Katee Sackhoff
83. Elisha Cuthbert
82. Angie Harmon
81. Mia Kirshner
80. Sara Ramirez
79. Lindsay Lohan
78. Lauren Lee Smith
77. Kelly Clarkson
76. Jennifer Connolly
75. Neve Campbell
74. Alyson Hannigan
73. Rose Rollins
72. Lucy Liu
71. Stockard Channing
70. Sarah Michelle Gellar
69. Emma Thompson
68. Monica Bellucci
67. Jennifer Garner
66. Karina Lombard
65. Katherine Heigl
64. Sandra Bullock
63. Renee O'Connor
62. Carmen Electra
61. Catherine Zeta-Jones
60. Jorja Fox
59. Demi Moore
58. Rachel McAdams
57. Maura Tierney
56. Kristen Bell
55. Queen Latifah
54. Penelope Cruz
53. Olivia Wilde
52. Naomi Watts
51. Famke Janssen
50. Ellen DeGeneres
49. Mandy Musgrave
48. Cate Blanchett
47. Meryl Streep
46. Gina Gershon
45. Maggie Gyllenhaal
44. Rachel Weisz
43. Charlize Theron
42. Drew Barrymore
41. Jessica Biel
40. Clea DuVall
39. Kristanna Loken
38. Jessica Alba
37. Pink
36. Lucy Lawless
35. Gillian Anderson
34. Portia de Rossi
33. Carly Pope
32. Lauren Graham
31. Helen Mirren
30. America Ferrera
29. Mary-Louise Parker
28. Kate Beckinsale
27. Rachel Shelley
26. Guinevere Turner
25. Mariska Hargitay
24. Michelle Rodriguez
23. Erin Daniels
22. Evangeline Lilly
21. Emily Blunt
20. Simone Lahbib
19. Halle Berry
18. Elizabeth Mitchell
17. Kate Moennig
16. Jodie Foster
15. Keira Knightley
14. Kate Walsh
13. Piper Perabo
12. Scarlett Johansson
11. Eliza Dushku
10. Natalie Portman
9. Salma Hayek
8. Jordana Brewster
7. Tina Fey
6. Jennifer Beals
5. Sarah Shahi
4. Lena Headey
3. Kate Winslet
2. Angelina Jolie
1. Leisha Hailey
Dark, tough, and not too skinny seem to be my operative factors. Kate Winslet gets some kind of general awesomeness override.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-16 10:06 pm (UTC)From:Also, I noticed that the photos they picked for AE were pretty much all of women smiling, which was cool. Usually women, when arranged for consumption by the male eye, are doe-ish or dead-looking, but very rarely are they smiling big toothy happy smiles, unless they're selling Clinique Happy. Smiling is a niche market in male attraction. It's too human, I guess. It suggests a life, an intelligence, possibly a backstory. So picture after picture of women smiling--that was very cool.
Elisha Cuthbert, though...I have to hope they posted this list before the whole Captivate thing splattered all over the place. Because OMG, there is not enough yuk in the galaxy.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-17 01:10 am (UTC)From:What gives?
I'm het, but I'm pretty sure I'd make an exception for Lena Olin.
(Or maybe just the character she played in Alias.)
no subject
Date: 2007-07-17 04:28 am (UTC)From:100. Catherine Deneuve
99. Carrie-Ann Moss
98. Amelie Mauresmo
97. Allison Janney
96. Jackie Warner
95. Susan Sarandon
94. Nicole Kidman
93. Sandra Oh
92. Liv Tyler
91. Deanna Casaluce
90. Amber Benson
89. Michelle Williams
88. Parker Posey
87. Michelle Pfeiffer
86. Evan Rachel Wood
85. Stephanie March
84. Katee Sackhoff
83. Elisha Cuthbert
82. Angie Harmon
81. Mia Kirshner
80. Sara Ramirez
79. Lindsay Lohan
78. Lauren Lee Smith
77. Kelly Clarkson
76. Jennifer Connolly
75. Neve Campbell
74. Alyson Hannigan
73. Rose Rollins
72. Lucy Liu
71. Stockard Channing
70. Sarah Michelle Gellar
69. Emma Thompson
68. Monica Bellucci
67. Jennifer Garner
66. Karina Lombard
65. Katherine Heigl
64. Sandra Bullock
63. Renee O'Connor
62. Carmen Electra
61. Catherine Zeta-Jones
60. Jorja Fox
59. Demi Moore
58. Rachel McAdams
57. Maura Tierney
56. Kristen Bell
55. Queen Latifah
54. Penelope Cruz
53. Olivia Wilde
52. Naomi Watts
51. Famke Janssen
50. Ellen DeGeneres
49. Mandy Musgrave
48. Cate Blanchett
47. Meryl Streep
46. Gina Gershon
45. Maggie Gyllenhaal
44. Rachel Weisz
43. Charlize Theron
42. Drew Barrymore
41. Jessica Biel
40. Clea DuVall
39. Kristanna Loken
38. Jessica Alba
37. Pink
36. Lucy Lawless
35. Gillian Anderson
34. Portia de Rossi
33. Carly Pope
32. Lauren Graham
31. Helen Mirren
30. America Ferrera
29. Mary-Louise Parker
28. Kate Beckinsale
27. Rachel Shelley
26. Guinevere Turner
25. Mariska Hargitay
24. Michelle Rodriguez
23. Erin Daniels
22. Evangeline Lilly
21. Emily Blunt
20. Simone Lahbib
19. Halle Berry
18. Elizabeth Mitchell
17. Kate Moennig
16. Jodie Foster
15. Keira Knightley
14. Kate Walsh
13. Piper Perabo
12. Scarlett Johansson
11. Eliza Dushku
10. Natalie Portman
9. Salma Hayek
8. Jordana Brewster
7. Tina Fey
6. Jennifer Beals
5. Sarah Shahi
4. Lena Headey
3. Kate Winslet
2. Angelina Jolie
1. Leisha Hailey
no subject
Date: 2007-07-25 02:09 pm (UTC)From:Well, that and (because it can't be said enough) Xena made me gay so seeing both Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Conner on the list made me giggle.