Top 10 Female Sex Symbols of All Time

What exactly makes a woman a "sex symbol" is a complex cocktail of traits. It's not just physical beauty - although, let's be real, it plays a significant role. It's also about charisma, talent, and that indefinable quality that makes you unable to look away. They're the women who send hearts racing, inspire fashion trends, and even provoke social conversations about sexuality and femininity.

In this list of the greatest sex symbols of all time you'll find actresses who became the epitome of glamor in Hollywood's Golden Age, musicians who've turned every music video into a spectacle of beauty and allure, and even political figures who've transcended their roles to become icons of attractiveness. Each has her unique magnetism that transcends age, geography, and even time itself.
The Top Ten
1 Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, and model who became a major sex symbol in the 1950s. Known for her blonde bombshell image, Monroe starred in a number of successful films like "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "Some Like It Hot." Her mysterious death in 1962 at the age of 36 only heightened her iconic status.

Never have I seen such beauty and sexiness mixed with innocence and cuteness. I've never seen anybody like her on screen, something much different from anyone else, especially with Marilyn. What a terrible childhood, messed around by too many people, but her personality and kind soul make her even more lovable. That face, that body. There will never be anybody like her ever again. It makes me sad I was born 35 years after her death!

Marilyn Monroe was not only a sex symbol, but she was also a credit to the female gender. She knew what she wanted and got there by herself. Tragic as her story was, she still left enough history to inspire generations for the next million years.

The obvious number one, I mean, just think of the impact Monroe had on Hollywood and during her time. She was incredibly beautiful, a great actress, smart, and she had a lot more charisma than most actresses, past and present.

2 Sharon Stone Sharon Stone is an American actress, producer, and former fashion model. She gained international fame for her role in the erotic thriller "Basic Instinct," which became one of the most iconic scenes in film history. Her beauty and audacious roles have made her a lasting sex symbol in Hollywood.

She has an IQ of 154 and is tall, slim, blonde, blue-eyed, and has basically all the bodily and facial features I find attractive.

3 Kim Basinger Kim Basinger is an American actress, singer, and former fashion model who gained fame in the 1980s and 1990s. She won an Academy Award for her role in "L.A. Confidential" and was one of the highest-paid actresses during her peak years. Her sultry looks and performances have established her as a sex symbol.

This woman is a true bombshell! She exudes sex, dripping with sensuality. Her face is absolutely stunning, and her body is flawless! A real classic beauty and sex symbol.

Best 9 1/2 weeks of my life. She is an absolute beauty, continuously elegant and vulnerable.

4 Angelina Jolie Angelina Jolie is an American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian. She has received numerous awards, including an Academy Award and three Golden Globes. Known for her exotic beauty and compelling screen presence, Jolie has been considered a sex symbol since the late 1990s.

Thick legs, big boobs, and the fullest lips ever...

I have some words to say for Angelina Jolie. I think she is the most beautiful, awesome, and sweet woman I've ever seen. She has it all.

5 Michelle Pfeiffer Michelle Pfeiffer is an American actress known for her versatile roles in films ranging from "Scarface" to "Dangerous Liaisons." She has received multiple Golden Globe nominations and an Academy Award nomination. Pfeiffer's classic beauty and on-screen allure have made her a lasting sex symbol.

Okay, she is everything you'd ever want in a woman. What could be sexier?

Did you see this siren as Catwoman? No comparison!

6 Shakira Shakira is a Colombian singer, songwriter, and dancer known for her fusion of various musical genres. Her belly dancing skills and catchy songs like "Whenever, Wherever" and "Hips Don't Lie" have contributed to her status as a global sex symbol. She has won numerous awards, including multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards.

She isn't as racy as most of the women here, but she is femininity personified. It doesn't matter if you're a man, woman, gay, lesbian, or whatever. You're bound to be attracted to her. It's like nature's law or something.

I agree with someone else on her. You cannot help yourself but be attracted to Shakira. I don't know if it's black magic, nature, or what, but damn.

She's pretty, but especially in her music video: "Can't remember to forget you!"

7 Madonna Madonna is an American singer, actress, and businesswoman whose career has spanned over four decades. Known as the "Queen of Pop," she has sold over 300 million records worldwide. With her provocative music videos and boundary-pushing fashion, she became a defining sex symbol of the 1980s and beyond.

Come on! We all know Marilyn Monroe is overrated! Madonna should be number 1. Listen to her album Erotica and look at her sex book if you don't believe me.

8 Britney Spears Britney Spears is an American singer, dancer, and actress who rose to fame in the late 1990s with hits like "Baby One More Time" and "Oops!... I Did It Again." Her provocative music videos and stage performances contributed to her status as a teen sex symbol. Her influence extends beyond music, shaping fashion and popular culture.

Britney was named the biggest sex symbol of both the '90s, the 2000s, and the 2010s.

9 Pamela Anderson Pamela Anderson is a Canadian-American actress and model best known for her role on the TV series "Baywatch." In addition to her acting career, Anderson gained notoriety for her appearances in Playboy magazine. Her blonde, buxom persona has made her one of the most enduring sex symbols of the 1990s.

She was at her peak when she was young and natural, before all the plastic surgery, etc.

Second only to Marilyn Monroe. Not as beautiful, but man, what a body.

10 Jessica Alba Jessica Alba is an American actress and businesswoman known for her roles in films such as "Sin City" and the "Fantastic Four" series. She has received various accolades, including a Teen Choice Award and a Saturn Award. Her good looks and appeal have made her a modern sex symbol, frequently appearing in "Sexiest Women" lists.

She's one of the prettiest, especially her portrayal in Fantastic 4 movies!

The Contenders
11 Brigitte Bardot Brigitte Bardot is a French actress and singer who became an international sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s. Known for her roles in films like "And God Created Woman," she was a major influence on fashion and pop culture. She retired from acting in the 1970s to focus on animal rights activism.

She is the ultimate in sexual attraction. Every single movement, facial expression, and gesture exudes sex. For me, she is the greatest sex symbol ever to grace the screen.

12 Rebecca Ferguson Rebecca Ferguson is a Swedish actress who gained widespread recognition for her role in the miniseries "The White Queen," earning her a Golden Globe nomination. She later gained international fame for her roles in blockbuster films like "Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation" and "The Greatest Showman." Her sultry on-screen presence and acting prowess make her a modern-day sex symbol.

MI5 shows how thick her legs are.

13 Nicole Scherzinger Nicole Scherzinger is an American singer, actress, and television personality known as the lead vocalist of the girl group The Pussycat Dolls. Her performances often feature sultry dance moves and revealing costumes, adding to her appeal as a modern sex symbol. She has also had a successful solo career and served as a judge on various talent shows.
14 Catherine Zeta-Jones Catherine Zeta-Jones is a Welsh actress who gained international fame for her roles in "The Mask of Zorro" and "Chicago," for which she won an Academy Award. She has a glamorous image that's reminiscent of old Hollywood, and her beauty and acting prowess have earned her a place as a modern sex symbol.
15 Ornella Muti Ornella Muti is an Italian actress who gained international fame in the 1980s. She's known for her roles in films such as "Flash Gordon" and "Oscar." Her alluring on-screen presence and classic Mediterranean beauty have made her a sex symbol in European cinema.
16 Halle Berry Halle Berry is an American actress who gained fame in the 1990s and became the first African American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in "Monster's Ball." She has starred in a variety of films, including the "X-Men" series and "Die Another Day." Her beauty and talent have made her one of the most enduring sex symbols in Hollywood.
17 Demi Moore Demi Moore is an American actress who rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s with films like "St. Elmo's Fire" and "Ghost." She was one of the highest-paid actresses during her peak years. Her sensual on-screen presence and striking features have contributed to her status as a sex symbol.
18 Constance Marie Constance Marie is an American actress best known for her roles in television shows like "George Lopez" and "Switched at Birth." She has also appeared in films like "Selena," where she played the mother of the late Tejano singer. Her attractive looks and versatile talent have earned her a spot as a contemporary sex symbol.
19 Elizabeth Hurley Elizabeth Hurley is a British actress and model who gained fame in the 1990s, particularly as the face of Estée Lauder. She has appeared in films like "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery." Her beauty and poise have long established her as a sex symbol in both the UK and Hollywood.

Classic beauty, and she only seems to get better as she ages.

20 Winona Ryder Winona Ryder is an American actress who rose to prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s with films like "Beetlejuice" and "Edward Scissorhands." While not a traditional sex symbol, her unique beauty and alternative style have given her a different kind of sensual appeal. She has won numerous awards, including a Golden Globe.
21 Raquel Welch Raquel Welch is an American actress and singer who first gained fame in the 1960s, particularly for her role in "One Million Years B.C." Her iconic bikini-clad appearance in the film cemented her status as a sex symbol of that era. Over the years, she has received several awards, including a Golden Globe.

Raquel Welch, I believe, was exceptionally beautiful, one of the best-built and proportioned women of modern times. She was also very charismatic. A fine actress who was extremely photogenic and posed for some of the sexiest photos and posters available to collectors. Excelsior... Hot... Hot...

She was the greatest sex symbol of the '60s and '70s. Solid number one or two, or at least in the top 5. People voting here don't know history, but if they did, they would agree.

Marilyn number one, but not having Raquel as number two?

22 Christina Milian Christina Milian is an American singer, actress, and entrepreneur. She gained fame in the early 2000s with hits like "AM to PM" and "Dip It Low." Her sultry voice and glamorous style have contributed to her status as a modern sex symbol.
23 Scarlett Johansson Scarlett Johansson is an American actress and singer, known for her versatility in roles ranging from romantic comedies to action films. She's received numerous awards, including a Tony and a BAFTA, and has been one of the world's highest-paid actresses. Her beauty and on-screen charisma have established her as a contemporary sex symbol.

Okay, she needs to be number 2 right behind Marilyn Monroe, if not number 1. She is the most beautiful woman on the planet. Don't believe me? Go watch Match Point, then come back and tell me.

Scarlett Johansson might very well be today's Marilyn Monroe. She has great body and facial features, as well as talent and charisma.

1. That beautiful blonde hair
2. Amazing actress
3. That ass, oh my god.
4. Just look at the boobs on her!
Case closed, people.

24 Claudia Cardinale Claudia Cardinale is an Italian-Tunisian film actress who rose to prominence in the 1960s, starring in Italian and international films like "8½" and "Once Upon a Time in the West." Her beauty and talent have earned her numerous awards, including the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival. Her enduring allure makes her a lasting sex symbol in cinema.
25 Kellie Shanygne Williams Kellie Shanygne Williams is an American actress best known for her role as Laura Winslow on the television series "Family Matters." While she gained fame as a wholesome character, her beauty and later roles have added a different dimension to her appeal, making her a more understated sex symbol.
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