The celebrities on Forbes’ list of The World’s Most Powerful Women are the entertainers and tastemakers who are inspiring change and driving conversation.
Oprah Winfrey (No. 13), Angelina Jolie (No, 37), and Shakira Mebarak (No. 52) use their influence to better the lives of people around the world through philanthropy or humanitarian efforts. Others like Beyonce Knowles (No. 17) and Sofia Vergara (No. 38) have proven they’re more than just pretty faces by transforming their brands into business empires.
2013′s Celebrity Standouts:
If there was a single year when Beyonce truly ruled the world, 2013 is it. The highest-ranked performer on our list, Queen B has been everywhere over the past 10 months. A $50 million endorsement deal with Pepsi put her center stage at the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show, where she performed a 15-minute medley of hits like ‘Crazy in Love’ and ‘Single Ladies,’ and reunited with her former Destiny’s Child bandmates in front of an audience of 104 million.
In her first TV spot for the soda, the singer teased fans with a snippet of a song believed to be from her upcoming album. If Beyonce’s 47 million Facebook fans are hungry for more news, they should keep an eye on her social networks. Since joining Tumblr and Instagram last year, she’s used social media to share behind-the-scenes photos, show her support for President Obama, and announce her world tour.
She kicked off the Mrs. Carter World Tour in April, her first since 2009, but anyone unable to catch one of her 65 shows can hear her at the movies this summer. Her rendition of ‘Back to Black’ appears on the ‘The Great Gatsby’ soundtrack and she’ll lend her voice to the animated flick, ‘Epic’ in which she plays – what else? – a queen.
In February, Beyonce sat down with fellow power woman Oprah Winfrey for an episode of “Oprah’s Next Chapter.” The interview was one of OWN’s highest-rated programs to date, a sign that the once-struggling network may have reversed its fortunes. Oprah’s exclusive two-night conversation with disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong was a ratings boon and proof that she is still the go-to interviewer for celebrities looking to bare all. Other big gets for OWN have been Justin Bieber and Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly-gay player.
America’s only African-American billionaire, $2.8 billion net worth – is also a generous philanthropist. To date she’s given away $400 million toward educational causes, $100 million of which has gone toward her Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.
Read more: Forbes
