Katrina Kaif is sexiest Asian woman for 2008

LONDON: Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif has been adjudged the sexiest Asian woman in the world in 2008 by a UK-based weekly, with last year's winner Bipasha Basu pushed to the second spot.
    
In the annual round conducted by 'Eastern Eye', a leading British Asian newspaper, Kaif emerged on the top in a shortlist of 10.
    
The judges included Brianna Ragel, editor of Asian Woman Magazine and the former editor of FHM India, Farhad Dadyburjor.
    
Hamant Verma, editor of Eastern Eye, said: "Katrina Kaif's natural beauty and easy charm has enabled her stock to rise in Bollywood. This has resulted in a number of lucrative offers, and appearances in films that proved to be box-office hits."
    
Kaif, who was brought up in London, was ranked one place above last year's winner Bipasha Basu and two ahead of 2006 winner Priyanka Chopra. Kareena Kapoor came third in the list.
    
New entrants to the 'sexiest list' included Pakistani actress Mehwish Hayat (nine), Miss India Universe Simran Kaur Mundi (10), former Miss Sri Lanka Jacqueline Fernandez (12) and south Indian actress Asin (22).
    
Former Miss World Aishwarya Rai was at the seventh place.