By Jorge Calvillo (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Apr 24, 2014 02:55 AM EDT

Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o is considered to be the world's most beautiful woman by People magazine, a title placing her above celebrities like Julia Roberts, Keri Russell, Jenna Dewan.Tatum, Mindy Kaling and Amber Heard.

The 31-year-old actress, who played the slave Patsey on the acclaimed drama "12 Years A Slave", assured that she never dreamed of winning such a title, and felt praised by being the cover of the issue which includes the 50 most beautiful women in the world.

Lupita Nyong'o, who recently signed a contract with the makeup brand Lancôme Paris as the image of its next campaign, said she is happy of winning the title which acknowledges beauty which does away with the stereotypes of clear skin and straight hair.

The young actress born in Mexico and raised in Kenya said that since she was little, her mother Dorothy, who is the director of public relations of the African Cancer Foundation, always told her how beautiful she is and that finally she ended up believing her.

In an interview with People, Lupita Nyong'o said that as a teenager she tinted her hair in a variety of colors, except blonde, and even shaved her head once. However, she says that the best praise comes when people call her "beautiful" when she's not wearing any makeup.

Among the list of most beautiful women are celebrities like: Keri Russell, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Mindy Kaling, Amber Heard, Pink, Gabrielle Union, Molly Sims, Kerry Washington and Stacy Keibler.

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