LOS ANGELSO: The results of a readers poll asking voters to name the world's sexiest woman have been released, and the winner isn't who you think it is.

FHM magazine named British singer Cheryl Cole as the world's sexiest woman after an online campaign by fans ensured she snared the top spot.

Cole, a singer in girl group Girls Aloud, beat beauties like Megan Fox, Jessica Alba and Adriana Lima to the top spot.

She knocked 2008 winner Fox off the top spot and into second place in this year's vote, while Alba came third.

Womanizer singer Britney Spears - who is currently performing on her comeback tour - took fourth place after she only reached number 31 in 2008.

Fans of Cole started an online campaign to ensure she would not chart outside the top 10 again.

Other stars to be included in the top 10 are British glamour model Keeley Hazell - who dropped two places from third last year, supermodel Adriana Lima and two new entries, actress Anna Friel and Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto who came ninth and tenth respectively.

FHM editor Chris Bell said: "It's been a revolutionary year in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World poll - as old favourites such as Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz are rejected in favour of a new wave of female talent."

This is the first time in three years a British star has come first in the poll, which was undertaken by almost 10 million readers of the men's magazine worldwide.

Cole came seventh in the poll last year.

FHM magazine's 100 Sexiest Women in the World list 2009:

1. Cheryl Cole

2. Megan Fox

3. Jessica Alba

4. Britney Spears

5. Keeley Hazell

6. Adriana Lima

7. Elisha Cuthbert

8. Kristin Kreuk

9. Anna Friel

10. Freida Pinto