Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga top Forbes' list of 100 most powerful women
It's a good year to be a lady, with Lady Gaga and First Lady Michelle Obama topping the 2010 Forbes list of the 100 most powerful women.
Comprising creative, political and corporate influencers, the Forbes list ranks femmes in all kinds of categories. Obama (No. 1) and Gaga (No. 7) are joined in the top 10 by Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and Beyonce Knowles.
Angelina Jolie checks in at No. 21 for her combined box-office stardom and U.N. goodwill ambassadorship. Not far away at No. 29 sits Madonna, for her fashion design efforts, ubiquitous Dolce & Gabbana ad campaign, and film directing.
Sarah Palin makes an appearance at No. 16. Also on the list are media types Katie Couric (No. 22), Meredith Vieira (No. 40) and Rachel Maddow (No. 50).
How do you think the women measure up? Any glaring omissions or undeserved accolades? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.
-- Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly
Photos: from left, Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga and Angelina Jolie. Credits: Leslie E. Kossoff-Pool / Getty Images, left; Pat Wellenbach / Associated Press, center; B.K.Bangash / Associated Press, right
Get more on Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie, Madonna, Beyonce Knowles and other powerful ladies from The Ministry
Lady Gaga is more powerful than Sarah Palin??? Who believes that? Forbes has just lost a lot of credibility.
Posted by: Jim | Oct 07, 2010 at 08:48 PM
Lady gaga and beyonce powerful women
ha,ha,ha It's a shame people confuse power with popularity.
Posted by: beau | Oct 08, 2010 at 04:04 AM
its gud to see M Obama as No 1. its their time! congrats to the obamas
Posted by: BYBOB | Oct 08, 2010 at 06:15 AM
Whoever made this list simply listed his favorite entertainers. Gaga,the clown, Degeneres the so called comedianne,Veria,Who wants to be a millionaire hostess, Madonna the has been, Serena Williams tennis player, Vera Wang the clothing designer, Beyonce, the has been entertainer? Where is the power??? And, michelle Obama for heavens sake!!!!!!!!! Power??? She isn't refined enough to have Vera make her clothes to fit. Her clothing look like it came from the Flea Market. Even the $3.000. jacket she wore to the 1st year white house anniversary. They are all too small.Does she really think anyone is changing their childrens diet from fast foods? She simply wanted to adopt a cause like other presidents wives, and this was the easiest one she could think of. Forbes needs to check the intelligence of the person who chose these people. Oprah is the only powerfull one in the bunch. This award like the Nobel Peace Prize means nothing anymore because of bad, worthless decisions.
Posted by: sarahb | Oct 09, 2010 at 08:34 AM
NO way should Lady Gaga, Madonna, Beyonce, Ellen DeGeneres and Gisele Bundchen even be in the top 1000 most powerful women on earth. I can't believe Gaga made number 7. Stupid way of ranking.
Posted by: sharon | Oct 10, 2010 at 09:34 AM
well, let's see, Congress' approval rate is at about 17% and Nancy P. is in at #11!? was it tough to find people who would even respond to the questions?
Lady "ripoff Maddonna"gag a is in at #7!?
very impressive!
Posted by: clark e Rorbach | Oct 10, 2010 at 09:38 PM
@Sarah B . Please remember that you can disagree without being distasteful and classless. You only show your own ignorance with comments like this.
Posted by: Ms Smith | Jan 10, 2011 at 06:51 PM
Gaga # 7? That's a joke. Beyonce powerful?? And Michele Obama is #1 because of who she married? Madonna should be higher just because she's Madonna and everyone copies her anyway.
Posted by: keeper | May 06, 2011 at 08:05 PM