Reader Digest Version Global
Jan 02, 2013 02:33 PM EDT

She’s the One: Americans Name Their Most Admired Woman

by Alyssa Jung

And it’s Hillary Clinton—again!

For the 11th year in a row, Americans named Clinton as their Most Admired Woman in the world, according to a Gallup poll. With the 2012 honor, Clinton has earned the title the most times (17 total) in Gallup history.

The USA Today/Gallup poll is open-ended, meaning Americans are asked to name the man and woman they most admire without any prompting or options. Twenty-one percent of 1,038 total respondents mentioned the Secretary of State. President Barack Obama was the most admired man in the world for the fifth time, with 30 percent of mentions. Michelle Obama was number two behind Clinton, mentioned by 5 percent, followed by Oprah Winfrey with 4 percent. Nelson Mandela was second to Obama with 3 percent of mentions, followed by Mitt Romney with 2 percent.

Gallup first posed its “Most Admired” question in 1946, but it was open only to men. In 1948, the question was expanded to include women.

Clinton, currently hospitalized but expected to recover from a blood clot near her brain, was first named most admired woman in 1993 as First Lady. She’s only missed the honor three times since, in 1995 and 1996 when she finished second to Mother Theresa and in 2001 when she was second to Laura Bush. Eleanor Roosevelt is the second most admired woman in Gallup history, named 13 times.

Photo credit: Styleite.com

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