Rachel Stevens has been voted the sexiest woman of all time by readers of FHM magazine, beating the likes of J ennifer Lopez, Kelly Brook and Jennifer Aniston.

The former S Club 7 star and solo artist was the runner-up in the magazine's annual countdown of the 100 sexiest stars on three occasions without ever topping the list.

But the My LA Ex singer's strong showing meant she has proved the most popular figure in a new analysis of voting to mark 20 years of the polls.

And to mark her triumph, the 36-year-old mother of two has posed in her underwear and features on the cover of the new edition.

Rachel - who was ranked second in 2001, 2002 and 2004 - has figured in the top 100 11 times over the years, as well as appearing on the cover eight times.

She said: "To win this award feels absolutely amazing. I t's so flattering to think that people think of me that way. It's brilliant."

Rachel - married to Alex Bourne with two daughters Amelie, three, and two-month old Minnie - added: "The first cover I shot in 2000 was really exciting, because at that time we were really young - I was 22 - and we were so used to being all kiddy and sweet and nice. It was an opportunity to be a bit more grown up, to be more womanly and sexy."

FHM deputy editor Dan Jude said: "It's fantastic to see Rachel take the number one spot. She's been a part of FHM for 14 years now, and after all this time readers clearly still love her."

The full top 20 is revealed in the July edition of FHM, and features a poster of Rachel and more from her photoshoot at www.fhm.com/rachel . The magazine also looks back over its past polls from the previous two decades.

The all-time top 10 is as follows:

1: Rachel Stevens

2: Jennifer Lopez

3: Kelly Brook

4: Britney Spears

5: Cheryl Cole

6: Halle Berry

7: Jennifer Aniston

8: Anna Kournikova

9: Keeley Hazell

10: Jenny McCarthy