12 Years a Slave star/Oscar winner, Lupitan Nyong’o has succeeded the Iron Man 3 actress, Gwyneth Platrows for this year’s title of people’s Most Beautiful Woman. It is actually her first appearance on the magazine’s cover. Nyong'o never dreamed she would be the person selected for the publication's 25th anniversary issue. "It was exciting and just a major, major compliment," the 31-year-old Non-Stop star humbly admits. "And especially, I was happy for all the girls who would see me on it and feel a little more seen."

 One more photo after the cut: