Sexiest PEOPLE 2017
THE BREAKOUT BACHELORETTE LEADS THIS YEAR’S LIST OF SIZZLING STARS
IT’S CONFIDENCE THAT MAKES YOU SEXY. IT’S SELF- ESTEEM AND JUST OWNING WHO YOU ARE
On the eve of the Oct. 26 finale for The Bachelorette’s third season, star Sophie Monk is dodging paparazzi drones and helicopters at WHO’S cover shoot in South Coogee, NSW. “Do they think he’s here?” she asks her best mate Oscar Gordon, wondering if photographers were hoping to catch her out with publican Stu Laundy, 44, the man to whom she would soon be seen professing her love.
After sharing a laugh with Gordon over the need to stay undercover, Monk pulls on a jumper to rug up after a series of bikini photos and sits down to reflect on her wellreceived search for romance. “It’s so weird now to be able to talk about it,” she concedes. “It’s like being naked!”
But Monk is not only ready to step out with Laundy in public, she’s defending her nascent relationship, even going on The Kyle & Jackie O Show on Oct. 31 to state, “No, we have not broken up,” with her and Laundy refuting rumours that the two were on the rocks.
“I don’t read them,” she explained to WHO in May about tabloid reports. “I look at the headlines and then look at the pictures and I’m like, ‘OK. I just know there’s going to be another story next week or the week after, so it doesn’t really affect me.’ ” Of her future partner, she added, “I will help him deal with it, too.”
As part of that process, the TV and radio personality is ready to move on to other opportunities outside of dating shows. “I love what I do,” she says, “and [Stu] works smart, and I work hard, so he’s got time off, obviously, so hopefully he can travel with me because I want to keep working.”
Monk is also flattered to lead the pack of WHO’S Sexiest for 2017. “I’m very proud,” she tells WHO’S Cynthia Wang, then flashes the honesty that’s endeared her to the Australian public once more: “Not sure my dad will be, but I am!”
First things first, are you and Stu together and is the relationship on? Yes. It’s weird to say I’ve got a boyfriend publicly, but yes. Many people tuned in cheering for you to succeed. Were you surprised by that? I am so relieved because I thought, if anything ever were to go wrong, “Oh, boohoo, poor you who were on television.” But the reaction has been amazing, I think. I just had to go in really honest, and that’s so vulnerable ... I feel like I owed it to Australia for some reason. They’ve seen me grow up, and this is all I’ve ever known, and I don’t like lying. Australians are all about trust. So what is the sexiest thing about Stu? There’s loads of sexy things. I could list it for days—we’d be here too long. How about one thing? A sense of humour. On the first boat trip we had, I just got his humour instantly, and it was a relief because it all can get very serious, and to lighten it up was just the nicest. Every woman is different but for me, the things that I think are sexy in a guy are humour, like that’s the main one, confidence, and self-esteem. That’s it. What would Stu say he considers your sexiest quality? I’d say humour, too. When we first met, I thought, “Oh God, here’s another one of these guys that has a boat or something, or his family has a boat. Here we go.” I didn’t like him! But he said he instantly felt the chemistry of the humour because I was picking on him for that as well. Is there a habit or manner Stu has with you that you love? He shuts me down a lot. [ Laughs] Like, if I start talking, he goes, “You go.” Just little humorous things. Was it nice to meet his family? I was nervous, but they seem really cool and down to earth. I think there’s something about people being publicans—it’s very Gold Coast! Are you looking forward to meeting Stu’s kids? I am, when he’s ready and they’re ready. I definitely respect that, and I love children, so whatever they want, really. Going back to 1999, what strikes you when you think about your days with Bardot? When I look back at Bardot pictures, I feel bad because I felt so unattractive
I WISH I COULD TALK TO THE YOUNGER ME AND SAY ‘INNER BEAUTY DOES SHINE’
because I wasn’t the same size as the other girls. I look back and feel sad that I didn’t just own it and was proud because youth is attractive. I should have had fun with it. How then has “sexy” evolved for you? I wish I could talk to the younger me and say, “Just own it, and know inner beauty does shine.” And I hate when people say old lame stuff like that, but it is confidence, it is all those things that make you attractive. In LA, it’s all physical, and once you get talking to half of all these attractive women, you realise nothing is there and it all goes away. It’s confidence that makes you sexy. It’s selfesteem, and just owning who you are. Do you have a sexy icon? When I think of sexy, I think of Sofia Vergara (see p. 64). She’s one of the most sexy women I’ve ever seen, and it’s not just because she’s physically attractive, it’s her personality and her sense of humour. She kills it. Is there an actor you find sexy? Ryan Gosling. I don’t find him physically attractive, which everyone else does. It’s in his eyes. It’s like Leonardo Dicaprio— you can see their soul through their acting in their eyes. What music or film puts you in the mood? I am so lame. If you put Mariah Carey on, that’s my thing. That’s my go-to. But I haven’t seen Fifty Shades of Grey! Where is the sexiest place in the world? I’d have to say the sexiest place I’ve ever been is Mykonos in Greece. Everyone is just them, [owning] it, they’re, wearing G-strings. I’m jealous because I could never do that. It’s just beautiful. Speaking of beaches, what do you like to do when you’re surfside? My favourite thing to do on the beach, which might surprise you because I look like such a beach girl, is take a photo for Instagram to prove I’m at the beach, because I don’t usually go that often! What do you wear for a sexy night out? God, every night out is for work and wearing a dress. You know what? Being sexy is not comfortable! You’re usually being zipped into something where you can’t go to the toilet properly. For me, sexy would be a long singlet and ugg boots. That’s what you would wear to feel sexy? Yes. If I’ve got my hair and makeup done by a professional, I’ll just wear a hoodie, uggies, and trackies, and I’ll go to a restaurant. It’s really not right, but I’ll do it! How would you describe your attraction to Stu? Does he make you feel sexy? It’s not a mathematical thing. It’s just a chemistry thing.