Michelle Obama named as Worlds most powerful woman

The US First Lady rose 39 places and deposed Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor in the rankings compiled by Forbes, the business magazine, which praised her formidable combination of style and political nous. A fashion icon and an athletic mother of two, she's Jacqueline Kennedy with a law degree from Harvard and street sense from Chicago's South Side, the magazine said, adding that Mrs Obama has made the office of First Lady her own. Since her husband's election, Mrs Obama has embarked upon several campaigns of her own, including women's rights and improved school nutrition.France's First Lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, managed only 35th place in the list, which singled out her ability to brush off concerns about her past indiscretions with typical French aplomb.Ms Bruni-Sarkozy is, in fact, Italian, although she will doubtless be flattered by the magazine's description. She once remarked that the gaffe-prone behaviour of Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, made her pleased to have become French.The Queen was 41st one place higher than her 2009 ranking thanks to her address to the United Nations, which raised her profile in the US. Only three other Britons are included: Cynthia Carroll, chief executive of mining company Anglo American, at number 14; Marjorie Scardino chief executive of Pearson PLC, at 63; and Angela Ahrednts, chief executive of Burberry, at 97. The celebrities on the list include heads of state and first ladies, bankers and cultural icons, CEOs and entrepreneurial athletes. Renowned talk show queen Oprah Winfrey takes the third place. Young pop idols Lady Gaga and Beyonce Knowles occupy the 7th and 9th places.