Keys stated this year that she plans to expand into the "business of inspiration," which we think she clearly proves in this shot. Her funky nails and flirty feathers are so unique we can't help but envy them! And those thick, luxurious lashes are the perfect touch to her inspiring, gorgeous look.
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Best: Taylor Swift, "Allure," April 2009
She knows it, we know it. Swift has become a role model for young girls and women everywhere. And 2009 was truly her year. This obviously wasn't the only cover she graced, but Swift's dramatic red lips, flawless skin and signature blonde curls definitely had us loving this photo of her over some of the other covers we saw.
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Best: Drew Barrymore and Ellen Page, "Marie Claire," October 2009
This cover's yellow theme isn't the only thing that makes this cover bright and fun. Barrymore and Page, both rocking textured, tousled waves and sultry eye makeup look like they're having a blast together.
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Best: Reese Witherspoon, "InStyle," December 2009
Though the news of her split from Jake Gyllenhaal left us feeling quite sad, one look back at this cover instantly cheers us up. It's festive (appropriate for a December issue) and it makes us want to run out and buy the exact same outfit, paint our nails crimson and sport it all for our New Year's Eve party. But the best part about this cover? Witherspoon's gorgeous smile -- it's authentic and contagious.
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Best: Beyonce Knowles, "Vogue," April 2009
It's rare to see Knowles wear such minimal makeup, which is one of the reasons why we love this cover. Her sleek hair, perfectly shaped brows and big brown eyes are simply beautiful. With elegant earrings and a gorgeous off-the-shoulder dress in a striking color, there's no need to go big with your hair and makeup as Knowles proves here.
Because we're obviously list obsessed, we decided to end the year by sharing another best/worst story dedicated to a fun and juicy topic: magazine covers. You may not realize it, but you probably walk past hundreds of magazines each year without really seeing them. We're often guilty of this too, but the magazines mentioned in this list definitely jumped out at us. Some of them were so gorgeous they stopped us dead in our tracks, but others caught our eye and left us wondering, "What were they thinking?"
From Beyonce's elegant shot on the cover of "Vogue" to Victoria Beckham looking slightly freakish on the cover of "Elle," these glossies have stirred up talk, buzz and even controversy among readers and editors alike. Check them out, and if any of your fave or least fave covers didn't make the list, please share by commenting on this story.
