Pregnant Kate Middleton has been included in Time magazine's list of the top 100 influential people in the world. She appears under the 'Icons' category alongside first lady Michelle Obama and pop powerhouse Beyonce.
The Duchess of Cambridge is the only member of the royal family on the list, and one of only three Brits, featuring alongside Oscar-winner Daniel Day-Lewis and author Hilary Mantel. Hilary recently sparked debate when she described Kate as having no personality and a "perfect plastic smile."Time's bumper issue goes on sale this week and features a glowing review of each entrant written by another high-profile figure. Sally Smith, author of Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch, comments on Kate. "Kate Middleton, whose ancestors toiled in the coal mines of Durham, was an ordinary college girl on a path to an unremarkable life," she says.
"Then she met her Prince Charming, became the Duchess of Cambridge and in two years has emerged as a remarkable figure on the world stage. "The future Queen is dignified, dutiful and unflappable, with a modest reluctance to steal the spotlight from her husband, Prince William." Sally also praised Kate's innate fashion sense saying, "Her elegant wardrobe has enormous popular appeal that has boosted the British fashion industry."
Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z represent the music world alongside stars such as Justin Timberlake and Frank Ocean. The pair were also named as music's first billion-dollar couple by International Business Times this week. First lady Michelle Obama is another notable inclusion. She is profiled by poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou who praised the mum-of-two's humility. "She has remained herself, with her grace, her gentleness and her sense of humor," she said.