Socialist contender for next years French presidential race, Segolene Royal, smiles as she attends a meeting of the French Socialist party (PS) in Strasbourg, June 3, 2006. [AP]

Segolene Royal, French top would-be presidential candidate from the Socialist Party, was voted the world's sixth sexiest woman in a survey on the "100 sexiest women in the world, 2006" for the French edition of FHM magazine.

Beating scores of sex symbols including Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Hurley and Penelope Cruz, the surprise victory is hailed as a boost to Royal's chances of winning the French presidential elections next year, the British newspaper Daily Telegraph reported.

Royal, 52, a mother of four, is the first politician who have featured on FHM's annual list. She has taken the French political world by storm this year, going from a relative unknown to the current favourite in next year's presidential elections.

French-Slovak supermodel Adriana Karembeu, wife of former French footballer Christian Karembeu, was on the top of the French poll.

Royal was only two places behind Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie. Penelope Cruz, 15th, Jennifer Lopez, 34th, Liz Hurley, 41st, and Italian star Monica Bellucci, 91st, were all left behind by the French politician.

Supermodel Adriana Karembeu topped the French list. [Reuters/file]

On the US version of the poll, the sexiest woman was Scarlett Johanssen, with Angelina Jolie placed second. The British list was published in March. Keira Knightley came top.

Scarlett Johanssen (L) topped the US version of the sexiest women poll, while Keira Knightley (R) came top on British list. [Agencies/file]

Royal will no doubt value her ranking more than Jacques Chirac, who was recently awarded FHM's "Most Corrupt Man in the West" prize, the newspaper said.