25 Girls You Were Crushing On in 2002
Check out some of the hottest women you were diggin' ten years ago.
Image via Complex Original
Ten years ago was a tumultuous time, to say the least. As a country, we were busy dealing with the war in Afghanistan, an increasingly unsteady economy, constant homeland security scares, and even a crazed East Coast sniper. But, as luck would have it, that year we also had a fantastic crop of sexy celebs to crush on. In tough times, it's always helpful to have a hot distraction.
From Alias' Jennifer Garner to adorable Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan, check out the girls we were crushing on in 2002.
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Kristin Kreuk
TV Show: Smallville
The Canadian, half-Dutch/half-Chinese beauty was arguably the most beautiful woman on TV to guys going through puberty at the time. As Lana Lang, Clark Kent's love interest, Kristin's infectious smile was like kryptonite to hoards of loyal comic book aficionados and teen boys.
Christina Aguilera
Album: Stripped
The former Mousketeer shocked the world by debuting a new, ultra-raunchy look to accompany the release of her fourth studio album, the appropriately titled Stripped. The video for the first single, "Dirrty," saw Christina writhing around in leather and looking more dominatrix than pop princess.
Katie Holmes
Movies: Phone Booth, Abandon
While in 2002 Dawson's Creek was getting ready to wrap up its six-year run, Katie Holmes was busy transitioning into a film career. That year, Katie brought her adorable crooked smile to the big screen in two racy thrillers, showing the world she was no longer the prudish Joey Potter.
Michelle Kwan
Event: The 2002 Winter Olympics
At the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, a then 22-year-old Michelle Kwan, a stunning California girl of Asian decent, made her country proud by winning the bronze medal in figure skating. Kwan's past success in the 1998 Nagano Olympics, coupled with her flawless looks, made her one of the most talked about athletes at that year's Winter Games.
Rebecca Romijn-Stamos
Movie: Femme Fatale
While she's since divorced Uncle Jesse and dropped his last name, back then, Rebecca Romijn was indeed married to John Stamos. Also that year, this leggy California model appeared in her first feature film. Romijn landed the lead in Brian De Palma's aforementioned risque thriller, making her one of the hottest femmes fatales of all time.
Nelly Furtado
Album: Whoa, Nelly!
After Whoa, Nelly!, her debut release, hit stores a year prior, Nelly Furtado took home the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 2002. Within those 12 months, aside from dropping her own hit singles, Nelly appeared on tracks for Paul Oakenfold and Jurrasic 5.
Kirsten Dunst
Movie: Spider-Man
In the superhero film Spider-Man, her most successful film to date, the adorable Kirsten Dunst played Mary Jane Watson, the best friend and love interest of the web-slinging title character, played by Tobey Maguire. The movie was a massive commercial success, grossing $114 million during its opening weekend in North America and a staggering $822 million worldwide. Also that year, Dunst was named one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People. Wise choice.
Avril Lavigne
Album: Let Go
Canadian punk princess Avril Lavigne turned the music world on its ear and had legions of sk8er bois crushing on her in the process. After she released her debut studio album, Let Go, Avril, who was seen at the time as kind of an anti-Britney and Christina, became a fixture on TRL.
At the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, Avril not only performed her hit single "Complicated," but she also took home the moonman for Best New Artist.
Kate Bosworth
Movie: Blue Crush
Surfers and non-surfers alike had a crush on Kate Bosworth this year, a blue crush. While playing a sexy competitive surfer, Kate showed off her flawless body, her ripped abs and her captivating smile.
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Movie and Album: The Tuxedo and BareNaked
Aside from starring opposite Jackie Chan in The Tuxedo, Jennifer Love Hewitt reminded the world that she doesn't just act. Nope, that year Jennifer released her fourth and final studio album, BareNaked. Though her career as a musician has seemingly been all but forgotten over the years, the album's eponymous single was a minor hit both on the radio and on TRL.
Jennifer Garner
Movie and TV Show: Catch Me if You Can and Alias
Before she became Ben Affleck's baby mama, the impossibly charming Jennifer Garner earned herself a Golden Globe for her role as CIA agent Sydney Bristow on J.J. Abrams' Alias. Also that year, this full-lipped beauty had a small role in Steven Spielberg's hit film, Catch Me if You Can.
Jessica Biel
Movie: The Rules of Attraction
In an effort to shed the wholesome image she earned after years of starring on the WB's squeaky clean 7th Heaven, Jessica Biel co-starred in two feature films, both of which saw the sexy actress showing her edgy side. The year prior, Biel was in Summer Catch, in which she had an eye-opening scene where she swam in her underwear. By '02, Biel took things even further by playing a promiscuous, cocaine-abusing college student in The Rules of Attraction. Yup, Mary Camden done grew up.
Mandy Moore
Movie: A Walk to Remember
Mandy Moore, whose beauty has been vastly underrated in years since, captured hearts in one of the early Nicholas Sparks film adaptations. While the film was intensely depressing, Mandy somehow managed to look charmingly wholesome while playing Jamie, a terminal leukemia patient. The role earned Mandy a 2002 MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Female Performance.
Brooke Burke
TV Show: Wild On
On E!'s Wild On, a weekly travel series that spotlighted exotic party destinations, the world discovered that Brooke Burke was, quite simply, one of the sexiest women on the planet. In 2002, Brooke's final year hosting the show, this perpetually tan beauty graced the pages of men's magazines like Maxim, FHM, Stuff and Blender.
Ashanti
Album: Ashanti
Though she's fallen off the radar a bit in recent years, Long Island's Ashanti had a simply huge 2002. Her eponymous debut album, which contained the hit single "Foolish," was record breaking in more ways than one. It set a Soundscan record as the biggest opening week sales for a new female artist, besting debuts by both Alicia Keys and Lauryn Hill. In the same week, she became the first female performer to simultaneously hold the top two places on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with "Foolish," and her collaboration with Fat Joe, "What's Luv?"
And she wasn't done there. Ashanti broke records again by having three top ten songs, "Foolish," "What's Luv?" and "Always on Time," on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in the same week, being the first woman to accomplish this feat and being second only to the Beatles.
Britney Spears
Movie: Crossroads
Britney Spears was hotter than ever. In fact, that year, Forbes even named her the world's most powerful celebrity. And we'd be hard-pressed to disagree. Britney was simply everywhere, including on the big screen. Crossroads, her first and only feature film, was released that February. And although the film was a critical bomb, it proved to be a commercial success, grossing over $57 million worldwide.
Alicia Keys
Album: Songs in A Minor
In the music world, 2002 belonged to Alicia Keys. After releasing her debut album, this gorgeous singer-songwriter had a huge year. Come award season, Alicia cleaned up. Among other accolades, she took home a staggering five Grammy trophies, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for her smash single, "Fallin'."
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Movie: Chicago
Catherine Zeta-Jones, who exudes an almost aristocratic beauty, had a banner year. After starring as Velma Kelly in the film adaptation of the musical Chicago, a critical and commercial success, Catherine received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Jennifer Lopez
Movies and Album: Enough, Maid in Manhattan and This Is Me...Then
If we're talking about celebrity crushes, no matter what year we're discussing, J-Lo will most likely wind up on the list. Ever since she was a Fly Girl back in the day on Fox's In Living Color, Jenny from the Block has always found a way to remain relevant. And 2002 was no different. Aside from starring in two polar-opposite films (Enough was an empowering thriller; Made in Manhattan was a sappy rom-com), Lopez also released This Is Me...Then, her third studio album.
Natalie Portman
Movie: Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Forget Princess Leia! Natalie Portman became a permanent fantasy for sci-fi fans the world over when she starred as the intriguing Queen Amidala, otherwise known as Luke and Leia's mom, in George Lucas' Star Wars franchise.
Anna Kournikova
Event: Australian Open
A lot of guys turned their attention toward the world of female tennis in 2002, and it was all thanks to Anna Kournikova. This gorgeous Russian tennis pro, who at the time was just 21-years-old, had (and still has) centerfold good looks. That year this statuesque blonde-haired beauty rocked the tennis world. After winning a Grand Slam title in Australia alongside partner Martina Hingis, Anna went on to have impressive showings at both the U.S. Open and Wimbledon.
Beyoncé
Movie and Single: Austin Powers in Goldmember
On the heels of Destiny's Child announcing their indefinite hiatus, its frontwoman, Beyoncé Knowles, went on to have a wildly productive year. That year, Beyoncé starred in her first feature film, appearing opposite Mike Myers as Foxxy Cleopatra in the third installment of the Austin Powers series.
Also that year, Bey teamed up with her future husband for the very first time. The collaboration, "'03 Bonnie & Clyde," a hit single off of Hova's Blueprint 2 album, was a monster smash that spawned an iconic and award-winning music video.
Jessica Alba
TV Show: Dark Angel
While it seems like forever since we've seen Jessica Alba on the small screen, this drop dead gorgeous actress was once busy starring as the ass-kicking lead in James Cameron's underrated sci-fi series, which aired on Fox. That year, the last of the series' run, Alba was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Halle Berry
Movie: Die Another Day
Many have come before her and many have come after, but if you ask us, the sexiest Bond girl of all time was none other than Halle Berry. In the 20th James Bond film and the last to star Pierce Brosnan, Halle played Jinx, an NSA agent whose commercial-friendly bikini scene certainly helped sell a few tickets.
Shakira
Single: "Wherever, Whenever"
Ten years ago, Shakira, a pint-sized, hip-shaking Columbian sexpot, broke through in the U.S. market. Her first major crossover hit, "Wherever, Whenever", was the best-selling single of those 12 months. Not to mention, a picture of her face was in the clear insert of every one of your bros' school binders.