17 Of The Highest-Voted Face Cards By Country

The term “face card” is currently one of the internet’s favorite ways to describe someone whose beauty never declines. You know the kind of girls we're talking about: they don't have a bad angle or any bad photos. They always appear camera-ready, even when barefaced. Their face card just never declines. After seeing a video by an account called Moist titled “The Highest-Voted Face Cards by Country,” we decided to create our own list and add several selections of our own. To be clear, there was no official international survey in which every country elected a winner, and choosing one beauty as an ambassador for an entire nation is obviously impossible. Still, these women are undeniably famous for their beauty in the countries they represent. Brazil: Adriana Lima Brazil has produced an almost unfair number of legendary models, but Adriana Lima remains one of its most recognizable exports. Born in Salvador, Bahia, Lima became one of the longest-serving Victoria’s Secret Angels, holding the title from 2000 until 2018. She later returned to the company’s runway for its 2024 fashion show and remains listed among the industry’s legends. Italy: Monica Bellucci If Italy had to nominate one woman to represent its face card, Monica Bellucci would be nearly impossible to challenge . The Italian actress began as a fashion model before building an international film career across Italian, French, and English-language productions. Her best-known roles include Malèna , Irréversible , The Matrix Reloaded , and the James Bond film Spectre . Cuba: Ana de Armas Ana de Armas requires a small nationality footnote . She was born and raised in Cuba, began acting there, and later moved to Spain at 18, where she became known through the television series El Internado . She holds Cuban, Spanish, and American citizenship, so Spain can claim her, but Cuba has an equally strong, if not stronger, case. Japan: Satomi Ishihara Satomi Ishihara is a Japanese actress who has worked steadily in film and television since the early 2000s. International audiences may recognize her from Shin Godzilla , while in Japan, she has starred in popular dramas including Rich Man, Poor Woman , From Five to Nine , and Unnatural . More recently, she earned major Best Actress recognition in Japan for her performance in the 2024 film Missing . Her soft features, expressive eyes, and famously full lips have made her a longtime beauty and fashion reference in Japan. South Sudan: Anok Yai Anok Yai was born in Cairo to South Sudanese parents and raised in the United States, making her a South Sudanese-American representative rather than an actress from South Sudan itself. Her modeling career began after a photographer captured her at Howard University’s homecoming in 2017 and the image went viral. Only months later, she became the first Sudanese model, and the second Black model after Naomi Campbell, to open a Prada show. Turkey: Hande Erçel Hande Erçel is a Turkish actress best known internationally for romantic dramas including Aşk Laftan Anlamaz and Sen Çal Kapımı . She made her film debut in the 2024 historical drama Intoxicated by Love and subsequently starred in the 2025 Netflix romance Chasing the Wind . India: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan There are beauty queens, and then there is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The Indian actress won Miss World in 1994 before becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most internationally recognizable performers. Her filmography includes Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam , Devdas , Jodhaa Akbar , Guru , and Mani Ratnam’s two-part Ponniyin Selvan epic. Russia: Irina Shayk Born in Yemanzhelinsk, Russia, Irina Shayk became internationally famous as the first Russian model to appear alone on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2011. She successfully crossed into high fashion and has since modeled for houses including Versace, Givenchy, Burberry, Mugler, and Schiaparelli. Models.com currently places her in its “New Supers” category. South Korea: IU Lee Ji-eun, better known as IU, is one of South Korea’s most successful solo singers and actresses. She debuted as a teenager in 2008 and eventually earned the nickname “the nation’s little sister.” As an actress, she has received acclaim for My Mister , Broker , and the 2025 Netflix drama When Life Gives You Tangerines . In 2026, she returned to television opposite Byeon Woo-seok in Perfect Crown . Philippines: Liza Soberano Filipino-American actress Liza Soberano became famous in the Philippines through television dramas including Forevermore , Dolce Amore , and Make It with You . She later began pursuing international projects, making her Hollywood debut in the 2024 horror comedy Lisa Frankenstein . Critics who disagreed about the movie itself frequently singled out Soberano as one of its strongest performers. She is now set to voice Raissa in DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island , scheduled for release in September 2026. Spain: Penélope Cruz Penélope Cruz is one of Spain’s most successful and internationally recognizable actresses. Born in Madrid, she became closely associated with Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar through films including Volver , Broken Embraces , and Parallel Mothers . She has received four Academy Award nominations and won Best Supporting Actress for Vicky Cristina Barcelona , becoming the first Spanish actress to win an acting Oscar. Sweden: Elsa Hosk Swedish model Elsa Hosk began her career in her teens before becoming internationally known through Victoria’s Secret, walking in the company’s annual fashion show from 2011 to 2018. She later moved further into high fashion and launched her own clothing brand, Helsa. She remains a supermodel legend in the fashion industry. Mexico: Salma Hayek Born in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Salma Hayek began her career in Mexico before moving to the United States and fighting for opportunities in Hollywood. After roles in Desperado and From Dusk Till Dawn , she produced and starred in Frida . The performance made her the first Mexican actress nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Australia: Margot Robbie Queensland-born Margot Robbie first became known through the Australian soap Neighbours before breaking into Hollywood with The Wolf of Wall Street . She has since earned three Academy Award nominations and built an equally formidable career as a producer through LuckyChap Entertainment, the company behind I, Tonya , Promising Young Woman , Barbie , and Saltburn . In 2026, she starred as Catherine Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights . Israel: Gal Gadot Gal Gadot first gained public attention after winning Miss Israel in 2004. She later entered Hollywood as Gisele Yashar in the Fast & Furious franchise before becoming internationally famous as Wonder Woman. In 2025, she played the Evil Queen in Disney’s live-action Snow White and became the first Israeli actor to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. China: Angelababy Angela Yeung Wing, professionally known as Angelababy, was born in Shanghai and began modeling as a teenager in Hong Kong. She later became an actress, singer, and longtime cast member of the Chinese variety program Keep Running . In 2016, she won the Hundred Flowers Award for Best Supporting Actress for Mojin: The Lost Legend . Lebanon: Haifa Wehbe Haifa Wehbe is a Lebanese singer, actress, and former model who has been one of the Arab world’s most recognizable entertainers since the early 2000s. She first attracted attention through modeling and pageants before releasing her debut album in 2002. Her combination of Arabic pop music, glamorous videos, and unapologetically sensual fashion turned her into a regional pop-culture phenomenon.