NME - JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE IS WORLD'S COOLEST PERSON

Respected British music magazine NME has hailed JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE as the 'coolest person in the world'.

The accolade tops off a massively successful year (03) for Timberlake, who went from being best known as BRITNEY SPEARS' ex boyfriend and member of boyband 'N SYNC to becoming the world's biggest male solo star.

The magazine says, "A magic alignment of killer career moves, genuine talent, charm and good looks rocketed him into that rarified section of the stratosphere where a star can do no wrong and it all looks absolutely effortless."

Hot on Justin's heels were Indie favourites BRODY DALLE of THE DISTILLERS and MEG WHITE of the WHITE STRIPES, as well as CARL BARAT of THE LIBERTINES.

Other pop artists to make it into the top 20 include BEYONCE KNOWLES, CHRISTINA AGUILERA and SEAN PAUL.

NME editor CONOR McNICHOLAS says, "The NME Cool List is a reflection of how exciting the music scene is right now.

"Whether it is wearing the right clothes, being magnetically charismatic or deliberately trashing their talent for the sake of it, all of the entries in this years list have one thing in common - the X factor."