Locnville took over the title from SA swimming champ Ryk Neethling who won in 2008 and again last year. Neethling ranked at a respectable third position this year.
Commenting on their big win from the US, where they are currently recording their new album, Locnville expressed their delight and surprise: "It feels fantastic! It's good to know that there are so many people out there who like what we're doing, because that's pretty much what we do it for. It's a great feeling. So thanks to everyone who voted for us!"
Melinda Shaw, editor-in-chief of heat magazine, said: "The heat Hot 100 never fails to deliver a few surprises and the big one in 2010 was having the Locnville twins jump from nowhere on the list to the top spot. Not only are they the first-ever set of twins on the list, but their rise from obscurity to being the most popular celebs in South Africa is just meteoric. This year we had over 304 000 votes, more than ever before, so the SA public has truly spoken. Andrew and Brian told me that it is going really well with the recording of the new album in the States. So while 2010 was really their year, I think we can expect even bigger things from them going forward."
The highest ranking international celebrity was Lady Gaga, who claimed the runner-up spot this year.
"Lady Gaga jumped from being 49 last year to number 2 in 2010. Clearly her fabulously OTT outfits this year kept her top of mind; just when you wanted to forget about her, she went to a party wearing a steak!"
The heat Hot 100 poll doesn't differentiate between local and international stars, simply asking heat readers to vote for their favourite celebrities. Local celebrities are, however, becoming firm favourites with the public as 30% of SA's very own celebville residents were voted onto the heat Hot 100 list, the most in the history of the poll.
"Apart from our worthy winners, the Locnville twins, Elvis Blue also came from being nowhere on the list last year, to making it into the Top 10 in 2010," said Shaw.
South Africans' favourite celebrities are those who have mastered their acting skills, with almost half (47%) of the top 100 either starring in movies or television shows. Musicians, in turn, made up 23% of the top 100, while heat readers voted 16% of models, presenters and socialites onto the sought-after list. With the World Cup still fresh in the minds of South Africans, a whopping 9% of sports stars made it onto the list. The remaining 5% went to Idols 6 contestants, a clear indication that this year's reality show was one of the best ever.
Shaw revealed that other interesting results included the fact that Nick and Joe of the Jonas Brothers are obviously the hot ones as Kevin Jonas didn't even come close to being on the list. "And then there are always the strange votes, which give us a good chuckle. Some people even voted for Shrek, Perez Hilton, Barbara Streisand and Mr Bean," she said.
For full results, see the new issue of heat magazine, with a collector's special heat Hot 100 supplement.
For more information, go to www.heat.co.za, Facebook and Twitter (@heatSouthAfrica) and m.heat.co.za via your mobile phone's Internet browser.
