'Sexiest Woman Alive': Teyana Taylor becomes first Black woman to receive Maxim title

By Alyssa Wilson Published: June 8, 2021

‘Sexiest Woman Alive’: Teyana Taylor becomes first Black woman to receive Maxim title

Teyana Taylor is the first Black woman to top Maxim's Hot 100 list.

By: Alyssa Wilson

Dancer, actress and singer Teyana Taylor is the first Black woman to be named “Sexiest Woman Alive” by Maxim Magazine after taking the number one spot on the magazine’s Hot 100 list.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jimmy Neutch- Shumpert (@teyanataylor)

The 30-year-old celebrated on Instagram, saying, “WOW…Stepping back in front of the lens has been a journey of self-reflection and self-confidence. Living up to the name and title of this shoot wholeheartedly made me nervous.”

In an interview with the magazine, Taylor discussed her transition from roles in front of the screen to behind it. When asked about music, she expressed a passion for directing music videos, which she does under the alter ego Spike Tey/Tee.

“Honestly, directing is one of the best things that I’ve ever done, and one of my favorite things in my career that I’m doing, ’cause I kind of always had that eye,” she said. “Sometimes, what you see, the world may not see. So, once I started following my gut and following my intuition and doing what made me happy, and doing what I feel like I do best, is when I got the best results.”

As Maxim’s 2021 Sexiest Woman Alive, Taylor joins the ranks with Olivia Culpo, Kate Upton, Hailey Bieber, Taylor Swift, Candice Swanepoel and more.