Rihanna named 2011 Sexiest Woman Alive by Esquire

For the release of her new album on November 21, Rihanna decided to strike a blow. And there’s nothing like posing naked on the cover of a famed magazine.

However, it’s not just her nakedness that shock this time but also her words. The 23-year-old talks about ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, who assaulted her in February 2009, and how she’s decided to move past the resentment.

“It’s incredible to see how he pulled out of it the way he did. Even when the world seemed like it was against him, you know?” she told Esquire.

“I really like the music he’s putting out. I’m a fan of his stuff. I’ve always been a fan,” she added. “Obviously, I had some resentment toward him for a while, for obvious reasons. But I’ve put that behind me.”

Despite her seemingly raunchy image, Rihanna says she doesn’t feel sexy.

“At the end of a concert, I don’t feel like I’ve been this sexy thing,” she said. “Really, I don’t even think about it.”

In the magazine’s ranking, Rihanna was followed by actresses Emma Stone, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Mila Kunis, Vera Farmiga and Beyoncé.

The November issue of Esquire magazine hits newsstands October 16.

[Photo: Esquire]