German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been named as the world's most powerful women by Forbes magazine.
For Ms Merkel, it is her second consecutive year topping the esteemed list in which Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff made it into third position.
US First Lady Michelle Obama came seventh in the list.
The list highlights successful women who work in sectors as diverse as politics, business, media and entertainment - their rankings are determined by calculating wealth, media presence and overall impact.
For 16 women, it is their first time making the list. These include singer Jennifer Lopez, former US Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann and Marissa Mayer of Yahoo.
Lady Gaga, the pop singer, makes it to 14 and, at 26 years old, is the youngest. The oldest, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who is 86, ranks only at number 26.
The women come from a total of 28 countries, with an average age of 55.
The 100-strong list includes 25 CEOs overseeing $984bn (£620bn) in revenues.
For Ms Merkel, the top spot reflects her role in trying to resolve the European Union's financial crisis.
She "is the 'Iron Lady' of the European Union and the lead player in the eurozone economic drama that continues to threaten global markets", Forbes said.
Ms Clinton, the magazine said, "has had a formidable past 12 months" and is set to resign at the end of the year.
Another major US political figure, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, makes nine on the list. She is also the first female head of that department.
"This year's Power Women exert influence in very different ways, and to very different ends, and all with very different impacts on the global community," said Moira Forbes, president of ForbesWoman.
"Whether leading multi-billion-dollar companies, governing countries, shaping the cultural fabric of our lives, or spearheading humanitarian initiatives, collectively these women are changing the planet in profoundly powerful and dynamic ways."
