Readers’ Choice Winners (& Losers)!

See how 3 million votes add up to the most amazing, memorable star moments of the year. Plus: Your real people favorites!

 

#1—STAR YOU’RE MOST INTO: KATE MIDDLETON

In a true fairy-tale transformation, the demure beauty from Bucklebury, England, gave us all royal wedding fever when she walked into Westminster Abbey looking every bit a princess bride and emerged as British royalty on April 29. So it came no surprise you voted the Duchess of Cambridge as the public figure who reigned supreme – topping little sister Pippa and leading man Ryan Gosling.

 

#2—BEST STAR ENGAGEMENT RING: REESE WITHERSPOON

Bring on the bling! In a year filled with high-profile engagements and impressive jewels, readers overwhelmingly picked the Oscar winner’s rare 4-carat Ashoka diamond ring (set on a pavé diamond-and-platinum band) as the hands-down best. The ring’s 62-displayed facets and rounded corners create a dazzle like no other – no wonder you said “I do” to the sparkler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#3—CUTEST OLD-SCHOOL BABY NAME: HARPER

What’s in a name? History and sentiment, according to David and Victoria Beckham, who went with a cherished, literary pick when it came to naming their newborn daughter. “Harper is an old English name which we love,” he said. “One of the other reasons is Victoria’s favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird and the author was Harper Lee.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#4—2011 WAS THE YEAR OF … THE ROYALS

It was a British invasion of royal proportions! William and Kate‘s fairy-tale wedding, Pippa‘s backside, Beatrice’s hat and one very hot Harry solidified the royals as the ones to watch in 2011. Not since Beatlemania has a love for all things British reached such a fever pitch, with PEOPLE.com readers coming in record-breaking numbers to follow the royal wedding, from the moment the first guests arrived at Westminster Abbey till the last partygoer left Buckingham Palace.

 

#5—BEST SECOND ACT: CHRISTINA APPLEGATE

It was a year filled with blessings and big wins for the former Married With Children star, who’s proven she’s a survivor – both on- and off-camera. Following her battle with breast cancer, Applegate ushered in 2011 with her “miracle baby,” Sadie Grace, and made a TV comeback playing a working mom (natch!) on the NBC hit Up All Night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#6—SO OVER THEM: THE KARDASHIANS

Is Kim Kardashian‘s ongoing divorce drama the beginning of the end for her family’s lucrative reign over reality TV? With fans accusing her of faking her 72-day marriage to Kris Humphries, a full-on Kardashian backlash has begun. By a landslide, readers proclaimed they are “so over” the family, so much so that thousands have also petitioned E! to cancel Keeping Up with the Kardashians for good.

 

#7—WHO RULED THE RED CARPET: MILA KUNIS

Thanks to a breakout role in Black Swan and a lead in Friends with Benefits, Kunis turned 2011 into her moment to shine. From making a fiery statement at the SAG Awards and looking lovely in lavender at the Oscars to topping off her prima ballerina status with a frilly white frock at the film’s Russian premiere, the 28-year-old actress was clearly en pointe when it came to dazzling PEOPLE.com readers.

 

#8—MOST WANTED TWITTER REPLY: OPRAH WINFREY

The show may be over, but Oprah’s wisdom lives on! Winfrey replies to her followers with thoughtful, inquisitive Tweets – each one an “aha!” moment all their own – making her 140-character shout-outs on the micro-blogging site the most sought after by PEOPLE.com readers.

 

 

#9—HOLLYWOOD’S HOTTEST DATE: RYAN REYNOLDS

He’s played a superhero and holds a Sexiest Man Alive title, so it’s easy to see why Reynolds is the actor you’d most want to mingle with over such eligible singles as Leonardo DiCaprio and Olivia Wilde. Never mind the actor has been getting cozy with his former Green Lantern costar Blake Lively. If given the chance, PEOPLE.com readers still wanted to spend QT with the Canadian charmer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#10—TV WON’T BE THE SAME WITHOUT … OPRAH

The Oprah Winfrey Show
After a quarter-century on TV, the Queen of Talk said goodbye to The Oprah Winfrey Show in May. During that time, she shared her toughest struggles and greatest triumphs, introduced her Favorite Things, gave away hysteria-inducing swag (276 cars in one show!), got millions to read with her book club and donated millions more through her Angel Network. No wonder her farewell featured a galaxy of stars and 13,000 cheering fans.

 

#11—BEST FEMALE CELEBRITY LOOK-ALIKE: LEAH AS ZOOEY

After traveling around the world, 25-year-old Leah Mosall took a six-month-long vacation to Los Angeles, where she got first-hand experience with the paparazzi who thought she was indie darling Zooey Deschanel. And PEOPLE.com readers agree, choosing the Albany, N.Y., resident as a ringer for the New Girl star. “I think it’s flattering because she’s beautiful,” says Mosall. “Everyone’s been really excited for me. It’s just a fun thing.”

 

#12—BEST MALE CELEBRITY LOOK-ALIKE: ART AS MATT

Art Von Hagen has had a decade’s worth of comparisons to Matt Damon – since the Oscar winner’s breakout role in 1997′s Good Will Hunting. But the Yonkers, N.Y.-based plumber can thank relatives from Boston to Alaska for helping him score the Best Male Look-Alike title. “I was pretty shocked and pretty happy,” he says of just being in the running. But nothing compares to the thrill his wife, Laura, is experiencing. “Forget it,” says the 37-year-old. “She’s so excited about it. She’s living for this right now.”

 

#13—BEST PET CELEBRITY LOOK-ALIKE: DUKE AS RUSSELL

By Dickens, when did Russell Brand get so doggone cute! Rebecca Long from Great Falls, Mont., shared a photo of her golden doodle because of his uncanny resemblance to the British comic. But more than just looks, “He’s really goofy. And he’s just a really happy dog. I think that translates through the pictures,” says Long, adding, “It made my day! To see him on PEOPLE.com tickles me to death!”

 

 

 

#14—MOST AWESOME STAR ENCOUNTER: CHASE MEETS TAYLOR SWIFT

After creating a homemade sign professing his love for Taylor Swift, Chase Yurtin stood outside a San Jose, Calif., radio station with his nanny in the hopes the “super pretty” star would take notice. And she did! Swift invited Yurtin, then 6, to sit in on her radio interview. “It was the coolest thing ever!” says the 8-year-old. And the excitement didn’t stop there. “He thinks he is famous,” Yurtin’s mom, Lori, says of her son seeing his photo online.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST:

#15–WORLD’S BIGGEST SUPER-FAN: LYNDA CHAPLIN

Lynda Chaplin of Edmonton, Alberta, turned her passion for Stephenie Meyer’s vampire-themed fantasy books into a labor of love – and a landslide win! From posters and paperbacks to action figures and board games, the stay-at-home mom, 35, has Twi-hards to thank for her victory. “All my [fellow] Twilight lovers came together,” says Chaplin of the outpouring of support she received from Facebook groups and fan sites.

 

ALL CREDIT TO PEOPLE.COM