Sowetan Top 12 Sexiest Men

Sowetan is back at it again running their annual sexiest South African male and female celebrity poll. The newspaper's readers were asked to nominate candidates for this year's calendar and the top 24 male and female candidates have been revealed with some few surprises. 

They say beauty is in  the eye of the beholder and if you take the conventional view on what defines sexy then looking at the list of the Top 12 male candidates of the Sowetan Sexiest calendar you are sure to be surprised by some of the guys who got the nod.

If sexy is what the mainstream media has been drumming as the chiseled guy with a six pec and a "Colgate" smile then the list boasts the more obvious candidates who boasts those physical attributes such Pallance, Anga, Brighton and newcomer Phila.

Under that premise, candidates like Thomas, Tebogo and Itumeleng should come as a bit of a surprise.

On the other hand you have good looking guys who just seem to have the personality to match thus making them someone you would want as a friend rather than a sex symbol, that nod would then go to Junior, L'Tido and Ayanda.

A bit of a shocker is the fact that last year's media darling Lunga Shabalala is nowhere to be seen on the list. Other conspicuously missing candidates from the list are; Lehasa Moloi, Yonda Thomas, Xolisa Xaluva ...

The reality is that these list are not so much about the candidate's looks but more about who was in a popular show or had media attention within that year.

Mzansi here are your Top 12 in pictures:

• Anga Makubalo -- Actor/Musician. Its been a great year for Generations star who plays MJ on the show. His popularity has sowed and his music career also got a boost when he collaborated with DJ Sbu.

• Angelo Collins - Big Brother contestant and professional Dancer. He is also known for being the guy who lied about choreographing Beyonce's music video for "Run The World". Read HERE

•  Brighton Mgoma -- Actor. He plays Quinton on Etv's popular soapie Scandal.

•  L'Tido -- Musician

•  Maps Maponyane -- Model / Presenter. He is the winner of Cosmo's Sexiest man which elevated him into the celebrity circles. He is also known for being famous soccer legend Marks Maponyane's son.

•  Pallance Dladla -- Actor. He was the breakout star of 2013. He burst on to the scene as a runner-up on Class Act Season 2 but it is his role as Jabu on iSibaya that has catapulted him to the A-list.

•  Phila Madlingozi -- Actor. More known for being South African crooner Ringo Madlingozi's son than his craft, he got noticed by starring in season 2 of Intersexions. The future will tell if he can come into his own and stand on the merit of his talent and not his father shadow.

•  Tebogo Ditshego -- He is apparently the ambassador for the Department of Arts and Culture

• Junior Singo -- Actor / Moviestar. He is one of the very few... and I mean few ... actors who can call themselves movie stars in this country and he also holds an international award for his acting.

•  Ayanda Shange -- Singer. He is on Joyous Celebrations.

• Thomas Gumede -- Actor / Presenter

• Itumeleng Khune -- Soccer Star. He is a Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana captain. He has also been getting media attention for dating tv presenter Minnie Dlamini.

To vote for your favorite male celeb go to the Sowetan website.