The Mother of Dragons is the Sexiest Woman Alive.

So says men’s magazine Esquire, in their annual proclamation on which woman in the world embodies the epitome of hotness at this very moment.

The cover of Esquire, that proclaims Emilia Clarke as the Sexiest Woman Alive. In the small print, at least.

Ten years ago, it was Jessica Biel, last year, it was Scarlett Johannson, at times over the last few decades, for Esquire “sexiness” has been personified by Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis, Kate Beckinsale and Miranda Kerr.

You can tell that Esquire fancies itself as the “thinking man’s” men’s mag, apparently, because almost all of these women are brunettes. No pneumatic, bubble-chested blondes here.

Esquire’s Sexiest Women Alive. Story continues after gallery:

Esquire Magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive covers

Angelina Jolie, 2004

Esquire Magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive covers

Jessica Biel, 2005

Esquire Magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive covers

Scarlett Johansson, 2006

Esquire Magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive covers

Charlize Theron, 2007

Esquire Magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive covers

Halle Berry, 2008

Esquire Magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive covers

Kate Beckinsale, 2009

Esquire Magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive covers

Minka Kelly, 2010

Esquire Magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive covers

Rihanna, 2011

Esquire Magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive covers

Mila Kunis, 2012

Esquire Magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive covers

Scarlett Johansson, 2013

Esquire Magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive covers

Penelope Cruz, 2014

Esquire Magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive covers

Emilia Clarke, 2015

So, the peak of sexiness we should be aspiring to in 2015 is Emilia Clarke. And the reason? Because she embodies the following:

Friendly and fierce. Kid sister and killer. Movie star and girl next door.

She’s an achiever, but she’s not scary. Girls, are you taking notes?

No person with eyes would argue with this choice. Emilia Clarke is the heart-stoppingly beautiful British actress who plays the most admirable character in TV obsession Game Of Thrones. Both she and her character are especially sexy and men, women and animals must concur.

Emilia Clarke via Instagram.

But coming as it does on the day that Playboy magazine has announced it will stop running naked women in the pages of its print edition, there’s something jarring about Esquire’s insistence of powering ahead with its Sexiest Woman Alive schtick.

Playboy admitted that their trademark nudes have been rendered irrelevant and old fashioned by that pesky interloper The Internet. In a statement, the company’s chief executive Scott Flanders said, “You’re now one click away from every sex act imaginable for free. And so [nudes are] just passé at this juncture.”

The Esquire issue compared to the November Playboy issue.

So true.

But also true is that for years now, celebrities — who are the people who will sell magazines for you — will happily get their kit off for many, many other magazines, but not Playboy. Think of the undressed megastars you have seen on the covers of Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone and yes, men’s magazines like Esquire, over the past 10 years. And then ponder the strange fact that on Playboy, the celebrities might sign a big-bucks deal, but on the cover, at least, they will generally keep their clothes on.

Take a look at the Playboy covers, post continues after gallery:

Celebrity Playboy covers

First ever Playboy issue - Marilyn Monroe, December 1953

Celebrity Playboy covers

Dolly Parton, October 1978

Celebrity Playboy covers

Bo Derek, March 1980

Celebrity Playboy covers

Madonna, September 1985

Celebrity Playboy covers

Pamela Anderson, February 1991

Celebrity Playboy covers

Stephanie Seymour, March 1991 on cover of celebrity Playboy

Celebrity Playboy covers

Sharon Stone, December 1992

Celebrity Playboy covers

Drew Barrymore, January 1995