15 women who look better than ever this year

10 Celebs Who Celebrate True Beauty

It's not that Meryl Streep wasn't fabulous last year (and every other year, for that matter). Remember: She's Meryl Streep. But she earns a place on our list for her elegance, humor, and humility at the 2012 Academy Awards. She not only won the Academy Award for Best Actress--one of the most coveted titles of the evening--she arrived wearing a show-stopping gold dress and loose up-do, making her look both glamorous and timeless. At 63 years old, she proves that success and style have no age limit.

Since her split from Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston has been on the receiving end of unkind media attention, but after her recent engagement to her Wanderlust co-star Justin Theroux, she's been smiling more than a kid on the last day of school. Couple that with her golden hair and glowing skin, it's hard not to notice the former Friends star.

It was a big year for the tennis pro: She put two more Olympic gold medals under her (always fashionable) belt, she took home the championship at both Wimbledon and the US Open, and she just relaunched her fashion line, proving that sweat can be both sexy and stylish.

News of her divorce from husband of nine years, Will Arnett, came as a shock to fans of the fun-loving couple. But if the Parks and Recreation funnywoman felt down in the dumps, you couldn't tell by looking at her pink lipstick, effortless waves, and ear-to-ear grin.

She may make beauty look effortless, but the host of E! News hardly had an easy year. Though she had a double mastectomy, she also welcomed her first child into the world via a surrogate mother--after struggling to conceive for three years. But you'd never know if it weren't for her reality show--the 37 year old always has a pearly white smile, to-die-for waves, and skin clearer than a school parking lot on Christmas.

We're not sure what came first: Sarandon's youthful glow or the boyfriend half her age. Either way, the 66-year-old actress looks better than ever wearing figure-hugging dresses and eye-catching lipstick. And how could we overlook her unmistakable, signature red hair?

You may remember her as Spin City's sexy accountant, but a decade later, the redhead has a similar sex appeal in her leading role in ABC's new show, Nashville; it's subtler and more refined, but just as alluring. Maturity is a wonderful thing.

In 2007, after winning the battle against breast cancer, Robin Roberts declared herself healthier than ever. But in 2012, Roberts' road to a good bill of health had taken a turn for the worse. The longtime newscaster revealed on Good Morning America that she had myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, as a result of her cancer treatments and would receive a bone marrow transplant from her sister. The result? At 52 and on the road to recovery, Roberts' appreciation for health, family, support, and the brevity of life gives her a glow only a true survivor can achieve. "I look at it as a clean slate," she told Aaron Parsley of People in November. "How many people can say at this point in their lives that they get a do-over, that they get a chance to start again? And that's how I feel."

Going through a divorce in the public eye could easily take its toll--but not if you're Jennifer Lopez. In the last year, the songstress wrapped up her final season as a judge on American Idol, embarked on a world tour, and released her first greatest hits album, all while raising her 4-year-old twins and maintaining a steamy relationship with 25-year-old Casper Smart. The lesson? An unexpected change can turn into new beginnings--and with rock hard abs, gorgeous, shiny hair, and flawless skin, that's a book we can all take a page from.

When the Nurse Jackie star walked onto the red carpet for the 2012 Emmy Awards, we wouldn't have been surprised if there were an audible gasp. The actress showed off healthy, toned shoulders, bright red nails, dewy skin, and enviable curves in a shocking (but stunning!) Stella McCartney gown. Sure, it's a daring choice, but you only need one accessory to pull off a risky look: confidence.