Beyonce has been named the world's most beautiful woman in 2012 by People magazine. (Frederic J. Brown / AFP/Getty Images / April 25, 2012)

Motherhood looks good on you, Beyonce! Especially in the eyes of People magazine, which named the entertainment dynamo its world’s most beautiful woman for 2012.

"I feel more beautiful than I’ve ever felt because I’ve given birth," she told the mag. "I have never felt so connected, never felt like I had such a purpose on this earth, never so proud of myself." Blue Ivy Carter, her baby girl with hubby Jay-Z, was born Jan. 7.

Part of that purpose? Changing diapers, which apparently is also quite beautiful at Casa de Carter -- enough that Beyonce expressed "love" for the task.

Sofia Vergara, Charlize Theron, Lily Collins, Madeleine Stowe, Christina Hendricks, Michelle Williams, Paula Patton, Miranda Lambert and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, are featured on the list as well. And, of course, there are some beautiful men, among them David Beckham, Blake Shelton, Ashton Kutcher and last year’s sexiest man alive, Bradley Cooper.

In case you were worried about 30-year-old Bey getting a big head about it all, never fear. "Being named the world’s most beautiful woman is really hard to say," she revealed in behind-the-scenes video from her cover shoot. "It’s overwhelming. It makes me feel very crunchy, and that means embarrassed." The 16-time Grammy winner says getting this recognition after giving birth makes it even better.

Plus you know you’re doing well when even a dog named after you is maybe the cutest thing in the world — below, check out Beyonce the rescue mutt, who just might be the smallest dog in the world, cradled in the hands of one Anderson Cooper.

Upping the “aww” factor on Beyonce the pooch: The little girl, who was born not breathing, stayed in this world thanks to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation from her human companion.  

Hey, beats changing diapers. Maybe.

Motherhood Makes Beyoncé Feel 'More Beautiful Than Ever'

By Alexis Chiu

Update Wednesday April 25, 2012 12:00 PM EDT Originally posted Wednesday April 25, 2012 07:50 AM EDT

Beyoncé Knowles

She's an entertainment force of nature, 16-time Grammy winner, and beauty and style icon. But Beyoncé is proudest of one title that also happens to be her most recent: mommy to little Blue Ivy Carter.

"I feel more beautiful than I've ever felt because I've given birth," says PEOPLE's 2012 World's Most Beautiful Woman. "I have never felt so connected, never felt like I had such a purpose on this earth."

The "Crazy in Love" singer, 30, and her husband of four years, Jay-Z, 42, have gone gaga for Blue, born Jan. 7 in New York City. "She's just the cutest thing," gushes Beyoncé, who croons one-of-a-kind tunes to her daughter and professes to "love" changing diapers.

So who does her daughter most resemble? "She looks like Blue," says Beyoncé, who is back to her pre-pregnancy weight and gearing up for her first post-baby concerts, Memorial Day weekend at the Revel Atlantic City. "She's her own person."

"The best thing about having a daughter is having a true legacy," she adds. "The word 'love' means something completely different now."

For more of Beyoncé's exclusive interview – in which she shares her beauty secrets, reveals how she lost the baby weight and sets the record straight on all the rumors – pick up this week's special issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday