Being touted as the “Sexiest Women Alive” is a dirty job but somebody’s got to do it.

Just ask Rihanna. The 23-year-old Talk That Talk singer rolled around in dirt, got stark naked and was strategically stuck with leaves for the cover of Esquire‘s November 2011 issue as the most coveted woman on the planet. She might be slathered in soil, but the Bajan beauty’s gorgeousness cannot be denied and Rihanna’s skin absolutely glows with radiance and raw sex appeal.

Despite her natural beauty, Rihanna has never really considered herself to be a sex symbol. “At the end of a concert, I don’t feel like I’ve been this sexy thing,” Rihanna told Esquire. “Really, I don’t even think about it.” The chart queen, whom “smells like coconut and vanilla,” opened up to the men’s maagzine about her haters, loving shots before singing and how she finally got over her resentment of Chris Brown.

Check out the highlights from her interview with Esquire below:

On Being Sexy: “Unless it’s a song that really calls for it, like “Skin” or “S&M” or when I cover “Darling Nikki.” There’s a section that’s called “Sex” in the show, which is the obvious section for sexuality. What I’m saying is, that’s the only part that’s deliberate, you know? Like, really? Honestly, even if it comes across sexual—it has to be a part of my subconscious thought. It’s never deliberate in the rest of the show. I don’t even really…I could see “What’s My Name?”—the dancing is pretty sexy. “Rude Boy.” But I don’t know. I guess people find different things sexy.”

On Her Pre-Show Ritual: “I eat lozenges, steam my voice, do my makeup. I Skype my vocal coach and we sit there at the makeup table and do warm-ups for about a half-hour. Then, Jen, my personal assistant slash bartender, brings me a shot that she dilutes with a little something so it’s not so harsh, like orange juice or soda water and lime. I have to have it [a shot of liquor]. I take it very seriously, so there is a level of anxiety, always. I over think everything when it comes to my job. The drink calms my nerves. I sip it while I watch the opening act from my dressing room. Sometimes I go out into the audience. I put on a really big hoodie and sneak out there.”

On American Food: “I’m very stubborn when it comes to food. I don’t like to try new things. When I came to America, there were so many different cultures and tastes. I haven’t acquired a taste for a lot of things. Like, calamari? Jay-Z had to make me eat it. We have this thing called Taste Test Tuesdays or New Flavor Fridays or Substitute Saturdays.”

On Her Bajan Pride: “I grew to realize that that hate was just pride. I realized that it’s a part of our culture. I’m always representing Barbados. All over the world, no matter what I was doing, no matter what I achieved, no matter what award it was, I always shouted them out. So, I started making them feel like, “This is our girl. If people in the UK could get this excited about her, what’s wrong with us?” And I never turned my back, too.”

On Chris Brown: “It’s incredible to see how he pulled out of it the way he did. Even when the world seemed like it was against him, you know? I really like the music he’s putting out. I’m a fan of his stuff. I’ve always been a fan. Obviously, I had some resentment toward him for a while, for obvious reasons. But I’ve put that behind me. It was taking up too much of my time. It was too much anger. I’m really excited to see the breakthrough he’s had in his career. I would never wish anything horrible for him. Never. I never have.”

Check out photos and video of Rihanna in Esquire below. Do you think she is mature for forgiving Chris Brown?

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