Forbes magazine’s most powerful women list covers pop to politics

ANGELA Merkel has been named the most powerful woman in the world again. But for the first time, someone is snapping at her heels.

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 17: Musician Taylor Swift attends the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jason Merritt/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel has topped the Forbes list of the world’s most powerful women for a fifth year, but for the first time Hillary Clinton is snapping at her heels.

Behind them came Melinda Gates, who co-chairs the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with her billionaire philanthropist husband, US federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and General Motors CEO Mary Barra.

Runner up ... Mrs Clinton, the former first lady and one-time US secretary of state, announced her second run for the White House in April. Picture: AP Photo/Jim Cole

IMF chief Christine Lagarde was in sixth place and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff came in seventh.

The top 10 was rounded out by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg (No 8), Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube (No 9) and US First Lady Michelle Obama.

Number 54 ... newcomer to the list pop star Taylor Swift. Picture: Jason Merritt/Getty Images/AFP

Number Seven ... Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, in Mexico City for talks with President Enrique Pena Nieto. Picture: AFP/ Yuri Cortez

The annual list of the world’s 100 most powerful women includes leaders in eight categories — technology, politics, business, finance, media, entertainment, philanthropy and billionaires. Mrs Clinton, the former first lady and one-time US secretary of state, who in April announced her second run for the White House, was listed at number six last year.

Number 10 ... US first lady Michelle Obama addresses leaders from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Congress, corporations, nonprofits and faith communities in Washington DC. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP

“In 2015 Clinton is number two, just a breath and a ballot away from the Most Powerful Woman crown,” Forbes said.

The magazine has put the German chancellor on the list 10 times in the past 12 years.

Number Eight ... Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg. Picture: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Number Three ... Melinda Gates, who co-chairs the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with her billionaire philanthropist husband. Picture: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

Newcomers to the list include US pop star Taylor Swift, in at number 54 and the youngest at 25; EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, number 36; US Attorney General Loretta Lynch, number 34; and incoming Guardian editor-in-chief Katharine Viner at number 80. Fifty-nine per cent of those on the list are American, including several immigrants.

Number Six ... IMF chief Christine Lagarde speaks at The Institute for New Economic Thinking’s Finance and Society conference. Picture: Mark Wilson/Getty Images/AFP

Number Four ... US federal reserve chair Janet Yellen at the Treasury Department in Washington. Picture: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

There are 18 from the Asia-Pacific region, 12 from Europe, four each from Latin America and the Middle East and three Africans. The magazine said the list features eight heads of state and one monarch, who govern nations with a combined GDP of US$9.1 trillion ($11.6 trillion) and 15 billionaires with a total net worth of more than US$73.3 billion.

The top ranking billionaire this year is Oprah Winfrey at number 12, with a personal net worth of US$3 billion.

Number Five ... General Motors CEO Mary Barra, sitting in the first Camaro ever built. Picture: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images/AFP