Artist and icon Tracy Emin

Others women to make the top 40 included Mo Mowlam, Turner prize winning artist Tracy Emin, model Jerry Hall and clothes designer Vivienne Westwood.

Hillary Clinton was voted as the fourth most admired women for "standing by her man then having the good sense to make sure she stayed in the spotlight".

The Princess Royal came second for "coping with the accident of birth with dignity, unlike most of her family".

The mother of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence was also included for "campaigning tirelessly for seven years in pursuit of justice for her son".

Aura's top five female icons

Cherie Booth Princess Anne Nicola Horlick Hilary Clinton Jerry Hall

The list of today's top female icons was chosen by a panel of staff and contributors from the magazine and includes women from all areas of life.

The judges said criteria for the entries on the list "did not include the ability to turn out a nicely risen sponge cake or bring up a couple of well-adjusted children".

They added: "Achieving success in male terms and fat pay cheques did not ensure inclusion either."

The magazine says the result is a list of formidable women not afraid to hold themselves up to female scrutiny.