The 33-year-old star beat Cheryl Cole - who left the UK `X Factor` for a judging role on the US version of the show only to be fired just weeks into her new job - to be the most popular person to be searched for in the last year, following her split with husband Alex Reid after just one year of marriage and brief relationship with model Leandro Penna.

Duchess Catherine - who was known as Kate Middleton before her wedding to Prince William on April 29 - was the third most searched for celebrity, with her sister Pippa coming in fifth, according to Yahoo! omg!.

Julia White, editor of the site, said: " You might expect that having been crowned queen of Yahoo!`s top searched for celebs last year, Cheryl Cole would be making way for a real life princess this year. As it happens, she only made way for Katie Price - showing that the British public`s interest in more ordinary celebrities still trumps royalty.

"Cheryl Cole`s place at the top is particularly impressive as she is no longer appearing on `X Factor`. The public are clearly still captivated by her -more so than any of the new judges, none of whom make the list!"

The only man to make the list was soccer star Ryan Giggs at number seven following his affair with former `Big Brother` star Imogen Thomas.

Late singer Amy Winehouse placed sixth, two spots ahead of Spice Girls singer-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham, who gave birth to her fourth child, daughter Harper, in July.

Kim Kardashian and Rihanna rounded out the top 10.
sections: Celebrities