Since gracing the cover of Maxim in December, the beautiful Kelly Kelly has been climbing the prestigious men’s magazine’s ranks, shooting up to No. 38 on Maxim’s Hot 100 of 2012! And this year, she’s joined by more familiar faces in the WWE Universe – Layla, Stacy Keibler and Maria Menounos.

“I am so excited,” Kelly Kelly told WWE.com. “Honestly I had no idea. I thought maybe I’d end up in the 60s, or if I was lucky, in the 50s. But when I got 38, I thought this is the craziest thing!”

“I beat Kate Upton, who was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. I beat Adriana Lima, who’s in Victoria’s Secret – all of these big names. I couldn’t be happier!”

Last year, the former Divas Champion made the list at No. 82. But Kelly’s rise to the top is truly a testament to the power of the WWE Universe, as for the first time in Maxim history, the magazine’s readers weighed in on who should be on “the definitive list of the world’s most beautiful women.”

“I give all the credit to the WWE Universe,” Kelly said. “They were sending me Tweets about voting, and I was constantly re-Tweeting them. I have more than 522,000 followers now and they were really on it. I give all the credit to them. I got this because of them. I can’t thank the WWE Universe enough for voting for me!” (FOLLOW @REALKELLYKELLY)

Divas Champion Layla also made Maxim’s Hot 100 for the first time, clocking in at No. 95.

“I’m in total shock,” Layla said with a smile. “I’ve only been back about four weeks and I didn’t even know I was nominated. The WWE Universe voted me in!”

“I want to say thank you very much to everybody who voted me in. … I’ve never been in Maxim. So I feel very special. Thank you, guys. It’s awesome. It’s been a great 2012 so far. I couldn’t ask for anything more this year.”

Another notable name on the list is former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler at No. 51. It’s the bombshell’s seventh consecutive year being ranked by Maxim!

Also, Kelly Kelly’s WrestleMania XXVIII tag team partner Maria Menounos clocks in at No. 64. It’s the first time the “Extra” host and “Dancing with the Stars” alum earned the Maxim honor.

“I’m excited to be on the list with her,” Kelly Kelly said about Menounos. “I think we’re both hot girls and we competed at WrestleMania together, so it’s really cool to be on the Hot 100 with her.

“But I am glad I beat her,” Kelly laughed.

Kelly Kelly promised this isn’t the last time the WWE Universe will see her on Maxim’s Hot 100. She’s set a new goal for herself – to make the top 10!

“Hopefully I can get another cover out this year … and I’ll be in the top 10. That’s my dream!”

To see Maxim’s Hot 100 of 2012, visit maxim.com/hot-100/2012.