What’s wrong with Lupita Nyongo’s ‘Most Beautiful’ People cover

Lupita Nyong'o has been named People's Most Beautiful of 2014.

"It was exciting and just a major, major compliment," the Nyong'o said of her cover. "I was happy for all the girls who would see me on [it] and feel a little more seen."

While the Most Beautiful title is a major honour for any celebrity -- Nyong'o becomes only the fourth woman of colour to claim the cover since the first issue hit shelves in 1990.

The 2014 list did also include Indian actress Mindy Kaling and African American actresses Gabrielle Union and Kerry Washington, but People's annual issue does not have a particularly strong history of diversity.

The first woman of colour to appear on the cover was Halle Berry in 2003, who at the time was also the first African American actress to win a lead Oscar, which she won for "Monster's Ball." "My mom always said, 'Beauty is what you do,' " she told People at the time.

Berry was followed by Jennifer Lopez in 2011 and Beyonce in 2012, who graced the cover shortly after giving birth to her daughter Blue Ivy. "I feel more beautiful than I've ever felt because I've given birth," she said.

Every other Most Beautiful cover star has been a Caucasian male or female -- the sorts of faces that Nyong'o thought she should aspire to growing up.

"Light skin and long, flowing, straight hair," said the 31-year-old actress who was born in Mexico and raised in Kenya. "Subconsciously you start to appreciate those things more than what you possess."

People's Sexiest issues, which celebrate the hottest men in showbiz, have not fared much better. The Sexiest Man Alive cover, which began in 1985 with Mel Gibson, has featured only one man of colour: Denzel Washington. "I don't take myself too seriously," he said upon receiving the honour in 1996. "I don't stop in the mirror and go, 'Hey, Sexy Man.'"

But People needs to start recognizing more non-white stars with the Most Beautiful and Sexiest titles. Its lack of diversity comes as somewhat of a shock considering the number of high profile celebrities who don't fit into the blond-hair, blue-eyed mold. From Chiwetel Ejiofor to Rihanna, there is plenty of untapped beauty that has deserved a place on the cover of the magazine.