Kate Upton named ‘Sexiest Woman Alive’ by People magazine

Kate Upton is the “Sexiest Woman Alive” according to People magazine.

The model and Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover girl formally earned the title at the first People Magazine Awards, held on Thursday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. (Do you think Upton’s the right call?)

For many, the only surprising thing about the People magazine pick is -- What took so long?

PHOTOS: Kate Upton, cover girl to glamour girl

Upton has been turning heads ever since she, um, busted onto the scene as the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover girl in 2012. She made a command cover performance again in 2013.

Upton caused another sensation when she appeared in Terry Richardson’s 2012 cat-daddy video, wearing an itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny bikini. It was so suggestive, and caused so much controversy, that YouTube took it down, but then restored it a day later.

There is, however, one magazine Upton won’t be appearing in.

At least not anytime soon.

She was recently asked whether she would take it all off for Playboy.

“I never like to say never,” she said, “because there are circumstances that I could do pretty much anything if it inspires me and if I think that it’s cool at the time.”

“But right now, at this point in my career,” she added, “I’m not doing Playboy.”