The phenomenal love team of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza—popularly known as AlDub or MaiDen—graces the cover of YES! Magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful Stars 2016 special issue.

Alden has always expressed his desire to be the cover star of the 100 Most Beautiful Stars issue, which he has been a part of for six consecutive years since 2010. His desire has now become a reality, but he’s not alone in the limelight. He’s sharing the honor with Maine, who, on her own merits, has come out of the shadow of the TV character that catapulted her to instant fame.

“Dream ko po ’to!” says Alden. “For six consecutive years from first year ko, I’ve been part of this list. Sabi ko dati, ‘Kailan kaya ako mako-cover diyan?’ Ang hirap lang makapaniwala talaga na kami ang cover. Diyos ko, ang na-cover diyan, mga big stars—si Miss Kris Aquino, si Ate Juday.”

For the record, Judy Ann Santos, aka Juday, was the cover star of the inaugural issue of YES! 100 Most Beautiful Stars in 2007. She was followed by KC Concepcion, Marian Rivera, Kim Chiu, John Lloyd Cruz, Anne Curtis, Julia Montes and Kathryn Bernardo (who shared the cover), Sarah Geronimo, and Kris Aquino—and yes, all of them are big stars!

“To be given that title is such an honor,” Alden acknowledges. “It’s humbling, kasi we started naman, simple lang kaming dalawa. We do simple things to make people happy. Hindi naman kami loud when it comes to our accomplishments. This honor parang makes us want to do more, ipakita na the title given to us, we will not take for granted.”

He says of his love-team partner: “Excited din si Maine, kasi first time niya to be part of this.” 

Maine agrees with Alden’s observation. “Masaya, since first time ko nga ito, ’tapos cover pa,” she affirms. “And siyempre, happy din for Alden, kasi finally magiging cover na din siya.”

Now on its 10th year, the annual YES! list of 100 Most Beautiful Stars remains one of the most credible lists as far as the entertainment scene is concerned. As YES! editor in chief Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon puts it: “This is our subjective, collective list, borne of our criteria and taste, propelled by our own inner excitement about the people we write about.”

Then as now, this year’s special issue pays tribute to the young and old, to the newbies and the veterans of this crazy and creative world we all love, showbiz.

The list, with photos of the stars and the corresponding articles about them, is divided into categories that include A-Listers, or those who dominate both film and TV, as well as the advertising world (Piolo Pascual, Toni Gonzaga, Jennylyn Mercado, Dennis Trillo, Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Kim Chiu, Jericho Rosales, and Angel Locsin); Box-Office Stars (Vic Sotto, Vice Ganda, Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz, and Ai-Ai de las Alas; Hottest Love Teams (Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil, James Reid and Nadine Lustre); and Teleserye Royalty (Angelica Panganiban, Jodi Sta Maria, Paulo Avelino, and Sid Lucero).

Among those who get solo spots are Coco Martin as the Primetime King, John Arcilla as the Idol, Ms. Gloria Romero as the Icon, and Martin Nievera as the OPM Icon. 

This issue also pays tribute to two special ladies who made history: Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurzbach is Person of the Year, while Cannes International Film Festival best actress awardee Jaclyn Jose is in a special category, In a League of Her Own.

First-timers Meryll Soriano (Chameleon), KZ Tandingan (Dynamo), and Nico Antonio (Acting Bet), as well as successful cross-over artists Jerald Napoles and Pepe Herrera (Next in Line), are all happy to be part of the list.

The rest of the 100 stars fill up categories such as TV Princes and TV Princesses, Comic Stalwarts, Acting Bet, Dreamboat, Sirens, Tomorrow’s Bet, Eternal Heartthrobs, and Hot Mama. Find out who they are. Grab your copy now!

YES! Magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful Stars 2016 special issue, featuring AlDub on the cover, is now available in newsstands, bookstores, and supermarkets nationwide. The digital edition will be out soon via the YES! app on Apple Newsstand, Buqo, Zinio, and Magzter.

View photos from the YES! 100 Most Beautiful Stars event below.