Lily Allen has become a household name in a matter of months

Beth Ditto of Gossip is the first woman to top the annual Cool List.

Lily Allen is third, while the top 10 also includes Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kate Jackson of The Long Blondes and Lovefoxxx of the band CSS.

NME editor Conor McNicholas said: "This year's Cool List is a testament to the raft of hugely talented women who have taken hold of the music scene in 2006."

"From Beth to Lily to Karen, they've brought new energy to a scene dominated by men.

"They're also living proof that you can still rock a crowd when you're wearing stilettos."

Last year's number one, Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys, has slipped to a lowly 32nd place.

NME COOL LIST 1. Beth Ditto (The Gossip) 2. Faris Rotter (The Horrors) 3. Lily Allen 4. Jarvis Cocker 5. Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) 6. Kieren Webster (The View) 7. Kate Jackson (The Long Blondes) 8. Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) 9. Thom Yorke (Radiohead) 10. Lovefoxxx (CSS)

Queen of Cool Ditto is an outspoken character from the Arkansas Bible Belt and a fierce defender of gay rights.

Leading the charge for the men is Faris Rotter, frontman with Southend rockers The Horrors, in second place. Jarvis Cocker is fourth after returning to the music scene with his solo album.

The other men in the top 10 are Kieren Webster of The View, Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance and Thom Yorke of Radiohead.