50 Most Beautiful People for 2011

Age: 31
Hometown: Long Valley, N.J.
Political party: Republican
Relationship status: Married

 Jacqueline Ferko, a lobbyist for Boeing, first came to Washington under a different guise: goalkeeper.

 Ferko earned a college scholarship at American University to play goalie for the Division 1 soccer team. She said it was a dream to play at such a high level, though it surprised many that she played keeper.

 

“I was a little girly for the position,” Ferko said, noting that she was short for a keeper and had a penchant for manicures and pedicures. 

 Her time at one of Washington’s top colleges naturally led to a career in government. She started on Capitol Hill as an intern for her congressman, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) and later became a professional staff member for the Senate Small Business Committee with Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).

 Now the athletic blonde is working for one of the country’s largest defense contractors, and she loves it.

 “Aerospace is so exciting,” Ferko said. “We make planes. How cool is that?”

 With bright blue eyes and an easy smile, Ferko laughs when asked for beauty tips. She notes moderation is the best policy, but she has her weaknesses — all things cheese.

 “I eat anything that I want, but everything in moderation,” Ferko said.

 She also loves to work out and travel, saying she takes “a bucket-list trip” every year with her husband, stopping in Istanbul last year to celebrate their five-year anniversary. That followed trips to Austria, Germany, Hungary and Russia in years prior.

 Ferko still likes to play soccer when she can, but don’t expect to see her between the sticks.

 “I took the gloves off and I’m not putting them back on,” she said.

— Kevin Bogardus 

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