Diana, an icon for the century

DIANA, PRINCESS of Wales, is among the "Heroes and Icons" of the 20th century, compiled by Time magazine.

The late princess is on the list of 20, which also includes Marilyn Monroe, Anne Frank, Muhammad Ali, Che Guevara, Emmeline Pankhurst, Pele and Mother Teresa. "Diana, celebrity, tabloid princess, mater dolorosa of the pop and fashion scene, was, if nothing else, the perfect idol for our times," the magazine writes.

Time is profiling who it thinks are the most influential people of the century. It has named 100 people in five categories: leaders and revolutionaries, artists and entertainers, builders and Titans, scientists and thinkers and heroes and icons. In December it will name its "person of the century". Yitzhak Rabin is currently in first place with 17.9 per cent of the vote, followed by Adolf Hitler with 15 per cent.