LOOK OUT, BANDERAS: THERE'S A NEW ANTONIO IN TOWN.

Byline: SUSAN ABRAM Staff Writer

Antonio Banderas, en garde! There's another Antonio dueling for the attention of the ladies.

While the "Zorro" star made People Magazine's "100 Most Beautiful" list Thursday, People en Espanol placed Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa among the globe's 50 mas bellos Latinos.

Villaraigosa was the only politician on the beauty roll - which included "Desperate Housewives" hottie Eva Longoria, Puerto Rican reggaeton sensation Daddy Yankee, singer/heartthrob Ricky Martin and Colombia's hypnotizing Shakira.

"Mayor Villaraigosa is very flattered," said his spokeswoman Diana Rubio. "It's not a bad list to be on."

Followers of fashion and style say it's no surprise the 53-year-old mayor made the cut.

"I think the most attractive quality of Mr. Villaraigosa is his confidence, and to me confidence is key," said "Fashion Guy" Lawrence Zarian, who appears regularly on "Live with Regis and Kelly" and as a judge on "America's Next Top Model."

"Confidence is sexy. When he opens his mouth, he knows what to say," Zarian said. "He also has amazing eye contact."

Chided by his colleagues for possessing equal amounts of charm and vanity, Villaraigosa enjoys the spotlight, rarely turning down an opportunity to flash his bright smile.

People isn't the only one that's noticed.

At a charter school Thursday, first-grade teacher Becky Ortiz introduced Villaraigosa as "the hottest mayor in the country."

A beaming mayor replied: "Flattery will get you everywhere."

Villaraigosa isn't the first Los Angeles official deemed beautiful by People. In 1998, the magazine bestowed the honor on then-LAPD Chief Bernard Parks, now a councilman.

"Now City Hall has two of the hundred most beautiful Americans," joked Councilman Eric Garcetti.

"The mayor's got a million-dollar smile and a beautiful tie collection, so I'm not surprised."

Zarian called Villaraigosa's dress style classic contemporary, but said clothing is secondary when it comes to the mayor's appeal.

Villaraigosa has been working on his national profile, having already graced the cover of Newsweek and delivering the Spanish-language Democratic rebuttal to President George W. Bush's State of the Union address.

Making the beauty roster is all the more impressive considering the schedule Villaraigosa keeps. Reported to get just five hours of sleep a night, he makes dozens of public appearances each week, including weekends.

But he exercises and is fitter than most men his age.

And yes, Villaraigosa does get ribbed for his attention to his looks. At a roast in March, Councilman Herb Wesson quipped that the mayor is so vain, the only way he can get to sleep is if his wife promises to videotape him while he sleeps.

"I used to think he gets up at 5 a.m. to go jogging, but I think he spends an hour primping," Garcetti said.

So, should Antonio B be worried about Antonio V?

No, said Zarian.

But "there's so many similarities between actors and politicians," he said. "Both are well-respected. Both are attractive. Both exude charm. They suit up, they show up and they do their job."

The People en Espanol issue featuring the 50 most beautiful people will be on newsstands Monday.

Staff Writer Rick Orlov contributed to this story.

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

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(1 -- color) no caption (Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa)

(2 -- color) no caption (Antonio Banderas)

(3) People en Espanol has named L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa among the 50 most beautiful Latinos.

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