Skip to content

Nebraska Senate Contender: One of People Magazine’s 2001 50 Most Beautiful

The old adage that Washington is Hollywood for ugly people keeps unraveling.

First there was ex-Sen. Scott P. Brown, R-Mass., a former Cosmo model. Comely movie star Ashley Judd is flirting with a Senate run. And now, there’s ex-Nebraska Treasurer Shane Osborn — formerly of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People, who is considering making a run for retiring Sen. Mike Johanns’ seat in 2014.

Shane Osborn in People
(Courtesy People)

Osborn made People’s list in May 2001, fresh off playing a central role as a naval aviator in an international incident between the United States and China. Osborn was on a mission when a Chinese fighter plane collided with Osborn’s plane. He safely landed his plane, and the Chinese military detained him and a crew of 23 others for 11 days.

The writers and photographers at People were enchanted. Osborn’s photo looks straight out of a “Top Gun” still photo — motorcycle and all.

“… thanks to workouts with free weights five days a week, the South Dakota-born, Nebraska-raised Osborn also had the considerable muscle needed to wrest control of his plummeting aircraft after a midair collision with a Chinese fighter jet,” People wrote in the profile.

Besides the People magazine honor, Osborn was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Recent Stories

‘Two weeks’: GOP hawks left twisting on Iran after Trump resorts to familiar crutch

Supreme Court allows civil lawsuits against Palestinian groups

Appeals court backs Trump control of National Guard in LA, for now

Photos of the week | June 13-19, 2025

American businesses need a stable and competitive tax rate

Fact-checking Trump, Gabbard comments on Iran nuclear capability