50 Most Beautiful winner ‘in shock’

It’s been a whirlwind morning for Danielle Sikes, who on Tuesday took the top spot on The Hill’s 50 Most Beautiful list. 

The madness started when she walked into her office to find colleagues reading the print edition of the list, which features a prominent picture of Sikes.

“I found out when I came in,” Sikes said with an excited smile. “My office was like ‘lookit!’”

Then she received a screenshot of the online version of The Hill’s 50 Most Beautiful from her boyfriend.

“I was kind of in shock,” Sikes said. “It was exciting. But I was just like ‘Oh my gosh.’ I didn’t know what to say. It’s a little crazy. My office is enjoying it.”

Sikes, who said she has never won a beauty contest before, didn’t have her hopes set on winning 50 Most Beautiful, and wasn’t even sure she’d make the final cut.

“I was just kind of nervous about it,” she says. “I was like, maybe I’ll end up on it — maybe I won’t. It was a pretty big surprise.”

Sikes is a legislative correspondent for Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio) by day, and a member of the Washington Capitals’ Red Rockers spirit and dance squad by night. She said she plans to keep a low profile Tuesday despite her newfound fame.

“I’m really outgoing, but really reserved at the same time,” she said. “And that’s a big picture. I’m not going to go down to that cafeteria today.”