Ellen DeGeneres named ‘most powerful gay person’

Television presenter Ellen DeGeneres has been named the most powerful gay person America.

The lesbian star, who is now an American Idol judge, won the top spot in Out magazine’s annual Power 50 rundown.

She beat singer Adam Lambert and journalist Rachel Maddow to number one and usurped last year’s incumbent, Washington’s highest-ranked gay politician Barney Frank.

This week, DeGeneres revealed that her wife Portia de Rossi encourages her to put on weight rather than lose it.

The vegan eater told Shape: “She loves me no matter what. Whenever I feel bad about myself, or if I’m in a period where I’m not working out, she’s constantly telling me that she doesn’t notice, that I look beautiful. She’ll say, ‘I think you could gain ten more pounds.’

“She would rather have me heavier than thinner, and she really hates that I ever doubt myself. She loves how I look. She wants me to be happy and never think about it.”