Hayden Panettiere's Esquire Bikini Shoot: It's "Fun" to Be "Openly Nasty" on Nashville

Former Heroes hottie smolders on the cover as she talks booze, boys and her hit TV drama

By Alyssa Toomey Dec 13, 2012 8:31 PMTags
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If success and looking good are the best revenge for a split, then we have a strong feeling Hayden Panettiere is basking in breakup bliss.  

Because fresh off the heels of the Nashville cutie's reported split with her footballer beau, Scotty McKnight, the 23-year-old actress is not only looking smokin' hot in the January 2013 issue of Esquire magazine, but she also nabbed a Golden Globe nomination for her role on the hit drama Thursday morning. 

The super fit star poses in a barely-there bikini for the upcoming issue in which she discusses boys, booze and being a TV baddie. 

Hayden opens up about her teenage battle with "body dysmorphia"

Hayden looks effortlessly sexy in the stunning shots, as she shows off her banging bod, glowing complexion and tough gal tattoos in a variety of vibrant two-pieces.

 

Inside the mag, the Heroes hottie reveals she's become a whiskey gal thanks to her new southern living situation and even encourages all her age-appropriate fans to try Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey "on the rocks."

So if her love of booze and bikinis has you fellas drooling, then take note, because the actress also confesses that confidence is the most important characteristic in a man. 

"It does crack me up sometimes when you see these huge, burly, muscular, 'I spend all my time in the gym' kind of dudes and they've got these little Chihuahuas," Panettiere says with a laugh. "At the end of the day, it's the confidence in which you walk the little dog that is sexy. Walk it with pride."

But watch out boys, because the blond beauty has some serious bite in the Nashville series, and Panettiere admits it's always amusing to play the bitch.

"It's fun," she shares. "You get permission to be openly nasty and get away with it."

Watch Hayden look hot and tell jokes in the Esquire video above and then hit the comments to tell us what you think of the sexy shots!   

See more of Hayden's fabulous looks!