Caitlyn Jenner was named on Thursday as Barbara Walters' most fascinating person of 2015.
The 86-year-old television legend praised the former Olympic gold medal winner Bruce Jenner for creating a 'seismic shift in the gender universe' by transitioning so openly into Caitlyn this year.
'Through her own transition, Caitlyn Jenner transformed society this year,' Barbara insisted on her annual 10 Most Fascinating People special.
'And that for us makes her the most fascinating person of 2015.'
Most fascinating: Caitlyn Jenner topped the 10 Most Fascinating People list on Thursday during the annual Barbara Walters special
Barbara initially appeared dismissive of 66-year-old Caitlyn, comparing Bruce's 'heroic feats of endurance' in the decathlon with Caitlyn's 'heroic feats involving hair extensions and eye makeup' on her TV show I Am Cait, saying she 'fussed endlessly with her appearance.'
But she then suggested Caitlyn's transition made the world ask serious questions, such as: 'What is gender? What was the real difference between Bruce and Caitlyn Jenner?
Admitting that she became 'a lightning rod for criticism' after getting so many awards, Barbara insisted: 'She became a champion for people who had long been pushed to the margin of society.'
Annual list: The 86-year-old television legend listed the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2015 during a 90-minute special
Not interviewed: Caitlyn was shown in video clips
Olympics champion: Barbara talked about Bruce Jenner's public transition to Caitlyn
'Famous and familiar, she raised awareness and acceptance of transgendered people,' Barbara insisted.
Caitlyn topped the annual list that included Hollywood stars Bradley Cooper - who said he had once been deemed 'too unf***able' to make it - and Amy Schumer as well as 30 Rock legend Tracy Morgan and his brave battle back from near death in a car smash.
Misty Copeland, who made history as the first African-American Female Principal Dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre, also made the list, as did UFC phenomenon Ronda Rousey, who spoke about rising up from her recent shock defeat.
Top ten: The host wore an all-black ensemble
Donna Karan became the first ever fashion designer to make the list, while Amazon's Jeff Bezos - the fifth richest person on earth - made the list for his business innovation.
And two of Barbara's most interesting chats for the special came with the presidential candidates she chose, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump.
Introducing Trump, Barbara said that 'controversy sticks to this man like hairspray' with him typically outspoken in his interview.
On the list: Donald Trump had a typically fiery interview
In fact, the Republican frontrunner heavily suggested that he would have stopped the San Bernardino terror attack in California if he had been there in the room.
Trump - who proudly bragged about how he personally carries a gun 'a lot of the time' - said the mass murder was proof that America needs more guns, not less, saying that 'nobody had guns except the bad guys.'
'If you had three or four people - like me, I have the right to carry, I have a license to carry - if you had people like me, in that room, and somebody started shooting, I guarantee you, we're going down shooting,' he bragged.
Face to face: Barbara and Donald sat next to each other during their interview
'I'm a big believer in the Second Amendment. The bad guys will always have guns.'
He also refused to back down yet again from his call for Muslims to be blocked from entering the country.
'This country, our country, has to get its act together,' he said.
Not backing down: Trump refused to back down from his controversial positions
'I have tremendous friendships in the Muslim community - tremendous relationships - they're great people - but we have to get smart, and the people that I know in the Muslim community agree with me.'
But when Barbara asked if he was 'a bigot,' Trump insisted: 'Not at all. Probably the least of anybody you've ever met.'
He said he felt an instant calling to run for the White House, insisting: 'I look at what's happening with our country - look at the stupidity of our leadership - I look at the decisions that are made that are so bad - and I just felt I had to do it.'
Pointed question: Barbara asked Trump if he was a bigot
And he also stood by his claims that Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton cannot match his energy, saying: 'She doesn't have the strength or the stamina. She'll do an event and then she goes back home and she goes to sleep. I mean you don't see her.'
He insisted: 'I think will beat Hillary very easily. She was a terrible Secretary of State. The world blew up around her. I'm leading in the polls and I think I'll beat her.'
Trump admitted that if he loses the Republican nomination he will consider himself 'a loser,' adding: 'I've never said that about myself before.'
Nice view: The interview took place in New York City
'If I don't win I wasted my time - it's all about winning,' he added, saying he 'won't be able to put my ideas into play.'
'I wanna win. I wanna make America great again,' he said. 'If I lose the nomination - not so good.'
In comparison, Sanders was happy to play down his weaknesses.
Presidential candidate: Bernie Sanders also was picked by Barbara to join the list
'I don't mean to offend you, but if you were creating the perfect candidate it probably would not be you,' Barbara had pointed out.
'You're not insulting me. I agree with you ... 100 percent,' he replied.
Asked why he was running, he said: 'We need a political revolution, we need to bring millions of people into the political process, to demand that the government represents all of us, not just the wealthiest people in this country, and that's what our campaign is trying to do.'
Political revolution: Sanders talked about his childhood with Barbara
He admitted that his childhood - where his parents often fought over money - played a huge role in his policy making, saying: 'When you don't have a lot of money your family lives under a lot of stress. That's a lesson that I've never forgotten and a lesson I hope I never will forget.'
Saying he wants his legacy to be one of 'compassion,' he said: 'I am very concerned that people are taking out their anger against fellow Americans who happen to be Muslim.
'If you're a Muslim and you read the newspapers and read what people are saying, you know what? You're going to be scared too.
Never forget: The politician said his parents fought over money
'And that's not what we should be having here in the United States of America.'
Saying that 'ISIS is a barbaric organization that must be destroyed,' he also insisted: 'But we must learn the lessons of Iraq.'
He explained that means forming a coalition where the 'fight has got to be led by Muslim nations,' stressing: 'I do not want us to get sucked into what ISIS wants us to get sucked into, what they call a war of civilization here.'
Tracy Morgan spoke movingly about the crash that almost killed him, saying: 'I survived that crash for a reason. I'm still here for a reason. I guess my room wasn't ready.'
Good one: Barbara enjoyed a laugh during their interview
Asked what he thought the reason was, he said: 'Maybe he kept me here to raise my daughter, raise my family.'
He got tearful recalling the support he got when returning to Saturday Night Live as host and told Barbara that he now knows what happiness is.
'Simply having something to look forward to,' he explained.
Fan favourite: Tracy Morgan also made the annual list
'Think about what you've got to look forward to and then you smile, and that's where happiness lies,' he said, saying his own happiness comes from looking forward 'to grabbing the mic to going home to seeing my daughter and my wife.'
'All of that makes me smiles, and so that makes me happy.'
He also told the famed interviewer: 'Anyone who hasn't set eight days in a coma can't tell me nothing - because I got closer to God than anyone on this planet.'
Near death: The comedian talked about his near death experience following a horrific car crash
Barbara seemed to most enjoy her chat with Bradley Cooper, telling him: 'Many women see you as the perfect man.'
But he insisted before the Hangover found him fame his career was faltering for a truly surprising reason for a man later voted People Magazine's Sexiest Man alive.
He recalled getting repeatedly turned down for leading man roles before an agent finally told him: 'You're not really f***able.'
Nice chat: Barbara seemed to enjoy her chat with Bradley Cooper
He spent much of his interview talking about his family, especially his father Charles who died in 2011 and whose wedding ring the actor was wearing.
'I loved waking up in my family, and that's not always the case,' he said.
Asked if his father would be pleased with where he is in life, Bradley said: 'Oh my gosh yes. I think he wouldn't believe it.
Family first: Bradley talked about the importance of family to him
Rough start: The actor said he had a hard time landing leading roles for a while
'I mean thank God he was alive for so many of the successes. But the Clint Eastwood thing he would have really loved, that was one of his heroes,' he said of the legendary actor who directed him in American Sniper.
Amy Schumer, meanwhile, was called 'a very good looking woman' by Barbara, who then stressed: 'But you don't like your looks.'
However the Trainwreck star insisted she just 'makes fun of how the world and Hollywood sees me,' adding: 'Which is heavier than most actresses.
Funny lady: Amy Schumer laughed while talking to Barbara
'I'm not a model, and I don't feel apologetic about that,' she said.
'I feel good naked. I feel like when I take my clothes off saying, ''You're welcome.''
However, she admitted that she does not imagine herself ever getting married or starting a family.
Top comic: Barbara reflected on Amy's career
'I would love those things but I don't really see it for myself,' she said. 'I hope that happens but I don't know how realistic that is.'
When Barbara asked if she wold prefer to be 'very beautiful, very rich, or very brilliant,' Amy replied proudly: 'I'm doing all of that.'
Barbara said that she picked UFC superstar Ronda Rousey because her recent shock loss to Holly Holm meant 'the superhero became human once again.'
UFC superstar: Ronda Rousey made the list despite her recent loss to Holly
And Ronda insisted the defeat will only make her stronger.
'All the best things of my life have happened as a direct result of the worst thing that's ever happened,' she said. 'Every missed opportunity has been a blessing in disguise.'
She sad that included winning a bronze medal in judo at the Olympics - insisting she was devastated at not getting gold.
'Missing out on Olympic gold is what keeps me motivated to come back and defend my belt over and over and over again,' she said.
She'll be back: The MMA star also talked about her father's suicide when she was just age eight
But one loss is too great for her to ever truly recover from, with the MMA star appearing close to tears while discussing her father's suicide when Ronda was just age eight.
'It's still so hard for me to talk about,' she said, calling it 'still an open wound for us.'
Ballet star Misty Copeland also seemed emotional talking about her childhood - where she 'felt exposed' at 15 when she hit headlines when her mother launched a legal battle to get her back after she moved in to live with her ballet teacher at the time.
Ballet pioneer: Misty Copeland also made the list for her achievements as a ballerina
However, she was clearly proud at the impact she has had on being the first black dancer to hit such heights in the ballet world and how that has changed perceptions.
'I think for a very long time people put African American dancers in a box that they weren't capable of doing classical ballet,' she said.
'Their feet were too flat, their legs were too muscular, they just didn't fit the mould. 'And I think that I have changed that perception for a lot of people.'
Tough time: Misty was shown as a girl caught in the middle between a custody dispute
But she insisted she still suffers from racism - and believes every time someone says she does not have a ballerina's body, 'I think it's something that people say when they don't want to say you have the wrong skin color for a ballerina.'
Donna Karan, who stepped down from her famous fashion line this year, became the first fashion designer to ever make the annual top 10 list that started in 1993.
But she admitted having a less successful early experience with the interviewer, having sent her an outfit when she was starting out only for Barbara to tell her: 'I've never been so uncomfortable.'
Fashion icon: Donna Karan was the first fashion designer to make the annual list
'I nearly had a heart attack right there and then,' she laughed of the experience.
Of her plans now that she is no longer leading her famous brand, she insisted: 'Right now I'm looking at the next phase, but I'm also looking at myself and what do I want?'
Amazon's Jeff Bezos was the only other member of the top 10 not to be interviewed for the special, but Barbara said he was 'remaking the world market place in his own image.'
Internet giant: Jeff Bezos was included for creating Internet giant Amazon
'Jeff Bezos wants your business. actually, he probably already has it,' she said, calling him a 'brilliant business visionary.'
Barbara continued to gush over Bezos who bought The Washington Post newspaper in 2013 and has a personal wealth of $59 billion.
'Jeff Bezos is an unstoppable force. His greatest genius maybe that he has figured out better than anyone else how to give us what we want.'
Not on the list: Miss Piggy was disappointed to learn she didn't make the list
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