Jennifer Garner goes from ‘band-geek chic’ to People’s most beautiful

Jennifer Garner has landed this year’s cover of People magazine’s “Beautiful Issue.�

The magazine cover, which hits newsstands Friday, was revealed by Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show Tuesday, complete with a surprise appearance by Garner.

“Do you think I should start really turning it up for school drop-off and stuff?� joked Garner, who was admittedly nervous about the reveal. “I think so! I think I’ll maybe wear some yoga pants, some leggings and maybe a ponytail — kind of a scrubby, just-woke-up or just-worked-out look.�

In the People story, Garner, 47, spoke about balancing Hollywood, business and motherhood. The “Alias� and “Camping� actress co-founded the baby-food company Once Upon a Farm, serves as an artist-ambassador for Save the Children and is mother to three kids with ex-husband Ben Affleck: 13-year-old Violet, 10-year-old Seraphina and 7-year-old Samuel.

Her childhood style in West Virginia as “band-geek chic,� she said with a laugh. “I was so not one of the pretty girls that I just bypassed insecurity and didn’t see myself as attractive at all. It was not part of my life. … Looks weren’t a big deal in my family. I don’t think my parents ever said, ‘You’re pretty’ and so we just didn’t think about it.�

Nowadays, when she arrives home from a glamorous photo shoot, her children immediately have a very specific request.

“They’ll look at me and say, ‘Can you wash your face? Can you put your hair in a ponytail and put your glasses and sweats on?’� Garner said. “And I see the compliment in that. They just want me to look like Mom.�

Pink, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Sandra Bullock and Lupita Nyong’o have previously been featured on the cover of the annual issue.

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