Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who is of Bulgarian origin, is the world's third most powerful woman, according to Forbes.

Rousseff, the daughter of a Bulgarian immigrant Petar Rusev (Pedro Rousseff), took office on January 1, 2011.Even though her country's economy has slowed down after the boom in the years of her predecessor, Lula da Silva, she still enjoys the support of 67%, a recent poll has shown.

Rousseff, whose father, Peter Rousseff was born in the Bulgarian town of Garbovo, has assigned the "Brazil Without Poverty" program a priority status, fulfilling one of the key promises made during her election campaign last year.

German chancellor Angela Merkel is the most powerful woman in the world, according to the latest Forbes list. She is followed by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Michelle Obama, Christine Lagarde, Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey are among the other names in the list's Top 20.