Ms Bishop – who once took aim at former Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s magazine appearances – donned a Giorgio Armani dress and heels for a Who Weekly magazine photograph, in what could be perceived to be part of a broader charm offensive.

A recent Galaxy Poll showed 57 per cent of respondents rated her performance as a Cabinet minister as “good”,

Just 27 per cent said the same about Prime Minister Tony Abbott and 26 per cent about Treasurer Joe Hockey.

Ms Bishop used the shoot to deliver a message about the gender divide in Canberra.

“I wish there were more women in Cabinet,” she told Who Weekly, as part of her appearance in the magazine’s annual Most Intriguing People list, out today.

“I think women make a great contribution to discussions; they offer a different perspective.”

Ms Bishop also offers up a rather unique description of her current role as Foreign Affairs Minister.

“I see myself as Australia’s relationship manager,” she said. “I can’t imagine a better job than the one I have”.

After notably rejecting the “f-word” – feminist – this year, Ms Bishop continues to dispute the notion that sexism is a particular problem in Parliament.

“Discrimination exists across all areas in society,” she said. “It’s how you deal with it. But how could I say I’ve experienced it when I’ve been elected by my peers to be the deputy leader of the party and I am Australia’s first female Foreign Minister?”

Originally published as Julie Bishop as you’ve never seen her