Bing.ca releases 2012 search results: Honey Boo Boo tells Justin Bieber to "call her maybe"

Justin Bieber is most-searched celebrity of 2012, toppling Kim Kardashian ; heartbreak sweeps the nation; and Canadians have their eye on Target.

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 27, 2012 /CNW/ - According to Bing.ca searches, 2012 was a year of celebrity fascination, baby fever and heartbreak. Last year Canadians were "Keeping up with the Kardashians," putting Kim Kardashian one up on homegrown sensation Justin Bieber . In 2012 Bieber came out on top, securing the most-searched celebrity spot. From the celebrity grind, to scandals and one hit wonders, Bing captured 2012 through the searches that mark the year's most fascinating people, sensations and moments in time.

To coincide with the release of U.S. search results for Bing.com (available at http://www.BingTrends.com), here are top search results for Bing.ca based on Canadian queries. The results detail Canada's top 10 most searched people, celebrity couples, viral videos and consumer electronics.

Not all fun and games, 2012 was also a year of heartbreak. The late, great Whitney Houston secured the most searched musician spot. And celebrity couple break ups from the likes of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes , Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson also captured Canadians' interest, if not their sympathy.

Most-Searched Person of the Year

In a strange reversal, last year's top celebrities in Canada and the U.S. switched spots. In 2011, Canadian Justin Bieber topped the U.S. list, while American Kim Kardashian reigned supreme here in Canada . This year Canadians embraced their own, putting Bieber on top and demoting Kardashian to third place, just behind the newly engaged Miley Cyrus.

In 2011 Canadians celebrated her royal wedding. In 2012, we blushed when her royal assets were captured by papparazzi. The controversy helped the ever-popular Duchess of Cambridge make the top 10 list tw! o years in a row. Missing from the list is the royal's sister Pippa Middleton and pop princess Britney Spears . Lindsay Lohan , Megan Fox and Kanye West stayed out of trouble and off the list in 2012.

Top Searched Celebrities

RankCanadaU.S.1Justin BieberKim Kardashian2Miley CyrusJustin Bieber3Kim KardashianMiley Cyrus4Selena GomezRihanna5Kate MiddletonLindsay Lohan6Jennifer AnistonKaty Perry7Taylor SwiftSelena Gomez8Kristen StewartJennifer Aniston9Katy PerryNicki Minaj10Lady GagaTaylor Swift

Joining Miley Cyrus as newcomers to Canada's top celebrity list was Bieber's main squeeze Selena Gomez , performers Katy Perry and Taylor Swift and actress Kristen Stewart , whose on-again, off-again romance with Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson rocked the tabloids and placed them in the number two celebrity couple list, just behind the imploding TomKat.

Other highlights included:

  • Viral Videos: Carly Ray Jepsen's hit single, Call Me Maybe took the number one spot for viral videos of 2012 - well ahead of reality star Honey Boo Boo and Psy's Gangnam Style
  • Baby Fever: Celebrity events were dominated by baby bellies with Jessica Simpson's baby birth taking the number one spot.
  • Retail Theraphy: Canadians watched U.S. retailers make their way across the border, including number one ranked Target

Other Top Search Results

Top Celebrity Couples

  • Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes
  • Kristen Stewart & Robert Pattinson
  • Selena Gomez & Justin Bieber
  • Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner
  • Miley Cyrus & Liam Hemsworth
  • Top Clothing Brands Coming to Canada

  • Target
  • Nordstorm
  • J Crew
  • Marshalls
  • Tory Burch
  • Top Musicians

  • Whitney Houston
  • Justin Bieber
  • Selena Gomez
  • One Directio! n
  • Taylor Swift

    Top Celebrity Events

  • Jessica Simpson's baby
  • Whitney Houston's death
  • Kate Middleton's nude photos
  • Jennifer Garner's baby
  • Kourtney Kardashian's baby
  • Consumer Electronics

  • iPhone 5
  • Xbox
  • Windows 8
  • iPad3
  • Wii
  • Viral Videos

    • Call Me Maybe
    • Gotye, Somebody that I used to Know
    • KONY
    • Honey Boo Boo
    • Gangnam

    About Bing

    Bing is for Doing.

    Everyone searches online - for directions, for places to eat, for things to do. Searches fuel 'doing'. Doing defines people's lives. Bing believes search should be about doing - not all about endlessly searching.

    About Microsoft Canada

    Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Inc. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has nine regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. For more information on Microsoft Canada , please visit www.microsoft.ca.

    SOURCE: Microsoft Canada Inc.