uncrowned

the uncrowned king/queen of (something)

Someone popularly considered to be the best or most impressive in a particular field or activity. The young woman has attracted a huge and fervent fan base, with many calling her the uncrowned queen of social media. In my opinion, he's not just the uncrowned king of featherweight boxers, but the best fighter in the entirety of the sport.
See also: king, of, queen, uncrowned
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

(be) the ˌuncrowned ˈking/ˈqueen (of something)

the person considered to be the best, most famous or successful in a particular place or area of activity: Because of her expertise, she is regarded as the uncrowned queen of music in Pakistan.
A king or queen who is uncrowned, has not yet had a crown placed on their head.
See also: king, queen, uncrowned
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • the uncrowned king/queen
  • the uncrowned king/queen of (something)
  • badge
  • badge bunny
  • sucker
  • sucker for
  • sucker for someone or something
  • a sucker for (someone or something)
  • take a liking to (someone or something)
  • take a fancy to
References in periodicals archive
Meanwhile, same as the order of the O2-binding activity of CoL ~ CoL , CoL showed the highest catalytic oxidation activity followed by CoL2, and then CoL4 and CoL1, the uncrowned analogue CoL5 showed the lowest catalytic activity.
Both these women are included in this survey of both queens regnant and consort who became de facto regnant: the uncrowned Matilda, heir of Henry I, who struggled against her cousin Stephen to rule; Eleanor, consort of Henry II, who finally banished her and then imprisoned her for her support of his sons' revolt; Isabella, a nasty piece of work who turned against her husband, Edward II, and eventually allied with her lover, Roger Mortimer, to oust the King and, in the author's view, to have him killed; and Margaret, who ruled when the King's mental illness made him unfit.
The likeable trainer, uncrowned king of the Irish National Hunt, has a special affinity with Perth, having sent out his first career winner there in 2006.
You know what a Harvard Scientist, Oscar winner, uncrowned Jewish saint and future mother and leader of the Anti-Defamation League like Natalie Portman needs?
By BILL MILLS ROBIN VAN PERSIE is the new, uncrowned king of the Arsenal team.
According to British newspaper The Guardian, the other shortlisted authors are Peter C Newman's 'Izzy for The Passionate Life and Turbulent Times of Izzy Asper, Canada's Media Mogul'; Gordon Pitts for 'Stampede!: The Rise of the West and Canada's New Power Elite'; Kenneth Whyte's 'The Uncrowned King: The Sensational Rise of William Randolph Hearst'; and Ted Rogers' 'Relentless: The True Story of the Man behind Rogers Communications'.
Kenneth Whyte reworks the record in The Uncrowned King, which focuses on Hearst's early career between 1895--when he purchased the small New York Journal--and 1898, when he had transformed the newspaper world into an agent of reform and wide readership and owned a media conglomerate that included rival Joseph Pulitzer's New York World.
William Randolph Hearst had a few "odd habits," Kenneth Whyte writes in a new biography of the newspaper publisher, The Uncrowned King (Counterpoint).
Murtagh's involvement with the uncrowned Polytrack king Ger Lyons should help counter his absence on other dates and it is quite possible, judged by the ongoing abandonment of turf meetings owing to the weather, that Dundalk might end up with more than five fixtures when the turf season is over.
From William, son of Henry I, who drowned on the White Ship, to the sad affair of the uncrowned Edward VIII, there have been numerous examples.
The Uncrowned King of Swing: Fletcher Henderson and Big Band Jazz by Jeffrey Magee Oxford University Press, January 2005 $30, ISBN 0-195-09022-5
Aptly described by Clive Barnes in The New York Post as the "uncrowned king of character actors," Barbee is an expert at bringing ballet's fathers, witches, kings, and fops to life on stage.
Uncrowned Emperor The Life and Times of Otto von Habsburg Gordon Brook-Shepherd Hambledon and London 254pp 19.95 [pounds sterling] ISBN 1 852 85 4391
In the end the Dunphy show was pulled leaving Pat Kenny the uncrowned king of Irish TV.
PRINCESS ANNE is to become the uncrowned Queen of Scots.