Recognized for iconic moments like Lady Gaga’s meat dress and Kanye West’s infamous interruption of Taylor Swift, the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) were held on September 12. It served as a platform to celebrate artists worldwide, honoring their outstanding performances, music, and particularly, their music videos.

Celebrating 50 years of hip-hop with Nicki Minaj as the emcee, Shakira making history as the first South American artist to win the Video Vanguard Award , and America’s favorite blondie transforming the VMAs into the TMAs, the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards was  poised to become one of the most unforgettable editions in recent years, and here is why.

VMAs Taylor’s Version

Taylor Swift added more awards to her growing collection. The renowned pop superstar emerged as the dominant force at this year’s Awards, including the highest number of nominations. Her outstanding performance resulted in a total of nine wins including the major award categories such as Artist of the Year, Best Pop, Best Direction , and Video of the Year.

These victories on Tuesday evening elevated Swift  to the second-most awarded artist in the show’s history,Sharing the record for the most wins in a single night. This remarkable achievement follows her triumph in the previous year, marking her second consecutive win of the night’s highest honor, Video of the Year, for “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version).

“This is unbelievable. The fact that this is a fan-voted award means so much to me,” Swift said in one of her acceptance speeches. “I can’t believe it was a year ago that I announced the ‘Midnights’ album.”

The pop star secured her fifteenth Moon Person trophy with the Best Pop award during the early stages of the awards show. Swift’s excitement was noticeable as N*SYNC had the honor of giving her the prize.

Later in the evening, the singer added another feather to her cap by winning the Song of the Year award, where she competed against SZA’s “Kill Bill” and Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers.” This victory marked her 16th victory, where she took the opportunity to express her gratitude to her longtime producer and close friend, Jack Antonoff.

Swift’s remarkable achievements marked her 17th overall win and her third victory in the same category. She previously won in this category last year for “All Too Well: The Short Film” and in 2020 for “The Man.”

Viva Mi Gente Latino!

 Latin music is undeniably on the rise on the global stage, and this vibrant trend was vividly showcased at the VMAs . The esteemed award ceremony devoted a special moment to pay homage to the illustrious South American artist, Shakira, who was bestowed with the prestigious Video Vanguard Award.

In a breathtaking celebration of her extraordinary career, the artist wowed  the stage with hits like “She Wolf” and “Hips Don’t Lie” as she performed a mesmerizing 10-minute medley of her career hits. With graceful precision, she danced with knife edge and delivered a scintillating guitar solo, showcasing the full extent of her unparalleled talent and boundless charisma.

In a touching and heartfelt moment, the muse of Latin music declared, “This is for you, my people, my Latin American people, both within and beyond the borders of this country,” seamlessly transitioning into Spanish. She continued, “Thank you for inspiring and infusing me with strength and unwavering determination to forge ahead. I love you all dearly.”

This accolade not only commemorates Shakira’s remarkable musical journey but also underscores the profound and enduring impact she has left on the entire industry, and how she paved the way to other Latin American artists, such as global superstars Anitta and Karol G who now bring new genres and electrifying performances to the awards.

For Legends by Legends Only

The VMAs’ hip-hop tribute kicked off performances from Hip Hop pioneers Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Host Nicki Minaj continued the tribute, introducing Lil Wayne and his impressive array of hits. This year’s ceremony centered around Hip-Hop, with a first-time performance from Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s new single “Bongos”  who brought the jungle with them, followed by Doja Cat’s “Attention” and “Paint The Town Red,” Metro Boomin took over the stage while floating in his DJ booth with hip-hop icon Future.

 Diddy, accompanied by four of his children and the presence of R&B royalty Keyshia Cole, performed a beautiful medley as he received the “Global Icon” award.

The evening ended with a celebration soaring to new heights with one of the evening’s most outstanding performances. Nicki Minaj’s electrifying rendition featured a rap of the classic hit and fan favorite, “Itty Bitty Piggy,” prompting the audience to rap along word-for-word, celebrating the genre said to have been born on August 11, 1973, when Clive Campbell, also known as DJ Kool Here, spun at his sister’s back-to-school party in the Bronx.