The MTV VMAs: Highlights of the night

The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) is one of the biggest music events of the year. Airing Sunday, Aug. 30, this year’s VMAs had a twist: many of the awards were given virtually. With performances by singers across multiple genres, 23 different awards and a red carpet event, this event ran for more than two hours. Here are some of the highlights:

Lady Gaga, above, stunned in a colorful and eccentric feathered dress designed by Iris van Herpen as she accepted the first award of the night, Best Collaboration, for her song “Rain on Me.” This collaboration was with fellow pop icon Ariana Grande, who Gaga described as her “soul sister” during her acceptance speech. However, that was not the only award of the night for Gaga, nor was it her only outfit. Throughout the ceremony, Gaga showed off her unique style in a whopping five different ensemble pieces. Winning Song of the Year, Artist of the Year and the Tricon Award, which is the VMA’s version of a lifetime achievement award, Lady Gaga demonstrated her musical talent alongside her taste in fashion. All of her costumes incorporated the use of a mask or face covering to promote mask-wearing. Pictured below are two more of her outstanding outfits.

While Lady Gaga undoubtedly was the big winner of the night, other singers and performers also got the opportunity to be recognized for their work in the music industry. BTS, a K-Pop group of seven members, was invited to the VMAs for the first time, receiving awards for Best Group, Best Choreography, Best Pop and Best K-Pop. They also performed one of their hit songs, “Dynamite,” for the world to see, and fans loved it. Freshman Junyi Xiu, a self-described BTS fanatic, called the performance “enlightening… the choreography was unique, and since [Dynamite] was in English, fans could sing along.”  BTS brought their A-Game for their VMA debut.

Other winners of the star-studded event include Doja Cat as Best New Artist, The Weeknd’s song “Blinding Lights” being dubbed the Video of the Year, Taylor Swift winning Best Direction for her song “The Man,” the award for new category Best Music Video from Home going to “Stuck with U” by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber and much more. The VMAs proved that even when times seem bleak and you cannot meet in person, big events can still be accomplished in a safe and entertaining way. Despite being virtual, the singers and performers still got to show off and be recognized for their musical talent. No one can say what the next VMAs will be like, but one thing is for certain: the VMAs of 2020 will be one to remember.