The MTV Video Music Awards is best defined as a cultural phenomenon every year but the 2023 VMAs turned the heat up just a bit more!
On the 12th of September, the 2023 Video Music Awards (VMAs) were held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Tuesday night. The pink carpet at the video music awards was a breeding ground for iconic fashion moments and looked exactly like a Paris Fashion Week. Since their inception in 1984, the VMAs have been a significant event in the music industry.
Hosted by Nicki Minaj, the whole internet was buzzing with excitement. The night was accompanied by lively and sultry performances from Doja Cat, Olivia Rodrigo, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Wayne, Fall Out Boy, Demi Lovato, Future, Karol G, Shakira, and hStray Kids, among others! It was bound to be a night to be remembered!
Who Wore What?
Now, while most celebrities veered into a trendy pop culture era while some went for an archival look.
Musa Keys
Musa Keys was nominated in the Best Afrobeats category for his song Unavailable featuring Davido and he showed up at the MTV VMAs looking stunning with an scintillating red jacket, paired up with a matching shirt and trouser.
Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj, the host with the most showed up in a baby pink bridal lingerie by Dolce & Gabbana which some fans said she’s subtle pre-marketing her much anticipated upcoming album Pink Friday 2.
Doja Cat
You cannot mention fashion pioneer and not put Doja Cat’s name next to it. She’s best known for getting tongues wagging about her outfits and this time was no different. Doja Cat looked crisp wearing arachnid eyelashes and a cobweb gown by Oscar de la Renta.
Cardi B
Cardi B brought the heat in a custom made metal garb made of hair-clips by Dilara Findikoglu. His husband Offset also matched Cardi’s dress by adorning his hair with hair clips. Cardi B stole the show!
Meghan Thee Stallion
Meghan Thee Stallion proved you can never go wrong with a strapless sheer dress on the pink carpet. The dress was designed by Brandon Blackwood. She kept her accessories at a minimum by incorporating a statement diamond choker by Jacob and Co.
Shakira
All that glitters is gold! Shakira’s proved this with her golden Versace gown with a sexy lace up back, with a thigh high slit and cascaded into a beaded train. To finish off her look, she wore gold platform Jimmy Choos!
Selena Gomez
While some have argued that a red dress on a red carpet never brings out the flames, Selena Gomez dripped in beaded red flowers in a gown by Oscar de la Renta and showed them how it’s done. Selena’s dress featured an asymmetrical hem and a delicate halter neckline, finishing the look with red high heels.
Iconic Moments
Taylor Swift was nominated for a whopping eleven VMAs this year, and she took home nine of them! She won the award for video of the year— All Too Well. One of the biggest highlights as she collected awards throughout the night was when she earned her 15th Moon Person trophy and the timeless band NSYNC presented her the award. When we speak about record breaking award winning artists, we speak of Taylor Swift.
Shakira brought the house down with her performance when she crowd-surfed her way into everyone’s hearts. A fan on X commented that “Shakira didn’t just ‘cross over’ — she created a new multicultural pop stardom!” Notably, she received her first ever Video Vanguard Award
Doja Cat’s five minutes performance of Attention, Paint The Town Red and Demons holds to be one of her indelible performance of all times! For her stage performance, she wore a buttoned up suit, white shirt underneath and gray skirt giving her a more office look than what she’d usually go for. Her supporting dancers were painted in red from head to toe signalling her “Scarlet era”. Trust Doja to give a gravity defying performance!
Click HERE to watch Doja Cat’s 2023 VMA performance.