Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande lead MTV VMAs

Girls ruled the MTV VMAs. Pop divas Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande led the winners of the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). And they were not the only girls to wield power at the roost this year. Also victorious at the awards night that was held for the first time at the Prudential Center in New Jersey last Monday were teenage sensation Billie Eilish, Cardi B, Camila Cabello, of course, in tandem with you all know who, and the biggest awardee of them all, hip-hop star Missy Elliot.

Taylor notched another record for winning the Video of the Year Award for You Need To Calm Down which she also co-directed. She beat Ariana’s thank you next; 21 Savage ft. J. Cole, a lot; Billie Eilish, Bad Guy; Jonas Brothers, Sucker; and that upstart from Tik Tok, Lil Nas X with his Old Town Road cohort Billy Ray Cyrus. 

You Need To Calm Down also won the Video for Good Award. The joyous, candy-colored film featured guest stars from the LGBTQ area and Swiftie’s inclusive views about gender equality, plus her much talked about reconciliation with fellow diva Katy Perry, with whom she feuded a while back. I cannot remember why but could it have been about John Mayer with whom they were both linked? 

Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello perform Señorita

Anyway, the VMAs turned out to be full of glorious Taylor moments. The other big-winning pop star, Ariana, was a no-show. Taylor glowed in Versace on the red carpet. She opened the show with a spirited You Need To Calm Down. Then, she accompanied herself with just a guitar to sing the title track from her recently released album Lover and she was absolutely mesmerizing. There were other stars around but Swiftie held the audience at the huge Prudential Center enthralled. One more thing, ME! — Taylor’s collab with Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco won for Best Visual Effects.

Also affecting was Miley Cyrus clad in a simple little black dress singing her break-up song Slide Away with such emotion. Suspenseful was the hot duet of Señorita by Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes. Will they end with a kiss or will they not? They did not. Lizzo was the power diva of the evening with her hit song Truth Hurts and Lil Nas X turned out to be an elegant dancer with his futuristic take on his Panini. 

Video Vanguard awardee Missy put together one fantastic retrospective of her career and showed everybody why she is truly deserving of the honor. She made me wonder what on earth has happened to the hip-hop divas of today. And one thing more, maybe it is about time that the VMAs consider not having a host like the Oscars. The choice this year, comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, did not seem to know what the show was about and talked nonsense throughout.

Lil Nas X poses with the Song of the Year Award for his megahit Old Town Road

Here is the list of the MTV VMA winners:

Artist of the Year: Ariana Grande.

Song of the Year: Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus, Old Town Road (Billy Ray Cyrus Remix).

New Artist: Billie Eilish.

Group: BTS.

Best Collaboration: Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, Señorita.

Push Artist of the Year: Billie Eilish.

Pop: Jonas Brothers, Sucker.

From left: Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas speak on stage during 2019 MTV Video Music Awards

Hip-Hop: Cardi B and DJ Khaled ft. Nipssey Hussle and John Legend, Money.

R&B: Normani ft. 6lack, Waves.

K-pop: BTS ft. Halsey, Boy With Luv.

Latin: ROSALIA & J. Balvin ft. El Guincho, Con Altura.

Dance: The Chainsmokers ft. Bebe Rexha, Call You Mine.

Rock: Panic! At The Disco, High Hopes.

Song of Summer: Ariana Grande ft. Social House, boyfriend.

Missy Elliot, the biggest awardee of the 2019 MTV VMAs

Video for Good: Taylor Swift, You Need To Calm Down.

Direction: Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus, Old Town Road (Billy Ray Cyrus Remix) by Calmatic.

Visual Effects: Taylor Swift, You Need To Calm Down by Loris Pailler and Lucas Salton for BUF VFX.

Art Direction: Ariana Grande, 7 Rings by Art Richoux.

Cinematography: Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, Señorita by Scott Cunningham.

Editing: Billie Eilish, Bad Guy by Billie Eilish.

Choreography: ROSALIA & J. Balvin ft. El Guincho, Con Altura by Charm La Donna.

Power Anthem: Megan Thee Stallion ft. Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $, Hot Girl.