Pop superstar Taylor Swift swept the MTV Video Music Awards

In front of a cheering audience at the Prudential Center in Newark (US state of New Jersey), Swift beamed on Tuesday night as he lifted the “Moonman” – a small astronaut on the moon who holds an MTV flag in his hand. Last year, Swift won the trophy in the top category “Video of the Year” with her song “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)”, and now the 33-year-old is continuing her success with her hit “Anti-Hero”.

Eleven nominations, nine wins

Swift also received eight other awards, including song and artist of the year, director, camera and album of the year (“Midnights”). Swift converted eleven nominations into a nine-fold win. In doing so, she hardly gave others a chance.

In the top division, colleagues such as Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, SZA and Kim Petras were left behind. The Los Angeles-based German made headlines in February with her historic Grammy win, when Petras and Smith took home the trophy for best pop duo with “Unholy.” The 31-year-old became the first transgender artist in the history of the Grammys to win in this category.

“Just unbelievable”

Swift, in a black Versace dress with a high leg slit, was constantly in the spotlight during the nearly four-hour VMA spectacle. The five musicians from the former US boy band *NSYNC were also welcomed on stage with applause and cheers. Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick and JC Chasez presented the trophy in the “Pop Song” category to winner Swift. She was visibly touched and came out as a big fan of the band. Receiving this award “from your golden pop hands” was simply unbelievable, the singer stammered.

But there was no sample of the old *NSYNC hits like “I Want You Back”, “Gone” or “Bye, Bye, Bye”. The group broke up in 2002, but the musicians last appeared on stage together again in 2013 as *NSYNC for a medley at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Stars like Lil Wayne, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Demi Lovato, Olivia Rodrigo and Nicki Minaj rocked and rapped. The Colombian singer Shakira (46) thrilled the audience with a ten-minute medley of her hits, skillful hip swings and lots of naked skin. She also accepted the honorary “Video Vanguard Award”. Previous winners include Missy Elliott, Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake and Madonna. Shakira brought her two young sons, Sasha and Milan, to the show – and thanked them for cheering on mom.

US rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs (53) was honored with the “Global Icon Award”. The legendary hip-hop mogul last performed at the trophy show in 2005. Now he was rapping again in front of a cheering audience, with a sample of his hits like “I’ll Be Missing You” and “Bad Boy For Life”.

Fans vote for favorites

The VMA awards have been presented since 1984. Fans can vote for their favorites online. Among the other winners were the Italian band Måneskin with their rock ballad “The Loneliest”, hip-hop star Nicki Minaj (“Super Freaky Girl”) and US rapper Ice Spice (23) as “Best New Artist”.

Swift, who also won song of the year for “Anti-Hero,” thanked her longtime producer Jack Antonoff onstage, citing their first collaboration on the album “1989.” They would continue making music together until 2089, Swift joked. However, their fans don’t have to wait that long. Swift has already announced a new recording of her album “1989” including five previously unreleased songs for the end of October.