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Iconic outfits and memorable moments from past MTV VMAs
From Britney Spears and Madonna's kiss in 2003 to Lady Gaga's 'meat dress' in 2010, here are more than 50 show-stopping moments and outrageous red carpet outfits over the years.
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Richie Sambora and Cher during 1989 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
Madonna poses at the MTV Video Music Awards where she was nominated "Best New Artist" in video, at Radio City Music Hall, in New York, Sept. 14, 1984. (AP Photo)
Musician/singer Prince performs his single "Get Off", surrounded by half-naked dancers, while clad in a see through yellow suit at the 8th Annual MTV Video Music Awards in Universal City, Calif., Sept. 5, 1991. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Guns N' Roses celebrate their Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for "November Rain" at the MTV Video Music ceremony Sept. 10, 1992 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Model Cindy Crawford attends the Ninth Annual MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 9, 1992 at the Pauley Pavilion, UCLA in Westwood, Calif. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley-Jackson acknowledge applause from the audience after coming out onstage to open the 11th annual MTV Video Music Awards at New York's Radio City Music Hall, Sept. 8, 1994. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
The band TLC, from left, Rozanda "Chilli" Thomas, Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, pose for photographers backstage at New York's Radio City Music Hall during the 12th Annual MTV Video Music Awards, Sept. 7, 1995. (AP Photo/Paul Hurschmann)
Gwen Stefani, singer from the group 'No Doubt' arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 10, 1998. (Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images)
Marilyn Manson and girlfriend actress Rose McGowan arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards, Sept. 10, 1998. (Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images)
Lil' Kim arrives at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City. (Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)
Actress Pamela Anderson Lee and her ex-husband, rocker Tommy Lee, arrive at the 1999 MTV Video Awards in New York, Sept. 9, 1999. (AP Photo/Suzanne Plunkett)
Aaliyah attends the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. (KMazur/WireImage via Getty Images)
Pink arrives for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards Thursday, Sept. 7, 2000, at New York's Radio City Music Hall. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
Eve arrives for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards Thursday, Sept. 7, 2000, at New York's Radio City Music Hall. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
Destiny's Child arrives for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards Thursday, Sept. 7, 2000, at New York's Radio City Music Hall. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
Jennifer Lopez poses with her Best Dance Video award for her song "Waiting For Tonight" at the 2000 MTV Music Video Awards Thurdsay, Sept. 7, 2000, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (AP Photo/Dan Loh)
Lil' Kim, right, Christina Aguilera, centre, and Pink pose with their Video of the Year Awards for `Lady Marmalade'' at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York at the Metropolitan Opera House Thursday Sept. 6, 2001. (AP Photo/Suzanne Plunkett)
Britney Spears performs with a snake during the finale of the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, Sept. 6, 2001. (AP Photo/Beth A. Keiser)
Christina Aguilera arrives at Radio City Music Hall for the MTV Video Music Awards in New York, Aug. 29, 2002. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
Michael Jackson, right, appearing with Britney Spears during the MTV Video Music Awards at New York's Radio City Music Hall, Aug. 29, 2002. (AP Photo/ Beth Keiser)
Nicky Hilton and Paris Hilton during 2002 MTV Video Music Awards - Arrivals at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. (Jim Spellman/WireImage)
Britney Spears, left, Madonna, centre, and Christina Aguilera perform during the MTV Video Music Awards at New York's Radio City Music Hall, Aug. 28, 2003. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Britney Spears, left, and Madonna kiss during the opening performance of the MTV Video Music Awards at New York's Radio City Music Hall, Aug. 28, 2003. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Multiple nominee Christina Aguilera arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at New York's Radio City Music Hall Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
The Beastie Boys' Mike Diamond, left, Adam Yauch, centre, and Adam Horovitz arrive at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Aug. 29, 2004. (AP Photo/Tammie Arroyo)
Singer Gwen Stefani poses for photographers as she arrives on the white carpet of the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards Sunday, Aug. 28, 2005 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)
Singer Jessica Simpson poses arrives on the white carpet of the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards Sunday, Aug. 28, 2005 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)
Singer and actress Hilary Duff arrives on the white carpet of the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards Sunday, Aug. 28, 2005 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony arrive at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Christina Aguilera arrives at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Rihanna performs at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Hotel and Casino on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Britney Spears performs at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Hotel and Casino on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Kanye West jumps onstage after Taylor Swift won the "Best Female Video" award during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Sept. 13, 2009 in New York City. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Lady Gaga, wearing raw meat, at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello and AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Lady Gaga, left, accepts the award for Video of the Year presented by Cher, right, at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Katy Perry accepts the award for video of the year for "Firework" at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday Aug. 28, 2011, in Los Angeles. Looking on at left is presenter Katie Holmes. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Nicki Minaj poses backstage with the award for best hip-hop video for "Super Bass" at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday Aug. 28, 2011, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Robin Thicke, left, and Miley Cyrus perform at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (Scott Gries/Invision/AP)
Taylor Swift presents the video vanguard award at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
Miley Cyrus poses in the press room at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Beyonce, left, and her daughter Blue Ivy arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in New York. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Drake, left, presents the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award to Rihanna at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York, Aug. 28, 2016. (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Kanye West, left, and Kim Kardashian West arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Madonna appears at the MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Host Doja Cat speaks at the MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in New York. (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Offset and Cardi B attend the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on Sept. 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Christian Breslauer, left, and Ariana Grande accept the award for video of the year for "Brighter Days Ahead" during the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Megan Stalter arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)