Rihanna performs at the MTV VMAs with NZ's Re-Quest Dance Crew. Photo / AP
Rihanna performs at the MTV VMAs with NZ's Re-Quest Dance Crew. Photo / AP
After a ceremony packed full of performances, star appearances and Kanye's madness, the MTV VMAs are over for another year.
Video Vanguard award winner Rihanna opened the awards with her first of four medley performances, all backed by dancers choreographed by New Zealand's own Parris Goebel.
Rihanna, center, performs at the MTV Video Music Awards. Photo / AP
She was presented her award by her long-time friend and collaborator Drake, who reminisced about the first time they met in 2005, when Rihanna was shooting her video for Pon De Replay.
Drake praised Rihanna's work in her songs, videos and performances, but put more emphasis on the kind of person she is saying while some artists "need to play a character" or "play down their natural instincts", Rihanna "has surpassed the competition by being the same woman from Barbados with the same friends".
He said we love the work, but "most of all we love the woman who hasn't changed since day one...she's someone I've been in love with since I was 22 years old".
Fans cheered, with many rooting for the pair to couple up after rumours of their romance have been running rife since their collaboration on Work.
Whether or not fans got what they wanted was unclear, but Rihanna accepted the award saying it was a huge moment in her career which she was thankful for.
Video of the Year went to Beyonce for Formation, which also won best pop video as well as best cinematography, editing, direction and choreography.
Beyonce's Hold Up also took the prize for Best Female Video, and her album Lemonade won Best Breakthrough Long Form Video.
Beyonce accepts the award for Video of the Year. Photo / AP
Parris Goebel was up alongside Beyonce for Best Pop Video, Video of the Year and Breakthrough Long Form for her work on Justin Bieber's Sorry and Purpose: The Movement.
While she didn't take home a win, the choreographer still had a great night, tweeting her thanks to Rihanna for letting her work on her performance choreography.
Here is the full winners' list from the 2016 MTV VMAs:
2016 Winners:
Video of the Year: Beyonce - Formation Best Hip Hop Video: Drake - Hotline Bling Best Male Video: Calvin Harris ft Rihanna - This Is What You Came For Best Collaboration: Fifth Harmony & Ty Dolla Sign - Work From Home Best Female Video: Beyonce - Hold Up Best Breakthrough Long Form Video: Beyonce - Lemonade Song of the Summer: Fifth Harmony featuring Fetty Wap, "All In My Head (Flex)" Best New Artist: DNCE Best Pop Video: Beyonce - Formation Best Rock Video: twenty one pilots - Heathens Best Electronic Video: Calvin Harris & Disciples - How Deep Is Your Love
Professional Categories:
Best cinematography, editing, direction and choreography: Beyonce - Formation Best art direction: David Bowie - Blackstar Best Visual Effects: Coldplay - Up and Up
