MTV VMAs: Taylor Swift wins Artist of the Year for smash hit song 'Anti Hero'

Los Angeles: Pop superstar Taylor Swift swept the MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) this year, emerging as the Artist of the Year. The singer added nine trophies to her collection as she claimed the top prize for her smash hit song 'Anti-Hero.

The first single from Swift's 2022 'Midnights' album, 'Anti-Hero' depicts a litany of insecurities with a chorus declaring: "It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me."

"This is unbelievable," the singer, on a break from her record-setting Eras Tour, said on stage as she held the Moon Person statuette for video of the year. "The fact this is a fan-voted award means so much to me."It was the second straight win for Swift in the video of the year category. Last year, she won the prize for her 10-minute version of breakup song "All Too Well".

Taylor had been nominated for 11 awards in total winning nine followed by SZA with eight; Blackpink, Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Minaj and Rodrigo with six; Kim Petras and Sam Smith (five each), Beyonce, Diddy, Drake, Ice Spice, Karol G, Metro Boomin, Shakira and Tomorrow X Together (four each), according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Swift's nine awards on Tuesday tied the record for the biggest VMA haul in one night, MTV said.

Meanwhile, Beyonce, Doja, Karol G, Minaj and Shakira joined Swift as Artist of the year nominees, marking the first time since the category was introduced in 2017 that all artistes of the year nominees are women.

Some of the other musicians who joined the show include: Demi Lovato, Shakira, Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B with Megan Thee Stallion, Diddy, Lil Wayne, Doja Cat and Fall Out Boy, among others, all of whom performed during the ceremony.

Shakira received the Video Vanguard Award, with the night also introducing a brand new category; Best Afrobeats.

The 2023 VMAs aired live from New Jersey’s Prudential Center, with the entirety of the VMA being driven by fan voting.

Other categories include Best Rock performance, won by the Italian rock band Maneskin for their song; ‘The Loneliest’ beating out the likes of Metallica, Foo Fighters, Linkin Park and Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

(With inputs from Reuters | IANS)