31 of the Most Iconic VMAs Beauty Looks Over the Years

Courtney Love and a young Drew Barrymore hooked up for a photo op at the 1995 VMAs. Both women wore dark red lipstick, but Drew accented her hair with a few daisies, bringing a new meaning to flower child.

Janet Jackson went for a more casual vibe in 1994, wearing her baseball cap and box braids to receive her award.

No VMAs roundup would be complete without Britney Spears; in 2000 she wore a crimped and curled hairstyle.

Madonna went for a Farrah Fawcett curl at the 2005 VMAs.

Christina Aguilera opted for a flapper vibe at the 2006 VMAs. Her hair was styled in Marcel waves and her lipstick was a deep plum shade.

This matching scarf and dress ensemble was a shining moment for Jennifer Lopez. Fierce smoky eye brought it all together.

Now, Solange Knowles is known for her voluminous Afro, but it was at the 2009 VMAs that she debuted this short, natural crop.

Cher takes the cake for the biggest hair in VMAs history with this oversized hairstyle.

Who could forget Lady Gaga‘s blue streaks and steak hair piece?

Katy Perry always wows us with her numerous hair color changes. She has tried everything from blue to black, but this lavender look from 2011 served as an iconic VMAs moment.

On stage at the 2011 VMAs, Beyoncé announced her pregnancy in a two-toned ponytail and glowing skin.

Rihanna had a Rosemary’s Baby moment in 2012 when she hit the 2012 carpet with a short pixie cut – an unexpected (but welcome) hair update.

Nicki Minaj never disappoints with extreme red carpet looks, and at the 2012 VMAs she wore a sunshine yellow hairpiece and her signature bubblegum lipstick.

Miley Cyrus pulled her hair up into a double-topknot look with her signature cherry lipstick in 2013. Is it us, or are you getting a Gwen Stefani-circa 1998 vibe here? This look will live in infamy thanks to her scandalous performance with Robin Thicke . . .

The theme was all black for Lady Gaga at the 2013 VMAs. She wore a long jet-black wig to accompany her leather dress, adding a pop of color with a melon-orange lipstick.

Rihanna paired her tiny grills with red lipstick and a mullet hairstyle for last year’s VMAs.

We were so here for Kesha’s bold, multicolored hair and glowy makeup look.

Katy Perry complemented her all-denim ‘fit with a chic red lip and Old-Hollywood-style liner.

FKA Twigs knows how to make a statement – and she did just that with her effortless curls. That volume!

Taylor Swift rocked this fierce cat eye in 2015, making it obvious that she was long past her country era.

Beyoncé’s icy-glam makeup in 2016 was seriously so stunning.

Naomi Campbell‘s glittery red lip added a pop of color to the supermodel’s look.

Rihanna is no stranger to a legendary VMAs appearance, and she seriously slayed with this mauve lip.

Yara Shahidi wowed the red carpet at the 2017 VMAs by pairing a teased low pony with a dewy beauty look.

The obsession is real with Millie Bobby Brown’s polished low bun and clip combo.

Nicki Minaj’s color-coordinated hairstyle and choker were the perfect balance of loud and chic.

Amandla Stenberg’s attention-grabbing red eye makeup was a flattering (and bold!) look for the star.

Cardi B totally brought back short hair when she debuted a pixie cut at the 2018 VMAs.

Lizzo is nothing short of a siren in this coiffed style, a word which happened to be printed all over her dress.

Halsey’s shimmery natural makeup in 2019 was the right choice to play up her unique rainbow roots.

Bella Hadid’s supershiny high pony and nude-toned makeup make it clear why the model is a household name.