WOMEN REIGN SUPREME AT 2025 VMA AWARDS IN NYC!

Photo Credit: MTV

This weekend, the VMAs returned to the glittering lights of New York City for its 41st year, delivering performances that could have been taken straight out of a Broadway show. From a heartfelt tribute to the late Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne, to a rousing set by Latin superstar Ricky Martin, the VMAs closed a summer rich with music on a high note. But above all, this year’s show truly celebrated female artists, reaffirming women’s dominance of the pop scene. 

Of all the night’s standout moments, Sabrina Carpenter truly embodied this spirit. Currently enjoying success from her new album Man’s Best Friend, Carpenter took home Album of the Year for her platinum record Short n’ Sweet, and Best Pop Artist. The world has been Carpenter’s oyster over the past year, reaching breakthrough stardom with her 2024 hit Espresso. Now rumoured to headline Coachella in 2026, she is undoubtedly a household favourite, with her awards affirming her status as a tour de force in the music industry.

But it was her performance of her recent hit single Tears that stole the show. Transforming the stage into an electrified New York *sidewalk*, Carpenter proudly celebrated trans rights, joined by RuPaul’s Drag Race favourites Symone, Laganja Estranja, and Willam. Performers held up signs reading ‘Protect trans rights’ and ‘In trans we trust’ as she danced rain-soaked, turning her passionate performance into a moving symbol of solidarity to her LGBTQ+ fans.

Ariana Grande and Tate McRae also reaffirmed their place in pop royalty. Grande landed three top honours, including the biggest award, Video of the Year, for her hit Brighter Days Ahead, celebrating alongside her brother Frankie and stylist Law Roach. Canadian star McRae dazzled audiences with her Britney Spears-inspired ‘naked dress’ on the red carpet, bringing star quality to her performance as she celebrated her Song of the Summer win with Just Keep Watching. Mariah Carey, receiving the coveted Video Vanguard Award, sparked both praise and criticism. While her performance was deemed ‘lacklustre’ by some, her signature gold outfit shone as always. 

The night’s most memorable moment belonged to Lady Gaga. Collecting four awards, including Artist of the Year for her dark-pop album Mayhem, and Best Collaboration with Bruno Mars for Die With a Smile, Gaga proudly dedicated her wins to her ‘Little Monsters’. Lady Gaga is no stranger to a VMAs win, racking her total up to 22, placing her behind Taylor Swift and Beyoncé for the record number of wins. Yet this VMAs appearance was spectacularly theatrical, even for Gaga. Being a brief stop in her packed performance schedule, she travelled swiftly across town to star in her sold-out Mayhem Ball tour. MTV cameras captured her live in a packed Madison Square Garden – freshly transformed into a gothic ballroom – performing hit songs Abracadabra and Dead Dance, recently featured on Netflix’s Wednesday. Fourteen years after her first VMA nod, Gaga showed she can still command a stage like no one else.

The gothic theme carried on in a spellbinding tribute to Ozzy Osbourne. Led by Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, alongside long-time Osbourne admirer YUNGBLUD, and Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt, the performance celebrated his legendary career. Starting with Crazy Train and later performing Changes, the trio delivered a moving rendition of Mama, I’m Coming Home. Glamorous, star-studded, and steeped in black leather, the tribute honoured the late Prince of Darkness in a poignant and fitting way. 

K-Pop’s influence was impossible to ignore. BLACKPINK’s Rosé, alongside Bruno Mars, won Song of the Year for APT, while her bandmate Lisa claimed Best K-Pop Song with Doja Cat and RAYE for Born Again, delivering a pre-recorded acceptance speech. With Netflix’s animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters topping popularity charts and its feature song Golden leading the Billboard Hot 100 for four consecutive weeks, K-Pop has firmly cemented itself into mainstream music. 

Alex Warren was the only male artist to break the female-dominated sweep of the top awards, winning Best New Artist, snubbing British Lola Young and TikTok sensation sombr. Following 14 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with Ordinary, Warren’s victory came as little surprise. 

This year’s VMAs confirmed one thing: women rule the pop scene. From pop to K-Pop, R&B, and hip-hop, artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, Tate McRae, Doechii, and Tyla have proven that female dominance is here to stay. The 41st VMAs were glamorous, as usual, but also unforgettable, becoming a bold celebration of the music industry and the empowering forces behind it. 

Unless otherwise stated, Photography & Text Copyright 2025 © Abigail Mableson/ADRENALINE Magazine.