The Colombian pop queen was being honoured with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, as well as performing – and she also picked up the gong for best collaboration alongside KAROL G for their song TQG, so it was certainly a special night for the family to enjoy together.
Proud mum Shakira, 46, who shares her boys with footballer ex Gerard Piqué, was accompanied on the pink carpet by Milan, 10, and eight-year-old Sasha.
The Hips Don’t Lie chart-topper looked sensational in a gold floor-length backless lamé gown with a draped neckline and daring cut-outs.
She wore her long hair loose and let the dress do most of the talking as she accessorised only with a collection of rings.
Meanwhile her sons looked snazzy in matching black hooded tracksuits with a gold pattern down the sleeves and sides.
After smiling for photos alongside Shakira, they were also pictured inside during the ceremony held at the Prudential Centre in Newark.
With Waka Waka singer Shakira in a fresh Elizabeth Hurley-inspired outfit of a Grecian-inspired light blue Versace dress held together with statement gold safety pins, Milan and Sasha beamed as they flanked their mum either side, both tightly holding her hand.
Sasha also gave his mum a kiss on the cheek at one point too.
With her Vanguard win, which she received from Hips Don’t Lie collaborator Wyclef Jean, Shakira joins the likes of Beyonce, Britney Spears and Nicki Minaj in an elite club.
She is also the first South American star to be awarded the prize, and in her acceptance speech called out her creative collaborators alongside her sons, adding: ‘I want to thank my parents and my kids, Milan and Sasha, who are here. Thank you so much for cheering me up and making me feel that Mama can do it all.
‘Especially I want to share this award with my fans, who always, always support me through thick and thin. Thank you so much for being my army and helping me fight all my battles. Este es para mi gente.’
Shakira also wowed with a stunning performance of a medley of her biggest hits, including Wherever, Whenever, Hips Don’t Lie, She Wolf, Objection (Tango).
The star put on quite the show, as promised by the sneak peak she’d offered of rehearsals on her Instagram, where she posed with both legs behind her head, no big deal.
All the winners at the 2023 MTV VMAs
Video of the Year
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Artist of the Year
Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Video Vanguard Award
Shakira
Global Icon Award
Diddy
Best New Artist
Ice Spice
Push Performance of the Year
April 2023: TOMORROW X TOGETHER – Sugar Rush Ride
Best Collaboration
KAROL G, Shakira – TQG
Best Pop
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Best Hip-Hop
Nicki Minaj – Super Freaky Girl
Best R&B
SZA – Shirt
Best Alternative
Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – Candy Necklace
Best Rock
Måneskin – THE LONELIEST
Best Latin
Anitta – Funk Rave
Best K-Pop
Stray Kids – S-Class
Best Afrobeats
Rema & Selena Gomez – Calm Down
Video for Good
Dove Cameron – Breakfast
Best Direction
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero – Directed by Taylor Swift
Best Cinematography
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” – Cinematography by Rina Yang
Best Visual Effects
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero – Visual Effects by Parliament
Best Choreography
BLACKPINK – Pink Venom
Best Art Direction
Doja Cat – Attention – Art Direction by Spencer Graves
Best Editing
Olivia Rodrigo – vampire – Edited by Sofia Kerpan and David Checel
Show of the Summer
Taylor Swift
Group of the Year
BLACKPINK
Song of the Summer
Jung Kook ft. Latto – Seven
Album of the Year
Taylor Swift – Midnights
Her set also featured a rock star-style crowd surf because at this stage, why the heck not?
Shakira and her sons moved to Miami from Barcelona in April, following her June 2022 split from their dad Gerard, 36, after 11 years together.
The Spanish athlete has since moved on with Clara Chia Marti, 24, who he was spotted with on a Croatian break last week, having first been linked in August 2022.
Shakira has seemingly thrown shade at the couple in recent music releases, with her single BZRP Music Session #53 appearing to reference his new relationship.
In the lyrics, she sings: ‘Sorry baby, I should have thrown you out a while ago / A she-wolf like me is not for rookies / A she-wolf like me is not for guys like you / I’m too good for you, and that’s why you’re with someone just like you.’
She sings: ‘Seeing you with the new one hurt me / But I’m already set by myself.’
In June, Shakira reflected on their split in an interview with People en Español.
The hitmaker touched on rumours that Gerard had cheated on her while she was with her poorly 91-year-old father in hospital.
Shakira told the outlet: ‘While he [her dad] was at Milan’s first communion, he was gravely injured in an accident. Everything happened at once. My home was falling apart.’
She continued: ‘I was finding out through the press that I had been betrayed while my dad was in the ICU.’
Metro.co.uk has previously contacted Gerard Piqué’s reps for comment.
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