Shakira's Best MTV VMAs Moments Through the Years

The 2023 Video Vanguard Award winner has a long history with MTV: see it in photos

Shakira attends the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall August 31, 2006 in New York City — Shakira at the 2006 MTV VMAs. Photo:

Evan Agostini/Getty

Whenever, wherever … Shakira will be at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The Colombian songstress has a lengthy history with the buzzy awards show, starting way back with her first appearance in the early 2000s, through her time on stage when Kanye interrupted Taylor, to her prolific performances. In total, she has won six Moon Person trophies in her decades-long career.

So it’s no surprise she was honored Tuesday night with the 2023 Video Vanguard Award, as she’s “a true global force who continues to inspire & influence the masses with her unique, musical prowess,” per Paramount’s president of music, music talent, programming and events and Paramount+’s chief content officer for music, Bruce Gilmer. “She’s a trailblazer for women around the world & one of the first artists to lead the globalization of Latin music.”

Following her electrifying performance at the 2023 VMAs in Newark, New Jersey — where she also took home the award for best collaboration for “TQG” with Karol G — look back on some of her biggest VMAs moment.

01 of 10

2002

Shakira won her first VMA in 2000 for international viewer’s choice (Latin America North) for “Ojos Así,” followed by another in the same category in 2002 for “Whenever, Wherever/Suerte.”

That year, she walked the red carpet in New York City, sporting bright blonde hair and a sexy take on a skirt suit.

02 of 10

2002

The singer also performed that year — barefoot!

03 of 10

2005

In 2005, Shakira was nominated for three awards for “La tortura” — best female video, viewer’s choice and best dance video.

04 of 10

2005

Though she went home empty-handed, she commanded the stage in Miami that year.

05 of 10

2006

Back in N.Y.C. in 2006, the singer walked the carpet in a sleek black dress and romantic waves.

06 of 10

2006

On the red carpet, she hung with fellow star Fergie.

07 of 10

2006

Inside, she rocked the stage again, and won best choreography in a video, one of the seven awards her megahit “Hips Don’t Lie” was up for that night.

She scored her fourth VMA in 2007 for most earthshattering collaboration for “Beautiful Liar,” her duet with Beyoncé.

08 of 10

2009

The singer’s sparkly mini was the perfect look for the show’s return to N.Y.C. in 2009 — so perfect that Pink was actually wearing it, too!

09 of 10

2009

Presenting best female video to Taylor Swift alongside Taylor Lautner (not pictured) inside, Shakira ended up being on stage for the unforgettable “Imma let you finish” moment courtesy Kanye West.

“I figured he was saying something nice,” she later recalled in an interview with Irish TV presenter Sean Munsanje. “Then I noticed the crowd reaction, the faces started changing … so I started listening and I couldn’t believe my ears. We were all feeling pretty bad on stage, and backstage everyone was so pissed at his comment. The whole thing was very uncomfortable.”

10 of 10

2023

Shakira truly did it all at the 2023 awards, walking the red carpet with her sons before delivering an epic medley of her hits as she was honored with the Video Vanguard Award.

Later in the night, she won a second Moon Person, for best collaboration for “TQG” with Karol G.

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2023

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