MTV VMAs: Winners, Highlights and Memorable Moments

The 2014 MTV Video Music Awards were held at the 'Fabulous' Forum in Southern California on Sunday, August 24. It was the 31st annual MTV Video Music Awards.

The MTV Video Music Awards got off and running Sunday with sparkly costumes and nary a snake in sight. Nicki Minaj helped open the awards with a "***" as she brought her "Anaconda" video to life with a rump-shaking performance and had a wardrobe malfunction when she performed with Ariana Grande and Jessie J. The rapper first wore a green top and shorts, rapping, dancing and exciting the crowd -- except Rita Ora, who stared blankly when the camera panned by. But when Minaj performed "*** ***," the rapper was far more subdued as she held the front of her outfit together after a long split appeared. Snakes, though, were not part of the Sunday night's performance -- days before the VMAs, a 6-foot-long boa constrictor reportedly bit a background dancer during a rehearsal for Minaj's performance. Grande kicked off the show with a performance of her EDM hit, "Break Free" in a Beyonce-inspired leotard. "This year, the ladies are taking over," Gwen Stefani told Snoop Dogg onstage as the night's first presenters. She's got a point -- women dominate this year's video of the year category. Pharrell Williams is the only male performer competing for the night's top honor, with "Happy" going up against Beyonce's "Drunk in Love," Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball," Iggy Azalea's "Fancy" and Sia's "Chandelier." Katy Perry, wearing an all-denim dress that paid homage to Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake's ensembles from the 2001 American Music Awards, took home the first moonman trophy of the evening, winning best female video for "Dark Horse" with Juicy J. Ed Sheeran won best male video for "Sing," while Grande returned to the stage to collect the trophy for best pop video for "Problem." Drake won best hip-hop video for "Hold On (We're Going Home)," Lorde's "Royals" took the prize for best rock video and girl group Fifth Harmony won the artist to watch award. Taylor Swift, who is fully venturing out into the world of pop music, performed her new song "Shake It Off" for the first time during the telecast. Other performances came from Sam Smith, Usher and Azeala, who performed her single "Black Widow" with Rita Ora. The night also featured a serious social message along with the anticipated performances. The network aired a 15-second PSA focusing on race in hopes of spurring a discussion about the events surrounding the Aug. 9 police shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was unarmed when he was killed. Rapper/actor Common also asked the audience for a moment of silence for Brown during the broadcast. There was also a brief tribute to the late Robin Williams with a photo montage set to Coldplay's song "A Sky Full of Stars." This year, there was VMAs drama before the ceremony even began -- days before the big show, Azalea slipped offstage while performing "Fancy" at a MTV benefit concert. At a rehearsal, a show worker fell from one of the winding, sloping platforms on the stage at the Forum in Inglewood, California, which reopened in January after a $100 million makeover. And rap mogul Suge Knight was injured in a shooting early Sunday at a West Hollywood nightclub for an unofficial pre-VMA party hosted by Chris Brown. The back-to-back drama made the show a trending topic on social media even before any of the moonmen were handed out, though trophies often take a back seat at the VMAs, which are all about the moments. Cyrus -- who stole the show at last year's VMAs -- returned Sunday, wearing leather, this time as a nominee for video of the year with "Wrecking Ball." She isn't set to perform, but the outrageous singer, who has kept quiet recently, could surprise with another moment that could own the night and steal the spotlight from the slew of A-list pop divas. Beyonce will perform and receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award. She's the leading nominee, competing for eight awards, including video of the year for "Drunk In Love." Rappers Azalea and Eminem are each nominated for seven awards. Other nominees include OK Go, Katy Perry, Pharrell Williams and Linkin Park.