Less is more: celebrities bare all for the VMAs red carpet

Rose Donohoe
Aug 29, 2016, updated Aug 30, 2016

Pregnant photographer Laura Perlongo left little to the imagination. Photo: Getty

The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) is a time for musicians and artists to let their freak flag fly, and some attendees certainly made the most of it.

Minus the pomp and ceremony of their stuffy film and television counterparts, the VMAs guarantee lots of colour, skin and serious fashion risks.

Winning the risk category this year was photographer Laura Perlongo – fiancé of Catfish creator Nev Schulman.

See the good and the bad from the VMA Awards

Heavily pregnant Perlongo wore an open silk bomber jacket, a few diamond chains and presumably a pack or two of strategically-placed fashion tape.

As if the outfit wasn’t loud enough on its own, Schulman took the opportunity to kneel down and nuzzle his face into Perlongo’s bare torso for the paparazzi.

Elsewhere on the red carpet, more big-name celebrities also chose barely-there styles.

One of those was the inimitable Kim Kardashian, who showcased her much-talked-about post-baby weight loss in a short, sheer black dress.

Kim Kardashian showed off her enviable figure in the long-sleeved dress. Photo: Getty

Kardashian was flanked by her rapper husband Kanye West, who chose a decidedly more minimalist approach.

Model Hailey Baldwin (daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin) also went with the sheer, black theme in a slinky jumpsuit.

Also on the cheeky black bandwagon was former princess of pop Britney Spears, who opted for a one-sleeved black number with a daring slit down the front.

Spears was looking pretty good for an artist who had her first major hit almost two decades ago.

Taking a different approach to red carpet glamour was songstress Alicia Keys, who made headlines earlier this year when she announced she would be going make-up free.

Since then, Keys has graced red carpets and magazine covers with natural, glowing skin – and let her cute freckles shine through.

Ariana Grande and Nicky Minaj go for Barbie-chic. Photo: Getty

No matter your gimmick, it’s never easy to upstage Beyoncé at an awards ceremony.

The singer, whose visual album Lemonade was a critical smash hit in 2016, has the glittery, show-stopping look down pat.

This year was no exception, with Ms Knowles rocking a mint floor-length gown complete with long glittery sleeves and an elaborate feather collar which resembled angel wings when viewed from behind.

Blue Ivy and Beyoncé make an entrance. Photo: Getty

This year, Beyoncé also had a red carpet secret weapon: her daughter Blue Ivy, who wore a tutu most young girls would swoon over – and the mothers of police gun violence victims, who stood together in solidarity on the red carpet before the show.

Veteran model Naomi Campbell didn’t disappoint, flashing a pair of glitter-encrusted red lips, while actor and former husband of Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon, curiously opted for a white turban.

Inside, superstar Rihanna commanded the audience with a performance that included a 90s-inspired all-pink palette, before darkening the mood with an all-black costume change.

Beyonce dominated the MTV Video Music Awards, winning Video of the Year for Formation, the most outspoken work of her career, as well as Best Female Video for Hold Up.

Best Male Video went to Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna for This Is What You Came For, Best Hip Hop Video was won by Drake for Hotline Bling, Dnce was named Best New Artist and Rihanna was presented with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

Campbell shows off her megawatt lips. Photo: Getty

Britney Spears has a new album to promote. Photo: Getty

West, never one to pass up an opportunity to make use of a stage, a mic and an audience, was given four minutes of “unchecked stage time” during the ceremony, which he used to deliver a rambling speech about current affairs and the methods behind his madness.

The rapper couldn’t help mentioning his celebrity rival Taylor Swift, who curiously wasn’t present at the ceremony.

“I am Kanye West. And that feels really great to say, especially this year. I came here to present my new video. But before I do that, I’mma talk,” West began.