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Renaissance Women: The 2024 VMAs

By Emma Chance | Celebrity | September 12, 2024 |

By Emma Chance | Celebrity | September 12, 2024 |

TaylorSwiftChappellRoanSabrinaCarpenterVMAs.jpg

If last year’s VMAs were a metallic, slinky sexpot, this year was a Ren Faire blasted into space. Vintage aesthetics paired with modern sensibilities made for an interesting night and previewed where pop music is headed. Here are the highlights:

1. Chappell Roan wins Best New Artist: Long May She Reign

With her debut album released last September, 2024 was the year of Chappell Roan. She went from indie camp to mega-pop stardom in a matter of months, and this summer she sold out so many festivals and concerts that venues around the country were at max capacity. She’s talked at length about the pitfalls of that kind of rise to fame, and how it’s changed her life (not for the better). Last night’s ceremony was her triumphant homecoming after all that struggle. She came dressed as a Medieval maiden ready for battle, with piercing nails and a poised sword. The armor suited her state of mind for the evening, as she had to defend herself against red-carpet photographers making themselves a little too familiar.

She changed into a literal suit of armor for her performance of “Good Luck, Babe!”, where she shot a flaming arrow into a castle and danced in front of the ruins with her own personal army, channeling Joan of Arc for a new generation.

Then, for her acceptance speech, she wore a chain-link hooded gown, dedicating her win to the drag performers who inspire her, and offered a message to young queer kids: “I see you, I understand you, because I am one of you, and don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you wanna be.”

2. Taylor Swift Wins Again

There’s no such thing as an awards show without Taylor Swift anymore, and this time was no different. Swift took home the award for Video of the Year for “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone, along with several other awards, which brings her total VMA wins to 30, officially tying her with Beyoncé.

Travis Kelce got a gushy shoutout, which made everyone very happy, and she also doubled down on her previous night’s IG post officially endorsing Kamala Harris by encouraging her fans to register to vote.

Her red carpet outfit was…fine. Not beautiful, not ugly. Many fans thought it was Reputation coded and assumed it meant she would be announcing Reputation (Taylor’s Version), but she didn’t. Honestly, it didn’t feel like the Taylor show for once, and that was a welcome change. I’m glad she laid a little lower than she often does and let the newer acts have the spotlight.

3. Megan Thee Host

There was certainly not enough Megan Thee Stallion for my taste, but the moments we did get from her were gold. Literally: she started the show in a sparkly leotard the likes of which Simon Biles might have worn at the Olympics, “I deserve a gold medal for being a bad bitch.”

Then she took us back to a famous VMAs moment from yesteryear, paying homage to Britney Spears’s “Slave 4 U” costume, complete with a snake worn as a boa. She lasted a few seconds before shouting “Stop the music! I’m just playing! Come get this thing!” And then “I tried to hold it down for Britney!”

@todayshow "I tried to hold it down for Britney!" 😂 #MeganTheeStallion REALLY committed to the bit and recreated #BritneySpears iconic 2001 #VMAs performance look. @Megan Thee Stallion ♬ original sound - TODAY Show

4. Astronauts Prefer Blondes

Another nostalgic nod to fashion’s past was Sabrina Carpenter in an archival Bob Mackie gown, originally worn by the OG Blonde herself, Marilyn Monroe. With her voluminous blonde hair and her red lip, she looked every bit the part. She ended her compilation performance of three of her biggest hits off her new album—“Please, Please, Please,” “Taste,” and “Espresso,” the latter being the one she took home the award for Song of the Year for—with a clear homage moment to Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

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The overall message of the night was clear: It’s the next generation’s turn, and they’re taking all the good bits from the history of pop music, but they’re doing it their way. Even Katy Perry, who was honored with the Video Vanguard award, acknowledged the recent changes she’s seen in the industry in her acceptance speech:

“I’m excited when I look around music today and I see all the amazing, young artists who are operating with confidence, agency, vulnerability and authenticity. I’ve heard a lot of, ‘Do this. Don’t say that. Wear less, wear more now. Hey, don’t cut your hair.’ One of the biggest reasons why I’m here right now is I learned how to block out all the noise that every single artist in the industry has to constantly fight against, especially women. I just want to say with my whole heart, do whatever it takes to stay true to yourself and true to your art.”