Trending badgeTrendingPosted 2 hours agoSubscribe to Taylor Swift NewsletterCaret DownHere Are 27 Celebs On Their First VMAs Red Carpet Vs. Their Most Recent - And I Need To Know Which Look You PreferSome of these glow-ups need to be studied.by Ellen DurneyBuzzFeed StaffFacebookPinterestLinkHot Topic🔥 Full coverage and conversation on Taylor Swift The MTV Video Music Awards are back this week, and if you can believe it, the iconic awards show has been running for more than 40 years. In that time, we've witnessed plenty of iconic moments - and plenty of iconic looks, too. So, without further ado, let's look back at these celebs' first VMAs red carpet appearances and compare them to their most recent - and then decide which look we like better. Let's go! 1. Here's Taylor Swift at the 2008 VMAs... Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images BuzzFeed TrendingHot TopicThink you're Blondie's biggest fan? Put your ~reputation~ to the test.
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And here she is in 2024. Gotham / Getty Images 2. Here's Shakira at the 2002 VMAs... Jim Spellman / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2023. Jason Kempin / Getty Images 3. Here's Selena Gomez at the 2013 VMAs... Lars Niki / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2023. Jason Kempin / Getty Images 4. Here's Jennifer Lopez at the 1998 VMAs... Jeffrey Mayer / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2021. Noam Galai / Getty Images 5. Here's Eminem at the 1999 VMAs... Ron Galella / Getty Images ...
And here he is in 2024. Kevin Mazur / Getty Images 6. Here's Rihanna at the 2005 VMAs... Jeff Kravitz / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2016. Noam Galai / Getty Images She didn't walk the red carpet, but here she is accepting the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. 7. Here's Justin Timberlake at the 2002 VMAs... Kmazur / Getty Images His first appearance as a solo artist. ...
And here he is in 2023. Kevin Mazur / Getty Images 8. Here's Beyoncé at the 2003 VMAs... Rj Capak / Getty Images Again, her first appearance as a solo artist. ...
And here she is in 2016. Larry Busacca / Getty Images 9. Here's Jay-Z at the 1999 VMAs... Ron Galella, Ltd. / Getty Images ...
And here he is in 2014. Kevin Mazur / Getty Images He was mainly there to support Bey (and baby Blue, obvs). 10. Here's Cardi B at the 2017 VMAs... Axelle / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2023. Axelle / Getty Images 11. Here are the Jonas Brothers at the 2008 VMAs... Steve Granitz / Getty Images ...
And here they are in 2019. Paul Bruinooge / Getty Images 12. Here's Sabrina Carpenter at the 2018 VMAs... Kevin Mazur / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2024. Valerie Terranova / Getty Images 13. Here's Doja Cat at the 2020 VMAs... Frazer Harrison / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2023. Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images 14. Here's Miley Cyrus at the 2008 VMAs... Steve Granitz / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2020. Vijat Mohindra / Getty Images 15. Here's Justin Bieber at the 2009 VMAs... Michael Loccisano / Getty Images ...
And here he is in 2021. Kevin Mazur / Getty Images 16. Here's Nicki Minaj at the 2010 VMAs... Pa Images / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2023. Axelle / Getty Images 17. Here's Britney Spears at the 1999 VMAs... Ron Galella / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2016. Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images 18. Here's Paris Hilton at the 2002 VMAs... Evan Agostini / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2024. Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images 19. Here's Lady Gaga at the 2009 VMAs... Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2020. Kevin Winter / Getty Images 20. Here's Katy Perry at the 2008 VMAs... Jeffrey Mayer / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2024. Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images 21. Here's Christina Aguilera at the 1999 VMAs... Frank Micelotta Archive / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2008. Ian West - Pa Images / Getty Images 22. Here's Drake at the 2010 VMAs... Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images ...
And here he is in 2016. Kevin Kane / Getty Images 23. Here's Megan Thee Stallion at the 2019 VMAs... Bryan Bedder / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2024. Gilbert Flores / Getty Images 24. Here's Ariana Grande at the 2013 VMAs... Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images ...
And here she is in 2018. Kevin Mazur / Getty Images I struggled to find pics of her on the red carpet without Pete Davidson, which you're welcome to take into account with your vote. 25. Here's The Weeknd at the 2013 VMAs... C Flanigan / Getty Images ...
And here he is in 2020. Kevin Mazur / Getty Images In case you need a reminder, the red jacket, bruised face look was an ongoing thing during The Weeknd's After Hours album promo cycle in 2020/2021. He didn't actually show up to the VMAs injured. 26. As we await the 2025 VMAs, here's this year's host, LL Cool J, at his first VMAs in 1991. Jeff Kravitz / Getty Images ...
And here he is in 2024. Johnny Nunez / Getty Images 27. Now, for the 2025 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award recipient: Mariah Carey. Here she is at her first VMAs in 1991. Jeff Kravitz / Getty Images ...