Another year, another batch of crazy outfits at the MTV Video Music Awards! While most artists try to get on best-dressed lists, others just throw caution to the wind and hope to make a bit of a splash when they step foot on the red carpet. From Lady Gaga’s meat dress to anything Miley Cyrus wore in 2015, MTV’s carpet (and stage) has hosted it all. Look back at over 65 of the most daring, bear-all, wacky costumes of music’s hottest stars from the VMAs’ past three decades.
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Who’s Worn the Most Outrageous Looks at the VMAs?
Image Credit: Getty Images Another year, another batch of crazy outfits at the MTV Video Music Awards! While most artists try to get on best-dressed lists, others just throw caution to the wind and hope to make a bit of a splash when they step foot on the red carpet. From Lady Gaga's meat dress to anything Miley Cyrus wore in 2015, MTV's carpet (and stage) has hosted it all. Look back at over 66 of the most daring, bear-all, wacky costumes of music's hottest stars from the VMAs' past three decades.
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Miley Cyrus
Image Credit: Kevork Djansezian/GI As host of the night, Miley Cyrus took to her duties with a “less is more” approach. The less fabric or sense the outfit made, the better! After 10 costume changes, Miley wins for “most outrageous fashion” at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards.
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Rebel Wilson
Image Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Not only did Rebel Wilson decide ripping off her pants while on stage was the right choice, she also opted for a tasteless dig on "stripper police" at the 2015 VMAs.
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Amber Rose
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage While Amber Rose's 2015 VMA skintight jumpsuit covered with words like "b–ch" and "whore" was obviously outrageous, it was her entourage's matching outfits that really pushed the squad's look over the edge. Offensive? Check. Over the line? Double check!
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Katy Perry & Riff Raff
Image Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV) "So much denim, so little time" is what Katy Perry must have been thinking when she and date Riff Raff wore Justin+Britney era matching denim ensembles to the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. Wow.
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Taylor Swift
Image Credit: Steve Granitz/Getty Images; Christopher Polk/Getty Images While a super-short romper isn't the most outrageous thing to wear, seeing Taylor Swift strut the 2014 VMAs carpet in this gams-bearing ensemble was the wildest thing we'd seen her rock.
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Jeremy Scott
Image Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images Holy yellow tuxedo, Batman! Designer Jeremy Scott showed up for the 2014 VMAs in a smiley face yellow tux — shirtless — with a Joe Boxer-era smiley face on the back.
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Miley Cyrus
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage for MTV Before Miley Cyrus robbed us all of our innocence, she pranced around backstage at the 2013 VMAs in Brooklyn wearing a slightly high-looking furry teddy bear onesie. Oh, if only we knew what she was about to do…
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Lady Gaga
Image Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for MTV Also in 2013, Lady Gaga decided she was a mermaid and wore seashells and a thong for the entire awards show.
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Nicki Minaj
Image Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images Nicki Minaj showed up on the red carpet at the 2012 VMAs wearing a snug Versace black lace bodysuit, accented with a pattern of red tape. More bizarre than her skin-tight outfit was her highlighter-yellow hair and dungeon-ready dominatrix cap.
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Katy Perry
With her head alternately impaled by a video-game-esque yellow cube and adorned with a bedazzled seven-inch record, Katy Perry walked the stage and the red carpet at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles confident her wacky looks would register a reaction.
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Image Credit: Getty Images Kreayshawn hit the 2011 VMAs in a garish, cartoony ensemble of red and gold that either complemented or clashed with her tattoos, depending on your opinion.
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LMFAO may be sorry for party rocking, but they made no apologies for this fringe-infested, crotch-handprinted get-up at the 2011 VMAs.
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Lady Gaga
Image Credit: Getty Images For a dude, this low-key suit-and-T-shirt look is no big deal. But that's no dude. It's Lady Gaga as her male alter-ego Jo Calderone posing in the press room at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. Sometimes the most outrageous outfit a pop star known for wearing MEAT is simple, understated male drag.
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Jessie J
Image Credit: Getty Images Jessie J in a sparkly leotard, white tights, and er, decorated crutches and leg-boot made the scene at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.
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Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga took the outrageous outfit crown at the 2010 Video Music Awards, when she famously wore a dress made of meat when she accepted her video of the year award for "Bad Romance."
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Will.i.am & Nicki Minaj
Looking like an extraterrestrial power couple, Will.i.am and Nicki Minaj, sporting a pink beehive, rocked intergalactic looks during their pre-show performance at the 2010 VMAs.
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Marilyn Manson & Rose McGowan
For once, Marilyn Manson, pictured here in 1998 with then-girlfriend Rose McGowan, was not the center of attention.
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Christina Aguilera
Image Credit: Getty Images Christina Aguilera definitely needed double-sided tape in order to avoid a wardrobe malfunction at the 2002 VMAs.
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Mudvayne's brightly colored mohawks were not the most eye-catching part of the band's appearance, pictured here at the 2001 VMAs.
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Britney Spears
Image Credit: Getty Images Schoolgirl no more. Britney Spears debuted her biker side at the 2002 VMAs.
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Big Boi & Andre 3000
Image Credit: Jim Spellman/WireImage Big Boi and Andre 3000 of Outkast somehow make furry pants and orange overalls look good at the 2001 VMAs.
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Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga showed off her many, many sides at the 2009 VMAs.
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Lil’ Kim
Image Credit: Ron Galella/WireImage Lil' Kim was as brave as they come in 1999, letting it all hang out.
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Axl Rose
His eyebrows might be the most surprising part of Axl Rose's sporty look at the 2001 VMAs.
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Pink
Image Credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images Pink — at her most, well, pink — rocked leopard and gold for a wild child look at the 2000 VMAs.
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Destiny’s Child
Image Credit: George De Sota/Getty Images Destiny's Child channeled a Native American vibe at the VMAs in 2001. It's more Dances With Beyonce than Dances With Wolves.
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Jack Black
Image Credit: Evan Agostini/Getty Images Jack Black is a not-so-"smooth criminal" at the 2003 VMAs, ripping off Michael Jackson's look with more humor than style.
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Shakira
Image Credit: Getty Images How Shakira could even sit down in those skin-tight leather pants is the outrageous part of her outfit at the 2001 VMAs.
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Nicki Minaj
Image Credit: Getty Images Call it cold-prevention chic. The ever-colorful Nicki Minaj showed up at the 2011 Video Music Awards rocking a painted mask, shards of silvery material, bandaged legs, a flouncy mini-tutu, and a handful of stuffed animals.
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Lenny Kravitz
Image Credit: Getty Images Lenny Kravitz's 1998 single "Fly Away" wasn't joking, but the rocker didn't prove it until six years later at the VMAs.
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Fergie
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage Fergie's hat is reminiscent of A Clockwork Orange, but the rest of the outfit screams saucy schoolgirl at the 2006 VMAs.
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Gwen Stefani
Image Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage Before Gwen Stefani was a fashionista, she was "just a girl" at the 1998 VMAs — who had blue hair and futuristic skirts.
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Slipknot
Slipknot looked slightly respectable in their suits and ties at the VMAs in 2008.
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Missy Elliott
Image Credit: Getty Images Let's hope Missy Elliott, pictured here at the 2003 VMAs, didn't use her MTV Moonman to tee off.
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Dennis Rodman
At least Dennis Rodman rocked the red ribbon in support of AIDS awareness on his trainwreck of a look in 1995.
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Lil Mama
Image Credit: Christina Radish/Redferns Lil Mama looked more like child than mother at the VMAs in 2009.
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Flavor Flav
Image Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Flavor Flav, pictured here at the 1990 VMAs, is a simple man to please — beer, golf and giant clock necklaces are all he needs.
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TLC
The members of TLC rocked matching mermaid-inspired outfits at the '99 VMAs.
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Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas
Image Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage It's no surprise who Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas voted for in the 2008 election after his appearance at the VMAs that year.
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Perez Hilton
Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage Devo meets diva in Perez Hilton's 2003 VMAs outfit.
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Hayley Williams
Image Credit: Christina Radish/Redferns When Hayley Williams of Paramore is with her bandmates, she's just one of the boys. That showed in 2007 at the VMAs.
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Amy Lee
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage Evanescence vocalist Amy Lee couldn't decided between naughty or nice looks in 2003, so she just wore both.
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B2K
B2K's hippie warrior garb at the 2002 VMAs lives on — even when the group doesn't.
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Jennifer Lopez
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage J.Lo's barely-there ensemble created an interesting proportion against her floppy, oversized hat in 2001.
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Lisa Marie Presley
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage Lisa Marie Presley went for a straightforward statement with her T-shirt at the VMAs in 2002.
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Macy Gray
Macy Gray proved that fashion is more than just a form of expression in 2001 — it's also a form of promotion.
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The Hives
Swedish garage rockers The Hives were certainly on everyone's radar back in 2002, but in case attendees weren't aware, the band made it easy at the VMAs that year.
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Jessica Simpson
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage Jessica Simpson attempted to turn on the sex appeal in 2005, but she just looked like she lost half of her dress.
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David Lee Roth
Image Credit: Ron Galella/WireImage Looks like Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth came to the 1984 VMas straight from a trip to Hawaii.
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Busta Rhymes
Image Credit: Ron Galella/WireImage Martha Stewart was kind enough to lend Busta Rhymes an outfit for the 1997 VMAs.
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Andy Dick
Image Credit: Evan Agostini/ImageDirect Andy Dick channeled a certain "Dirrty" singer at the 2001 VMAs, but his dance moves on those roller skates weren't exactly up to par.
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Janet Jackson
Image Credit: KMazur/WireImage Janet Jackson wasn't afraid to show her inner freak in 1995 at the VMAs.
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Digital Underground
Rap group Digital Underground channeled their roots at the 1990 VMAs — and threw in a pink shag coat for good measure.
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Sheryl Crow
Image Credit: Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images Sheryl Crow showed her cowgirl side in 2001.
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Tommy Lee & Pamela Anderson
Image Credit: Evan Agostini/Liaison Tommy Lee had the potential to be more revealing than his then-wife Pamela Anderson at the '99 VMAs.
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Howard Stern
Image Credit: Jim Smeal/WireImage Howard Stern gave VMAs attendees and viewers an outfit they hoped to immediately forget in 1992 as Fartman.
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Madonna
Image Credit: KMazur/WireImage Madonna showed off her ink — temporary, of course — in 1998.
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MC Hammer
Image Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic MC Hammer also needed double-sided tape at the 1990 VMAs.
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Bootsy Collins & Steven Van Zandt
Image Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Funk legend Bootsy Collins and guitar hero Steven Van Zandt make a flamboyant pair at the 1991 VMAs.
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2 Chainz
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz, in fact, wore two chains, which pulled together his Versace outfit at the 2012 VMAs: metallic bronze pants, a black shirt and studded black leather jacket.
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Steven Tyler
Image Credit: Barry King/WireImage Aerosmith's Steven Tyler lost a fight with a clothes dryer at the '87 VMAs, as he debuted a shrunken look.
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Prince
Image Credit: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect Prince could join the Blue Man Group with his look at the '99 VMAs.
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Carmen Electra
Image Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage Carmen Electra was careful how she sat, stood and generally moved at the VMAs in '97.