MTV video music awards go wild with Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Frank Ocean – in pictures

Why wear undies when you can just draw them onto your lace playsuit? Nicky Minaj looking a bit like a sexy bus conductor at the MTV music awards. She won best female video for Starships Photograph: Frederic J Brown/AFP/Getty Images

Rihanna caused a sensation (well, according to the Daily Star) with her new pixie hairstyle. She accepted the award for video of the year for We Found Love Photograph: Frederick M Brown/Getty Images

Katy Perry rocking a bride of Dracula look, but reacting as though someone out of shot has just whipped out a crucifix and some garlic as she arrives at the MTV video music awards Photograph: Frederic J Brown/AFP/Getty Images

Rihanna performing the subtly titled Cockiness (Love It)/We Found Love on a throne. She was later joined on stage by rapper A$AP Rocky who lowered (or perhaps raised) the tone by fondling her bottom Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

'I said ocean, not pond!' Frank Ocean performs Thinking 'Bout You among the mist and reeds Photograph: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The host, comedian Kevin Hart, performs with South Korean rapper Psy - an even more uncomfortable moment than when he appealed to the audience to 'forgive' Kristen Stewart for cheating on R.Patz earlier in the evening Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

And now for something completely different ... Olympic gymnast Gabrielle 'Flying Squirrel' Douglas performs to the strains of Alicia Keys. She is soon to publish her memoirs, aptly titled Grace, Gold, and Glory: My Leap of Faith Photograph: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Pink descended from the ceiling swinging on a giant pair of lips to perform Blow Me (One Last Kiss) - which then shot confetti into the audience. Well, nobody said the awards would be understated Photograph: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

Don't you just hate it when you turn up to a party and someone's wearing your hair? A blonde mohawked Miley Cyrus avoids Pink on the red carpet Photograph: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

Alexander Antebi of the group Conquistador, formerly a winner of the World Moustache and Beard Championships (really), ups the ante with this pink lycra ensemble Photograph: Danny Moloshok/Reuters

Casting concerns about clashing outfits to the wind, Emma Watson clings onto Ezra Miller, star of We Need to Talk About Kevin Photograph: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

Making the MVA award-winners feel rather inadequate, US Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin brandishes her gold medal on the red carpet Photograph: Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

While everyone else was dressing outrageously, drag star RuPaul went in the opposite direction, in Gok Wan glasses and double-breasted jacket Photograph: Matt Sayles/AP