7 Times Miley Cyrus Broke The Internet And Redefined Pop Culture At The MTV Awards
Miley Cyrus’s relationship with the MTV Awards is less of a red carpet stroll and more of a cultural earthquake. Since shedding her Disney persona, the singer has used the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) and MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) as her ultimate platform for transformation, shock, and artistic statement. Her appearances are not just performances; they are inflection points in pop culture history, consistently generating millions of headlines and sparking global conversations about celebrity, sexuality, and artistic freedom.
The latest news, as of December 22, 2025, confirms that even her absence from the 2024 VMAs became a talking point, following a highly successful 2023 campaign where her hit single “Flowers” earned multiple nominations. This article dives deep into the most significant and often controversial moments that cemented Miley Cyrus as the undisputed queen of the MTV Awards stage.
Miley Cyrus: Complete Biography and Profile
Miley Ray Cyrus is an American singer, songwriter, and actress whose career is defined by constant artistic evolution and reinvention. Born into a country music dynasty, she quickly became a global phenomenon before transitioning into one of the most provocative and successful pop artists of her generation.
- Full Name: Destiny Hope Cyrus (Legally changed to Miley Ray Cyrus)
- Date of Birth: November 23, 1992
- Place of Birth: Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.
- Father: Billy Ray Cyrus (Country singer)
- Mother: Tish Cyrus
- Nickname Origin: "Miley" derived from her childhood nickname "Smiley."
- Career Debut: Hannah Montana (2006–2011)
- Key Music Eras: Bangerz (2013), Younger Now (2017), Plastic Hearts (2020), Endless Summer Vacation (2023)
- Notable Awards: Multiple Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year for "Flowers."
The Infamous Bangerz Era: 2013 VMAs and EMAs Shockwaves
The year 2013 marked the definitive end of the "Hannah Montana" era and the explosive, controversial birth of the *Bangerz* Miley Cyrus. Her appearances at the MTV Awards that year were not merely viral moments; they were a concentrated effort to shatter her past image, using shock value as a tool for reinvention.
The 2013 VMAs Twerk-Fest with Robin Thicke
The performance of "We Can't Stop" and "Blurred Lines" at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards is arguably the single most talked-about moment in modern VMA history.
Miley Cyrus, then 20, took the stage alongside Robin Thicke in a performance that instantly became a pop culture flashpoint.
- The Outfit: She started in a controversial gray teddy bear bodysuit before stripping down to a nude-colored vinyl bikini—an outfit that some critics described as resembling a cheap plastic two-piece or "birthday suit."
- The Act: The performance featured exaggerated twerking, provocative gestures with a foam finger, and highly sexualized dancing with Thicke.
- The Fallout: The performance sparked immense public debate about cultural appropriation, the sexualization of pop stars, and the boundaries of live television. It cemented the *Bangerz* era as one of pure, unadulterated rebellion.
The 2013 MTV EMAs: The Amsterdam Joint
Just a few months later, Miley proved her commitment to controversy was global. While accepting the award for Best Video for "Wrecking Ball" at the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards in Amsterdam, she pulled what appeared to be a rolled-up joint from her Chanel bag and lit it on stage.
This move was a direct nod to Amsterdam's famously lax cannabis laws and was seen as a deliberate act of defiance following the VMA backlash.
The Ultimate Fashion Statement: Hosting the 2015 VMAs
In 2015, Miley Cyrus returned to the VMA stage, not as a performer, but as the event’s official host, a role that allowed her to amplify her outlandish persona to an extreme degree.
She used the hosting gig as a runway for a stunning 11 different outfit changes, each one more revealing and bizarre than the last.
- The Looks: Her wardrobe, which was heavily criticized and praised in equal measure, included a barely-there silver suspender outfit, a multicolored mosaic romper, a giant pink inflatable dress, and a clear plastic dress with strategically placed buttons.
- The Controversy: Her hosting was marked by a public feud with Nicki Minaj, who called out Cyrus on stage during her acceptance speech, adding another layer of unscripted drama to the already chaotic show.
- The Legacy: The 2015 VMAs are remembered as a surreal, high-fashion spectacle that solidified Cyrus's image as a boundary-pushing artist willing to risk public favor for personal expression.
The New Era: Emotional Vulnerability and Disco Glamour
Following her tenure as the shock queen, Cyrus began to pivot toward a more rock-influenced and emotionally raw style, which was reflected in her later MTV appearances.
2020 VMAs: The Midnight Sky Disco Ball
The 2020 VMAs saw a more polished, rock-and-roll version of Miley, performing her hit single "Midnight Sky."
The performance was a visually stunning spectacle that culminated in a memorable tribute to her past.
- The Performance: She delivered the song with a dark, moody set that eventually burst into color.
- The Iconic Move: The climax arrived when Cyrus climbed onto a gigantic, swinging disco ball, directly referencing her iconic 2013 "Wrecking Ball" music video, symbolizing her ability to reclaim and control her own narrative.
2023 & 2024: The Power of Absence and "Flowers"
In a significant shift, Miley Cyrus was noticeably absent from both the 2023 and 2024 MTV VMAs, despite her massive success.
In 2023, her global smash hit, "Flowers," from the *Endless Summer Vacation* album, earned multiple nominations, including Video of the Year, yet she chose not to attend.
This decision to skip the ceremony, even with a career-defining song nominated, speaks volumes about her current relationship with the awards show—one of selective participation and prioritizing her own schedule over the media circus.
Furthermore, in previous interviews, Cyrus has been vocal about the pressure and sometimes demeaning atmosphere, recalling a time when she faced a sexist comment from the directors of her VMA performance when she requested a specific lighting setup.
Miley Cyrus's history with the MTV Awards is a definitive timeline of her career. From the shocking, rebellious twerk of the *Bangerz* era to the confident, self-assured absence during the "Flowers" peak, she has consistently proven that she—not the awards show—controls the narrative. Her appearances remain essential viewing, not for who wins, but for what Miley Cyrus will do next to redefine the cultural landscape.
Detail Author:
- Name : Tyreek Rogahn V
- Username : alberto.kulas
- Email : oscar.yundt@hotmail.com
- Birthdate : 2001-08-28
- Address : 140 Turner Manors Clemmieton, AZ 29597-4316
- Phone : +1-502-575-1754
- Company : Hoppe, Buckridge and Jacobi
- Job : Biological Science Teacher
- Bio : Reiciendis amet earum quos quam quo. Quae quia suscipit ut. Est dolorum explicabo voluptatibus itaque. Et hic sit consequatur ipsum et dolore.
Socials
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/gstrosin
- username : gstrosin
- bio : Velit autem eos necessitatibus deserunt impedit qui.
- followers : 633
- following : 487
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/gussie4078
- username : gussie4078
- bio : Quo consequatur maiores quia fuga cumque est vel.
- followers : 1446
- following : 2793
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@gstrosin
- username : gstrosin
- bio : Suscipit voluptatibus corrupti est ipsam alias ea.
- followers : 4268
- following : 1518
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/gussie_strosin
- username : gussie_strosin
- bio : Quia labore qui qui cupiditate. Dolores repudiandae et et tenetur aspernatur. Ipsam eveniet molestiae nemo non consectetur. Ab quibusdam nostrum maxime esse.
- followers : 5349
- following : 1832
