The MTV Video Music Awards (also known simply as the VMAs) is an award show hosted annually and broadcasted live by MTV. It was established in 1984 and is a celebration of the top music video of the year. Nicki Minaj has attended the award show eight times since her debut in 2010, missing the 2013 and 2019 events. She has been nominated for a total of twelve awards, four of which she has won.
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2010 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards were hosted by Chelsea Handler and took place on September 12 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Nicki Minaj performed for the first time at the pre-show alongside will.i.am.
Awards and nominations:
| Category | Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Best New Artist | "Massive Attack" | Nominated |
Performance
Setlist:
- "Your Love" (intro)
- "Check It Out" (with will.i.am)
2011 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards took place on August 28 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Nicki Minaj debuted the music video for "Fly" on the night and won her first moonman.
Awards and nominations:
| Category | Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Best Female Video | "Super Bass" | Nominated |
| Best Hip-Hop Video | "Super Bass" | Won |
| Best Collaboration | "Moment 4 Life" | Nominated |
Carpet
2012 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2012 MTV Video Music Awards was hosted by Kevin Hart and took place on September 6 at the Staples Center arena in L.A. Live in Downtown Los Angeles. The nominations for the show were announced on July 31. Nicki Minaj won one award out of her three nominations. It was confirmed that Nicki would perform live with a secret guest[1], which turned out to be Alicia Keys. This was the first time Minaj performed on the VMAs mainstage.
Awards and nominations:
| Category | Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Best Female Video | "Starships" | Won |
| Best Hip-Hop Video | "Beez In The Trap" | Nominated |
Carpet
Performance
Alicia Keys performed the Inferno Version of "Girl on Fire" accompanied by Nicki Minaj and gymnast Gabby Douglas.
Setlist:
2014 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2014 MTV Video Music Awards took place on August 24 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The nominations for the show were announced on July 17. Nicki Minaj was not nominated for any awards this year, however she did perform a total of three times on the night. It is believed she was going to perform "Flawless (Remix)" with Beyoncé, but according to Nicki, Beyoncé felt Nicki already had a busy schedule that night. During her verse of "Bang Bang", Nicki suffered a wardrobe malfunction.
Carpet
Anaconda
Bang Bang
She Came to Give It to You
2015 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2015 MTV Video Music Awards was hosted by Miley Cyrus and took place on August 30 at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles. Nicki Minaj won one award out of her four nominations.
Awards and nominations:
| Category | Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Best Female Video | "Anaconda" | Nominated |
| Best Hip-Hop Video | "Anaconda" | Won |
| Best Collaboration | "Bang Bang" | Nominated |
| Song of Summer | "Hey Mama" | Nominated |
Performance
Minaj began the the performance with "Trini Dem Girls" followed by "The Night Is Still Young", during which Taylor Swift joined her on stage. They performed parts of "The Night Is Still Young" and "Bad Blood" by Swift together.
Setlist:
- "Trini Dem Girls"
- "The Night Is Still Young" (with Taylor Swift)
- "Bad Blood" (with Taylor Swift)
2016 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2016 MTV Video Music Awards took place on August 28 at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York City. Nicki Minaj was not nominated for any awards this year, however she did join Ariana Grande onstage for a performance of "Side to Side".
Carpet
Minaj arrived on the white carpet in a royal blue gown by Bao Tranchi. Nicki had difficulty walking in the gown, and was assisted by staff as well as Meek Mill who posed alongside her.
Performance
Set list:
- "Side to Side" (with Ariana Grande)
2017 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2017 MTV Video Music Awards
Awards and nominations:
| Category | Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Best Choreography | "Side to Side" | Nominated |
Carpet
Performance
Setlist:
- "Swish Swish" (with Katy Perry)
2018 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2018 MTV Video Music Awards took place on August 20 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York. Nicki Minaj won the one award she was nominated for.
Awards and nominations:
| Category | Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Best Hip-Hop Video | "Chun-Li" | Won |
Carpet
Minaj arrived on the carpet wearing a sheer Virgil Abroh outfit from his streetwear brand, Off-White, and a pair of Yeezy PVC ankle strap sandals.
Performance
The performance was pre-recorded at the World Trade Center's Oculus center on August 19. Minaj began the performance with "Majesty", followed by the first verse and chorus of "Barbie Dreams", a brief a capella of part of the second verse of "Ganja Burn", before finishing with "FEFE".
Setlist:
- "Majesty"
- "Barbie Dreams"
- "Ganja Burn" (a capella)
- "FEFE"
