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One Decade Later: Here's What the MTV VMAs Looked Like in 2010

One Decade Later: Here's What the MTV VMAs Looked Like in 2010

It was the year of Lady Gaga's meat dress. Need we say more?

By Andrea Wurzburger

Updated August 30, 2020 06:50 PM

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Lady Gaga Said, 'Nice to Meat You'

Credit: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

One of Gaga's most outrageous looks ever, the meat dress shocked and stunned in 2010.

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She Also Wore This Elegant Number

Credit: Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty

Before she slipped into her iconic meat dress, Gaga walked the carpet in a dress that should have (and could have) hung in the Louvre.

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Kesha Showed Us a Different Kind of 'Tik Tok'

Credit: PA Images via Getty

Before TikTok was a glimmer in Gen Z's collective eye, Kesha (sorry, she went by Ke$ha back then) was taking the VMAs white carpet by storm after releasing her hit single, "Tik Tok."

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Cher Turned Back Time, Literally

Credit: Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty

Cher rocked the same black, sheer leotard with a black leather jacket that she wore thirty years earlier while on her 1989 If I Could Turn Back Time tour.

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Ciara Floated Across the White Carpet

Credit: PA Images via Getty

Have you ever seen someone look so ethereal? In a feathered ensemble, the songstress looked like she could fly right into the awards (in, like, a totally gorgeous way).

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Selena Gomez Shined Like Silver

Credit: PA Images via Getty

The then 18-year-old Disney star was just getting into the music scene at the time. She released her first record, Kiss & Tell, with her band Selena Gomez & the Scene in 2009.

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The Biebs and Usher Coordinated Their 'Fits

Credit: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Usher taught his protégé Justin Bieber, then 16, how to look cool on the carpet.

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Nicki Minaj Was Pretty in Pink

Credit: ANDREAS BRANCH/Patrick McMullan via Getty

Minaj struck a power pose in her peach jumpsuit, sky-high pumps and neon pink wig.

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30 Seconds to Moonmen

Credit: ANDREAS BRANCH/Patrick McMullan via Getty

I spy Academy Award-winning actor Jared Leto holding onto his Moonman that he won with his band, 30 Seconds to Mars.

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It Was True Love

Credit: ANDREAS BRANCH/Patrick McMullan via Getty

True Blood star Joe Manganiello looked handsome as ever on walking the carpet.

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Emma Stone's Look Got an Easy A

Credit: ANDREAS BRANCH/Patrick McMullan via Getty

The actress kept it simple in an LBLD (little black leather dress).

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The Jersey Shore Cast G.T.L.'d Before the Carpet

Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty

How else would you expect the stars of the MTV hit show to get ready?

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Taylor Swift Was 'Innocent'

Credit: Getty

In 2009, Swift had her mic stolen from her by Kanye West (who could forget), but she returned to the stage in 2010 to perform "Innocent," a song she wrote about the rapper. The performance started with a video of the moment playing on a TV before Swift started singing.

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Seeing Red

Credit: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Don't worry, Kanye was there, too — in a red suit to premiere his song "Runaway."

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Justin Timberlake Built His Social Network

Credit: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Timberlake showed up with his The Social Network costars, Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield.

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Rosario Dawson Felt Blue

Credit: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

The actress looked oh-so-chic in her skintight blue leather mini-dress.

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'Bottoms Up!'

Credit: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Remember singing and dancing to "Bottoms Up" and feeling like the club couldn't even handle you? The Trey Songz number was released a decade ago.

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She Is America's Next Top Real Housewife

Credit: Getty

Before she was on Real Housewives of Atlanta, Eva Marcille won America's Next Top Model. Look at her strut the VMAs runway!

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If You're Reading This It's 2010

Credit: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

2010 was the year Drake released his first studio album, Thank Me Later, marking his official crossover from playing Jimmy on Degrassi to becoming the next big hip-hop artist.

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She's a Teenage Dream

Credit: PA Images via Getty

Katy Perry was still a "California Gurl" when she was nominated for the hit song twice at the 2010 VMAs.

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By Andrea Wurzburger

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One Decade Later: Here's What the MTV VMAs Looked Like in 2010

1 of 20

Lady Gaga Said, 'Nice to Meat You'

1 of 20

2 of 20

She Also Wore This Elegant Number

2 of 20

3 of 20

Kesha Showed Us a Different Kind of 'Tik Tok'

3 of 20

4 of 20

Cher Turned Back Time, Literally

4 of 20

5 of 20

Ciara Floated Across the White Carpet

5 of 20

6 of 20

Selena Gomez Shined Like Silver

6 of 20

7 of 20

The Biebs and Usher Coordinated Their 'Fits

7 of 20

8 of 20

Nicki Minaj Was Pretty in Pink

8 of 20

9 of 20

30 Seconds to Moonmen

9 of 20

10 of 20

It Was True Love

10 of 20

11 of 20

Emma Stone's Look Got an Easy A

11 of 20

12 of 20

The Jersey Shore Cast G.T.L.'d Before the Carpet

12 of 20

13 of 20

Taylor Swift Was 'Innocent'

13 of 20

14 of 20

Seeing Red

14 of 20

15 of 20

Justin Timberlake Built His Social Network

15 of 20

16 of 20

Rosario Dawson Felt Blue

16 of 20

17 of 20

'Bottoms Up!'

17 of 20

18 of 20

She Is America's Next Top Real Housewife

18 of 20

19 of 20

If You're Reading This It's 2010

19 of 20

20 of 20

She's a Teenage Dream

20 of 20

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