Taylor Swift is leading the pack with eight nominations in the upcoming 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (VMA), as female powerhouses dominate the prestigious event. The nominees were announced on Tuesday, August 8, and fans were quick to notice the abundance of legendary female performers in the Artist of the Year category.
This year, the category is stacked with talented women like Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj, alongside Taylor Swift, Doja Cat, Karol G, and Shakira. It’s worth noting that this is the first time since the category’s introduction in 2017 that Artist of the Year has been dominated solely by women. The category was implemented as a replacement for the gendered Best Male Video and Best Female Video categories, aiming to eliminate any gender disparities in award recognition.
In 2022, the Latin pop sensation Bad Bunny took home the coveted Artist of the Year award. The last female artist to win this prestigious accolade was Lady Gaga back in 2020.
Another interesting development in this year’s nominations is the inclusion of two Latin artists, Shakira and Karol G, competing for the honor simultaneously. This marks a groundbreaking moment for Latin representation in the VMA’s Artist of the Year category.
When it comes to the Video of the Year category, the biggest award of the show, noteworthy female nominees include Miley Cyrus and SZA. Additionally, Sam Smith received a nomination for their music video Unholy, featuring Kim Petras.
In 2022, Taylor Swift secured the Video of the Year award for her captivating song All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version), which featured actors Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink. Remarkably, Swift has now won this prestigious award three times, including for her songs Bad Blood and You Need to Calm Down.
Swift’s dominance extends beyond Video of the Year, as she leads the nominations overall with a total of eight nods for her song Anti-Hero from her highly successful tenth studio album, Midnights. Following closely behind is SZA, who received six nominations for her tracks Kill Bill and Shirt from her sophomore album, SOS.
This year’s VMA nominations also bring in an exciting influx of fresh talent. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a remarkable 35 artists received their first-ever nominations, including Ice Spice and K-pop girl group FIFTY FIFTY, who gained viral popularity with their song Cupid.
As the anticipation builds for the 2023 MTV VMA ceremony, the industry and fans alike eagerly await to see which female powerhouse will take home the top honors in the Artist of the Year and Video of the Year categories. With Taylor Swift leading the pack, it promises to be a night filled with fierce competition, incredible performances, and unforgettable moments in music history.
