Beyonce Knowles takes three MTV Europe prizes

Feature by Cover Showbiz | 06 Nov 2009

Beyonce Knowles won three prizes at the MTV Europe Awards last night.

The 28-year-old singer took home accolades for Best Female, Best Song for Halo and Best Video for Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It). The ceremony was hosted by Katy Perry and held in Berlin to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the wall which used to cut the German city in two.

"I have to dedicate this award to all the other beautiful artists," Beyonce said when collecting her Best Female award. "Thank you MTV for this wonderful honour."

Beyonce's husband Jay-Z was given the Best Urban prize, while rapper Eminem was named Best Male. Collecting his award, Jay-Z commented: "I look forward to the day when all those walls come down."

Beyonce later performed Sweet Dreams clad in a red basque and suspenders. Taking to the stage to accept her Best Video prize, she said: "There is one person I want to thank, and that is Jay - for putting a ring on it!"

Lady Gaga picked up the Best New Act trophy, while Placebo won Best Alternative. U2 were named Best Live Act. The Irish rockers performed a special 20-minute set at the city's Brandenburg Gate in front of 10,000 fans, singing their hits One and Sunday, B****y Sunday, which Jay-Z rapped over.

David Hasselhoff, who performed a show on top of the wall in 1989 to commemorate it falling, also made an appearance at the ceremony. To whoops and cheers from the crowd, a giddy David shouted in broken German: "Yo! Twenty years! Alles klar! I am not responsible for the wall falling down. Wie gehts? Alles klar! Gut!"

Key performances came from Green Day, who opened the show with an explosive version of Minority, complete with fireworks and shooting flames. Katy Perry sang a medley of other artists' tunes, comprising Black Eyed Peas' I Gotta Feeling and Lady Gaga's Poker Face.

Later in the show, Katy poked fun at Gaga by referring to the rumour she is a hermaphrodite - which the singer has denied. Referring to a giant red shoe which was part of a set, Katy quipped: "They say that if a guy has big shoes, then he has ... the funny thing is, I think this belongs to Lady Gaga!"

Katy completed a staggering 12 costume changes during the show. Her outfits included a bowler hat, thigh-high boots, knickers with silver hearts on them, a pink feather jacket and a nude top complete with conical bra emblazoned with nipples.

Katy, who hosted the show last year, said with a wink: "Last year I popped my MTV cherry but this time I'm more experienced, if you know what I mean."

Leona Lewis performed her new single Happy, while Jay-Z, Shakira and Tokio Hoel also sang hits.