Baby Bumps & Big Spectacles Highlight 2011 VMAs

By Michael Lopez

You know you're a pretty important star if your pregnancy overshadows the entire 2011 Video Music Awards. But that's what happened Sunday night when Beyoncé debuted her baby bump on the MTV black carpet. Though Jay-Z and B gossip did dominate the night, the VMAs still delivered plenty of great moments, like retro Bruno Mars jams and greaser punk Gagas!

As promised, Lady Gaga opened the show with a big surprise. Rather than don another outlandish outfit, the Little Monster mixed things up and came dressed as a man for her performance of "You and I." Interestingly, Gaga's “dude” persona hung around most of the night, flirting with sexy lady celebs like Britney Spears.

Britney happened to get quite a bit of love from both the fans and the voters. Her "Till The World Ends" took home the award for Best Pop Video and she got the night's Vanguard Award. Lady Gaga's male alter-ego expressed deep admiration for the "Toxic" singer and even attempted to kiss her onstage.

Another big tribute of the night was dedicated to the memory of soul singer, Amy Winehouse. Bruno Mars honored her with a spirited performance of "Valerie" and friend Russell Brand gave a heartfelt speech from the podium.

"She was a mate of mine and tragically this year we lost her," Russell said. "This is not just another London chancer, not just another person milling about waiting to be famous. What is this incredible sound? This timeless sound like a roar from the guts of humanity? The kind of voice that Billie Holiday sung with, the kind of voice that Ella Fitzgerald sung with."

Undoubtedly, the biggest performance of the night came from mommy-to-be Beyoncé.

Though she didn’t speak publicly about her pregnancy, the 29-year-old superstar made a point to rub her belly after an energetic performance of "Love On Top." The cameras then pointed to proud papa Jay-Z, who enthusiastically cheered from his seat.

As far as the awards went, Katy Perry and Adele came out the big winners. Katy's "Firework" won for Video of the Year and her "E.T." nabbed Best Visual Effects. Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" video scored Best Art Direction, Best Editing, and Best Cinematography.

Perry seemed rather humbled after winning the night’s biggest trophy, saying from the stage,

"Thank you so much! This is my second Moonman. I'm very proud of the song it stands for, which is ‘Firework.' I feel like I am doing something right when I sing that song. So thanks to everyone who helped create it!"

Katy also got a bit of notoriety for her fashion sense. Wearing what looked like a giant cube on her hand, she arrived sporting purple hair and a multicolored dress. Selena Gomez also got plenty of comments for her ensemble. Looking almost like an early Halloween costume, her vampy black dress was both sleek and spooky.

The Jersey Shore girls also got plenty of attention for their outrageous outfits. Deena Cortese practically blinded the paparazzi with her overly bright rainbow dress and Snooki was spotted in a getup that looked like something out of Conan The Barbarian.

But it was Nicki Minaj's fashion choice that got the most bloggers buzzing. She showed up in a geometrically-inspired dress, complete with a polka-dot ninja mask and Candy Land beehive! But of course, it all added to the fun of a very "colorful" night.

Be sure to check out the "official" VMA website for the complete winner list!

What did you think of last night’s VMA’s? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 2011 Video Music Awards, Adele, Amy Winehouse, Award Shows, Beyonce, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Britney Spears, Bruno Mars, Celebrities, Firework, Jay Z, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Música, Nicki Minaj, Selena Gomez, Style, VMAs