Normani, 25, is all set to take the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards later tonight — but she got the chatter going with this sizzling red carpet look. The former Fifth Harmony singer arrived in a cropped cream leather jacket with nothing underneath, except a bondage inspired strap. She paired the top with a super short mini skirt that allowed her underwear to peek through, all while showing off her incredibly toned legs and abs!
She kept her dark hair slicked back in a high ponytail, showing off her gorgeous silver hoop earrings. Normani elevated the entire look with her sultry makeup, which included a smokey eyeshadow and seductive burgundy lip. She added a dash of early 2000s vibes with the slightly darker liner and frosted finish lipstick, along with a dash of shimmery highlighter on her face. Normani tied the cool look together with a silver manicure and a number of rings on both fingers.
By the time she took the stage, we aren’t convinced the VMAs were ready for Normani’s first-ever solo performance. Arguably the sexiest performance of the night, the “icon in the making” — as described by Ciara, who introduced Normani — channeled multiple late 90s and early 2000s music videos, including TLC‘s “No Scrubs,” Janet and Michael Jackson‘s “Scream,” and Janet and Busta Rhymes‘ “What’s It Gonna Be.”
She opened the performance in a futuristic inspired silver lamé outfit, consisting of a loose fitting pant and bustier style crop top. Normani got her groove on with a slow and sexy twerk on the stage, before getting into the seductive track. Everything about the music and dance moves — which included back-up from several back-up dancers — was on point for this epic performance, which was undoubtedly inspired by legend Janet Jackson.
Normani brings out Teyana Taylor to close out her “Wild Side” performance at the 2021 #VMAs pic.twitter.com/yW4YvDlNKK
— Rap Alert (@rapalert4) September 13, 2021
Just when things couldn’t get any steamer, Teyana Taylor, 30, appeared in a silver bikini-inspired ensemble. Teyana was locked into a metal contraption, just like the one Janet would use to give male fans a lap dance on stage. This time, however, it was all about the girl-on-girl action as Normani grinded up on her friend for the wild moment.
The Atlanta native previously opened up about her new work — which she’s performing later tonight — and why it’s so true to her as an artist. “I feel like this is the moment that I’m going to finally be able to breathe in and exhale—that’s the only way that I can really describe it,” she explained to Harper’s Bazaar. “I feel like I’ve been holding my breath for so long, because I’ve had this record for a long time now. Obviously, I haven’t released music in the last two years. With that comes a little bit of pressure, and also me feeling like everybody has an expectation — on top of the expectations that I have for myself,” she added, noting she’s “proud” of her latest work.
“I think for me more than anything, it’s bigger than the music. I think I’m finally getting out of my own way. The world is going to be able to see what Normani represents and who she truly is musically and the growth that I’ve had in the last two years. It’s really a level up,” she also said in the in-depth interview.
Normani won her first VMA Award in 2019 for the song “Waves” in the Best R&B video category. She’s had two additional nominations: a 2020 nod for the choreography in the “Motivation” video, as well as a “Song of Summer” nomination for her latest single “Wild Side.”