MTV VMAs red carpet: Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez and Shakira defy the barely-there trend in a star-studded show

Stars step out — and turn heads — on the MTV Video Music Awards red carpet.

Taylor Swift opted for a chic black dress with gold-studded straps and a thigh-high slit featuring her signature pointed cat-eye.

Her best friend, Selena Gomez, wore a bright red Oscar de la Renta dress adorned with sparkling floral appliques.

Shakira, who makes history as the first South American artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award on Tuesday, told reporters she was wearing a gold Versace dress. She also noted that she was excited to see Cardi B perform.

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Taylor Swift is the most nominated artist at the VMAs. (Getty Images)

Selena Gomez stunned in a red dress with floral appliques. (Getty Images)

Shakira glowed, wearing a backless gold Versace dress with revealing slits. (Getty Images)

The Colombian singer’s backless dress featured a thigh-high slit and she was accompanied on the red carpet by her sons Sasha and Milan, whom she shares with ex-partner Gerard Piqué.

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Cardi B needed a helping hand walking the pink carpet at New Jersey’s Prudential Center because of her tight metallic number. The “Bodak Yellow” singer wore a black dress adorned with silver hair clips.

Kelsea Ballerini and her boyfriend Chase Stokes had a matching moment wearing bright red ensembles. Her backless scarlet red dress featured a deep keyhole cutout in the middle, and Stokes wore a long coat to complement her dress.

Doja Cat wore a unique, sheer webbed Monse ensemble. She wore a nude thong underneath the white mesh dress, which featured a long train.

Doja Cat showed some skin, wearing a revealing mesh dress on the MTV VMAs pink carpet (Getty Images)

Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes had a date night at the MTV VMAs. (Getty Images)

Olivia Rodrigo recently released her second album, “Guts.” (Getty Images)

Emily Ratajkowski hit the pink carpet wearing a bright green backless dress with a flowy patterned skirt.

Anitta showed off some skin wearing a strapless sheer black dress with a nude satin panel across the chest, paired with vibrant red and yellow earrings. She styled her auburn hair with a black headband.

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Tinashe dared to reveal herself in a fishnet catsuit with duct tape covering her nipples.

Demi Lovato wore an oversized black leather jacket over a black mini skirt with loose pleats matched with a leather corset top.

Tinashe covered up in a subtle way at the MTV VMAs. (Dia Dipasupil)

Emily Ratajkowski used the VMAs as her own runway on Tuesday. (Getty Images)

Anitta showed off some skin in a cutout dress with sheer black sleeves at the VMAs. (Getty Images)

Bebe Rexha went rock star chic at the VMAs on Tuesday in New Jersey. (Getty Images)

Comedian Tiffany Haddish followed the unofficial VMA trend. (Getty Images)

Jared Leto went back to black and wore sunglasses to match his pants on the VMA red carpet. (Getty Images)

Saweetie wore a pink dress with a massive bone detail at the top. (Getty Images)

Tiffany Haddish felt right at home on the pink carpet and showed off her butt in a see-through dress with a thong bodysuit.

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Bebe Rexha wore a long black corset dress with spaghetti straps and a circular cutout on her back.

Jared Leto stepped out wearing a long-sleeved sheer black shirt paired with black leather pants. He added a chunky choker and sunglasses to complete his rock star ensemble.