Katy Perry kicked off the MTV Europe Music Awards on Thursday night, asking: "Are you feeling sexy, Berlin"?
Perry wore a bowler hat, thigh-high boots and a heart on her knickers for a Cabaret-style medley performance of songs including When Love Takes Over and Poker Face.
After the rendition, Perry, who is hosting the event, told the audience "Last year I popped my MTV cherry."
The event is one of the music world's most glitzy bashes and was being held in Berlin this year to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a potent Cold War symbol.
The ceremony, watched in more than 500 million homes worldwide, tends to be dominated by acts from the United States, despite being a Europe-based event.
Perry - who is dating comedian Russell Brand - made her MTV Europe Music Awards debut last year, which saw her open the show astride a giant cherry Chapstick.
She managed to get through 10 costumes and win the Best New Act category in 2008.
Sitting inside a giant red shoe, Perry said: "They say if a guy has big shoes they have big... The confusing thing is I borrowed this shoe off Lady GaGa. Oh well, I guess it's not always true."
Green Day, dressed in black, opened the ceremony with a raucous performance of their song Know Your Enemy, getting the crowd clapping above their heads.
Winners
Lady GaGa and Kings Of Leon lead this year's nominations, with five apiece.
U2 were announced winners of Best Live Act.
Frontman Bono said: "Danke schon Berlin. Live is where this band lives. It's all that counts... If you have given us this award I guess that's what you're thinking and it means a great deal to us."
Jay-Z won the Best Urban gong.
He said: "I go to the studio just like the Jonas Brothers, just like Green Day, and we're all just artists at the end of the day."
The rapper's wife, Beyonce, turned up the heat by wearing a red corset slashed to the navel, suspenders and long red gloves, performing in front of a giant red heart.
Best Song went to Beyonce for Halo, beating acts such as Black Eyed Peas, Kings Of Leon and Lady GaGa.
Actress-turned-rock chick Juliette Lewis helped to present the Best Alternative gong to Placebo, who beat British hopes Muse and The Prodigy.
Eminem scooped the Best Male gong. Tokio Hotel were named Best Group, beating established US acts such as Black Eyed Peas, Kings of Leon and Green Day.
Beyonce won Best Female, beating host Perry and British hope Lewis. She dedicated her award to the other female artists, saying: "I love you."
Moments later she was announced as the winner of Best Video for Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).
Making a dedication to her husband, she said: "There's only one person I want to thank and that is Jay for putting a ring on it."
Here are the MTV Europe Music Awards winners:
Best Song: Beyonce - Halo
Best Live Act: U2
Best Group: Tokio Hotel
Best New Act: Lady GaGa
Best Female: Beyonce
Best European Act: maNga
Best Push Artist: Pixie Lott
Best Male: Eminem
Best Urban: Jay-Z
Best Rock: Green Day
Best Alternative: Placebo
Best Video: Beyonce - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Best World Stage Performance: Linkin Park
© Press Association