Rihanna takes out MTV's top prize

Reuters

BIG WINNER: Rihanna celebrates after winning the Video of the Year award for Umbrella at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas.

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Britney Spears may have been the loser at the MTV Video Music Awards but pop star Rihanna went home a winner - scoring two awards.
Full list of winners

Rihanna won the top prize, video of the year, for her smash hit Umbrella. That tune also won for monster single of the year.

Rihanna performed the single at the awards ceremony, as well as dueting with rock act Fall Out Boy.

Justin Timberlake took home four statuettes, including male artist of the year.

Along with R&B singer Beyonce, he led the field with seven nominations. Beyonce won a single award – most earth-shattering collaboration – for her duet with Colombian pop singer Shakira on the tune Beautiful Liar.

Hip-hop singer Kanye West went home empty-handed after receiving five nominations. He was also not thrilled that Spears took the plum opening slot.

"I can't believe she would perform. She hasn't had a hit record in years," the outspoken hip-hop star improvised during a performance the night before.

MTV brought the show to Las Vegas for the first time, hoping to reverse a sharp slide in viewership for its awards bash.

By contrast, the Grammys drew more than 20 million viewers in February.

Full list of winners:

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