R&B newcomer Rihanna has beaten Beyonce to the top honour at America's Billboard Music Awards. The 18-year-old from Barbados, who sizzled in a barely-there white dress, accepted the gong for female artist of the year at the star-studded ceremony in Las Vegas on Monday night.
"I really can't feel my legs. This is phenomenal," she said as she accepted the coveted award. "That was a really tough category."
Canadian chanteuse Nelly Furtado, meanwhile, walked away with pop single of the year for her track Promiscuous. But it was Mary J Blige who swept the board with a total of nine honours including R&B/hip hop artist of the year. The 35-year-old treated the crowd to a medley of her hits, including Enough Crying and Take Me As I am.
New mum Gwen Stefani also took to the stage, while Janet Jackson - accompanied by her longtime beau Jermaine Dupri - opened the show with her Eighties classic The Pleasure Principle.
Other winners on the night included American Idol star Carrie Underwood and new kid on the block, 17-year-old Chris Brown.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
