The 2023 MTV VMAs are unofficially the Shakira Show. Not only did the Colombian superstar earn the Video Vanguard Award this year and bring the house down with her performance, but she also took home a Moon Person trophy for Best Collaboration. The trophy came courtesy of her track “TQG” with fellow performer Karol G and when the two came up to the stage to accept their award, Shakira showed off a Versace look that included the Italian luxury brand’s signature safety pins.
Earlier in the night, Shakira arrived in a chainmail gown (another Versace trademark) with a bare back but the second Versace look wasn’t short on skin. The super-sexy gown featured cutouts, a high slit, and bright metallic pins holding the dress in place. She paired the look with dangling diamond earrings and parted her hair to one side. Of course, Versace has more safety pin looks than anyone can keep track of, but Elizabeth Hurley’s star turn in a black dress held up by shimmering pins is a moment of fashion history nobody can deny (or forget).
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Speaking about their team-up, Karol G said that she couldn’t believe that it actually happened.
When we were filming the video, and [Shakira] was shooting her scenes, I was sitting and watching, and my life flashed before my eyes,” she told Elle back in May. “I was thinking about the World Cups she performed in. I watched Wizards of Waverly Place, and she was in an episode. I couldn’t believe it.”
She explained to Rolling Stone that she approached Shakira after hearing her duet with Ozuna, “Monotonía.”
“Listening to that story and where she was at, ‘the song ‘TQG’ made a lot of sense,” Karol said. “I sent it to her and she loved it.”
And even after they’d laid the track and decided on shooting a video, Karol said that it was tough to keep everything under wraps. So, they had to create a concept that would be easy to keep contained — even though she was sure fans would want in on the secret.
“As much as we tried, it was impossible to keep it a secret,” she continued. “We wanted to shoot it in a studio so we wouldn’t be out in the streets and have pictures leak out.”
