Beyonce seizes the moment, Nicki shakes it (a lot) and other memorable scenes from the VMAs

They don’t call her Queen Bey for nothing.

Beyonce not only stole the show at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night with many of the world’s top female pop stars in attendance hustling for our attention, she used the moment to erase the cynical cloud around her family status with an adorable appearance by daughter Blue Ivy and doting husband Jay Z to finish off the night.

“MTV, welcome to my world,” Beyonce said near the top of her performance, and for the next 15 minutes it was a complete takeover.

The performance was mesmerizing television, from the seemingly endless medley of hits to the extended look at the adorable Blue Ivy, who wore a gold bow in her hair and clapped her hands and said, “Yea, Mommy,” after Jay Z carried her onstage while presenting her mother with MTV’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award.

Here’s a close up on the night’s most interesting moments. You know, the things we’ll be talking about Monday morning, for better or for worse:

_ Nicki All Night: Much of the focus prior to Beyonce’s arrival was on Nicki Minaj _ and her booty. She helped open the show with a snake-themed performance of “Anaconda” that included a lot of attention on Minaj’s most jiggly asset. Then after what appeared to be an honest wardrobe malfunction during her subsequent team up with Ariana Grande and Jessie J _ “We ran out of time getting the dress zipped up,” she said afterward _ things got really booty-centric when she joined Usher on stage for “She Came to Give It to You.” Usher dropped to his knee while playing the bass after Minaj appeared on stage, then banged his head against her rear end in a new version of the bump. He leapt to his feet and gave her a smack before she walked away

By Chris Talbott

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS