Hayley Kiyoko dedicates VMA win to queer women of colour and 20GayTeen
Hayley Kiyoko attends the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards on August 20, 2018 in New York City (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV)
Hayley Kiyoko was ecstatic after winning the MTV Video Music Award (VMA) for Push Artist of the Year on Monday, dedicating her victory to all queer women of colour.
The “Curious” singer won over rising stars such as SZA, Khalid, Lil Xan to the award, personified by the “Moon Person” statuette, which recognises an artist’s breakout moment in the past year.
The star was nominated specifically for the month of April, when she performed at Coachella for the first time. In an Instagram post ahead of her performance, Kiyoko shared a photo of herself attending the festival a decade ago.
Hayley Kiyoko (L) and KYLE attend Atlantic Records celebrates the 2018 VMA’s on August 20, 2018 at TAO Downtown in New York City ( Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Atlantic Records)
“10 years ago watching my idols from the very back dreaming about being on that stage one day. Today is the day,” she wrote.
Kiyoko would go on to score another personal landmark this year, when she joined Taylor Swift on stage at the 66,000-capacity Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, marking her first-ever stadium performance.
She also performed at the VMA ceremony on Monday, and the topic of dream coming true was obviously on her mind when accepting the award.
“This validates any queer woman of colour that you can follow your dreams,” Kiyoko told Billboard during a snap interview on the VMA’s pink carpet. “VMGAYS!” she shouted.
MOOD ft. @HayleyKiyoko 🌈 #VMAs pic.twitter.com/VxafYCEccP
— MTV (@MTV) August 21, 2018
The singer was also jumping up and down in excitement during a photoshoot for MTV. She shouted her trademark “20GayTeen!” while fist-pumping the air with her award—a moment immortalised in a gif.
“YOU GUYS DID THIS! WE WON A MOON PERSON HOLY SHIT!!!!!! ITS 20GAYTEEN!!!!” Kiyoko tweeted her fans after winning the award.
Hayley Kiyoko performs onstage during the 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 22, 2018 in Indio, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella)
The star was also runner-up in the category Best New Artist, with the award going to rapper Cardi B. Showing how women can support other women, Kiyoko also posted a tweet congratulating the “Bodak Yellow” performer.
“THAT WAS AN HONOR TO EVEN BE IN THE RUNNING!! CONGRATS @iamcardib !! The world loves you and so do I!!! Heck yeah!!!!” she wrote.
Kiyoko also discussed her feelings over the “Lesbian Jesus” nickname she earned from her fans. “I don’t call myself that, but my fans LOVE it. They scream it, they throw bras at me, and I am just a vessel for their feelings and that is all that matters,” she told Billboard.
