Beyoncé reigned over the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards.

The XO singer was the recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and performed snippets of tracks from her entire latest self-titled album as husband Jay Z sat in the crowd with their daughter, Blue Ivy.

The rapper later presented her with the honour, and she kissed the pair before addressing a raucous crowd with an emotional acceptance speech.

"I have nothing to say, but I'm filled with so much gratitude,” she said. “I just thank God for this moment. Blue, I love you, my beloved, I love you, my fans, I love you, MTV, I love you."

The pop diva also took home Best Video with a Social Message and Best Cinematography for Pretty Hurts, as well as Best Collaboration for Drunk In Love, featuring Jay Z.

Katy Perry meanwhile beat out competition from Iggy Azalea (Fancy, featuring Charli XCX), Beyoncé (Partition), Lorde (Royals) and Ariana Grande (Problem, featuring Iggy Azalea) to scoop Best Female Video.

Ed Sheeran took home the Best Male Video prize for his track Sing, featuring Pharrell, who was nominated for his own hit single, Happy, while Lorde became the first female to take home the prize for Best Rock Video with Royals and Ariana Grande scored Best Pop Video for Problem, featuring Iggy Azalea.

Miley Cyrus scooped the highly-coveted Video of the Year award for her song Wrecking Ball, beating out competition from Iggy Azalea (Fancy, featuring Charli XCX), Beyoncé (Drunk In Love, featuring Jay Z), Pharrell Williams (Happy) and Sia (Chandelier).

The singer allowed a homeless friend, Jesse, to take the stage and accept the award on her behalf in effort to raise awareness about the plight of homeless youth in the US.

"I am accepting this award for the 1.6 million runaways and homeless youth in the United States who are starving, lost and scared for their lives right now. I know this because I'm one of those people," he told the crowd.

"I've survived in shelters all over the city. I've cleaned your hotel rooms, I've been an extra in your movies, I've been an extra in your life. Although I've been invisible to you I have a lot of the same dreams that have brought me to you tonight," he added, later asking viewers to visit Miley’s Facebook page, where a video was posted of the star sharing how others could help.

The 2014 MTV Video Music Awards were presented at The Forum in Inglewood, California, launching with a performance from Ariana Grande.

Other performers included Usher, 5 Seconds of Summer, Maroon 5, Taylor Swift, Sam Smith and Nicki Minaj, who suffered a wardrobe malfunction while on stage with Ariana and Jessie J during a rendition of their single, Bang Bang.

A full list of winners is as follows:

Video of the Year: Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ball

Best Hip-Hop Video: Drake feat. Majid Jordan, Hold On (We're Going Home)

Best Male Video: Ed Sheeran feat. Rihanna, The Monster

Best Female Video: Katy Perry feat. Juicy J, Dark Horse

Best Pop Video: Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea, Problem

Best Rock Video: Lorde, Royals

Best Lyric Video: 5 Seconds of Summer, Don't Stop

Artist to Watch: Fifth Harmony, Miss Movin' On

Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award: Beyoncé

Best Collaboration: Beyoncé featuring Jay Z, Drunk In Love

MTV Clubland Award: Zedd featuring Hayley Williams, Stay the Night

Best Video with a Social Message: Beyoncé, Pretty Hurts

Best Cinematography: Beyoncé, Pretty Hurts

Best Editing: Eminem, Rap God

Best Choreography: Sia, Chandelier

Best Direction: DJ Snake & Lil Jon, Turn Down For What

Best Art Direction: Arcade Fire, Reflektor

Best Visual Effects: OK Go, The Writing’s On the Wall

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