Music icon Mariah Carey finally received her first VMA with the prestigious Video Vanguard Award, a moment she celebrated in true superstar fashion. Her dazzling look was anchored by a custom-made diamond necklace valued at a jaw-dropping $10 million.
September 8, 2025: Mariah Carey, a music legend, finally won her first MTV Video Music Award at the 2025 ceremony on Sunday night. She accepted the Video Vanguard Award, which is a big deal. It was more than 30 years after her first VMA appearance in 1989 that she got the award. She didn’t let the chance go by without a funny poke at the network.
“All I want to know is, what in the Sam Hill were you waiting for?” Carey made a joke during her acceptance speech, which she gave with a smile in front of a loving crowd.
A Dazzling Comeback to the VMA Stage
Carey made a big comeback to the VMA stage for her first performance in 20 years. She sang a medley of her biggest hits, such as “Heartbreaker,” “Honey,” and “Fantasy.”
She wore a shiny gold bodysuit with a daring plunging zipper for the event, but her jewelry was what really stood out. She wore an LEVUMA “Rosée Éternelle” diamond necklace, a handcrafted choker with 204.38 carats of diamonds that cost an unbelievable $10 million.
The diva won the VMA just as she was getting ready to release her new album, Here for It All, on September 26, 2025. Ariana Grande won Video of the Year for “Brighter Days Ahead,” and Lady Gaga won four prizes, including Artist of the Year. Her performance and victory were two of the best parts of the night.
Carey’s win cements her place in history as a musical powerhouse and cultural icon, and now she has a long-awaited Moon Person to call her own.