One Direction takes three VMAs, but Rihanna wins top prize

Young British boy band One Direction snagged a trio of moonmen at this year's MTV Video Music Awards ceremony, with M.I.A., Rihanna and Chris Brown among the other winners.

The 28th annual event, which was hosted for the second consecutive year by actor/comedian Kevin Hart yesterday (9/6) at Los Angeles' Staples Center, doled out a total of 16 awards, including Video of the Year to Rihanna for "We Found Love" and Best Male Video and Best Choreography to her potentially on-again boyfriend Chris Brown for "Turn Up The Music."

One Direction earned awards for Best New Artist, Best Pop Video and Most Share-Worthy Video, all for the chart-topping "What Makes You Beautiful," while M.I.A. took home two trophies, one for Best Cinematography for "Bad Girls" and another for Best Direction for the same single.

Rihanna kicked off the evening's ceremony with the first-ever performance of her latest single, "Cockiness," and Frank Ocean wooed the crowd with his hit song "Thinkin' Bout You." Alicia Keys returned to the VMA stage to perform "Girl on Fire," the first single from her impending LP, which included help from Nicki Minaj and tumbling from Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas. Crossover princess Taylor Swift closed out the award ceremony with a performance of her latest hit, "We're Never Ever Getting Back Together."

The full list of 2012 MTV VMA winners follows.

Video of the Year
"We Found Love," Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris

Best New Artist
One Direction, "What Makes You Beautiful"

Best Female Video
Nicki Minaj, "Starships"

Best Hip-Hop Video
Drake featuring Lil Wayne, "HYFR"

Best Male Video
Chris Brown, "Turn Up The Music"

Best Pop Video
One Direction, "What Makes You Beautiful"

Best Rock Video
Coldplay, "Paradise"

Best Video With a Message
Demi Lovato, "Skyscraper"

Best Electronic Dance Music Video
Calvin Harris, "Feel So Close"

Most Share-Worthy Video
One Direction, "What Makes You Beautiful"

Best Art Direction
Katy Perry, "Wide Awake"

Best Choreography
Chris Brown, "Turn Up The Music"

Best Cinematography
M.I.A., "Bad Girls"

Best Editing
Beyonce, "Countdown"

Best Visual Effects
Skrillex, "First of the Year (Equinox)"

Best Direction
M.I.A., "Bad Girls"