#OnThisDay September 7, 2000
2000 MTV Video Music Awards is aired live on September 7, 2000, honoring the best music videos from June 12, 1999, to June 9, 2000. The show was hosted by Marlon and Shawn Wayans at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Aaliyah slays with a yellow and black zebra print dress designed by Roberto Cavalli. Rapper EVE would sport this same dress (a green and black version) a few days earlier at the 6th annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards on September 2, 2000.
When presenting Aaliyah's award, singer Ricky Martin mispronounces her name as "Uh-Lie-Ah" (which is what most Aaliyah fans today label wannabe look-a-likes).
This was Aaliyah's last appearance at the VMA awards before her death a year later in August 2001. She won her two (and only) VMA awards that night, for "Best Female Video" and "Best Video from a Film" for her #1 hit song "Try Again". Speaking with charm and grace, she closed her speech by dedicating her award to her grandfather and the memory of her grandmother.
Aaliyah and friend/Choreographer Fatima Robinson would also be nominated for "Best Choreography in a Video", but lose to N'Sync's "Bye Bye Bye" - Which Aaliyah (and friend Ananda Lewis) would grace the stage together and introduce during the taping.