- Ayra Starr won Best International Act at the 2025 BET Awards.
- Tems, Rema, and Shallipopi missed out on wins.
- Kendrick Lamar took home multiple top awards.
Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has added another feather to her cap by emerging the Best International Act at the 2025 BET Awards.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Ayra Starr recorded the career milestone (her first-ever win at the event) on Monday night.
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Although she had led all African nominees with three nominations – Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Best New Artist, and Best International Act, her emergence as the winner in the international category signalled growing global recognition for her sound and rise in the music industry.
The 21-year-old Afrobeats star’s victory was a standout moment on a night where other Nigerian nominees were left disappointed.
Tems, another strong Nigerian contender, was nominated twice in the BET Her category for her tracks Burning and Hold On from her debut album Born In The Wild but lost the category to Summer Walker for her emotional single Heart of a Woman.
On the other hand, Shallipopi, known for his street-hop sound, was nominated for Best New International Act, while Rema was also in the running for Best International Act, but neither artist clinched the win.
The ceremony was held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles and was hosted by comedian Kevin Hart.
American rapper, Kendrick Lamar went home with the most award of the night after winning Album of the Year for GNX, Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Video of the Year for the viral Not Like Us, Best Collaboration with SZA on Luther, and Video Director of the Year, shared with longtime collaborator Dave Free.
See The Full List of The Categories and Winners Below:
Album of the Year
- $ome $exy $ongs 4 U — Drake & Partynextdoor
- 11:11 Deluxe — Chris Brown
- Alligator Bites Never Heal — Doechii
- Cowboy Carter — Beyoncé
- Glorious — GloRilla
- WINNER: GNX — Kendrick Lamar
- Hurry Up Tomorrow — The Weeknd
- We Don’t Trust You — Future & Metro Boomin
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
- Ari Lennox
- Ayra Starr
- Coco Jones
- Kehlani
- Muni Long
- Summer Walker
- WINNER: SZA
- Victoria Monét
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
- Bruno Mars
- WINNER: Chris Brown
- Drake
- Fridayy
- Leon Thomas
- Teddy Swims
- The Weeknd
- Usher
Best Group
- 41
- Common & Pete Rock
- Drake & Partynextdoor
- Flo
- WINNER: Future & Metro Boomin
- Jacquees & Dej Loaf
- Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist
- Maverick City Music
Best Collaboration
- “30 For 30” — SZA feat. Kendrick Lamar
- “Alter Ego” — Doechii feat. JT
- “Are You Even Real” — Teddy Swims feat. Givēon
- “Beckham” — Dee Billz feat. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, KJ Swervo
- Bless — Lil Wayne, Wheezy & Young Thug
- “Like That” — Future & Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
- WINNER: “Luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- “Sticky” — Tyler, The Creator feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne
- “Timeless” — The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
- Cardi B
- WINNER: Doechii
- Doja Cat
- GloRilla
- Latto
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Nicki Minaj
- Rapsody
- Sexyy Red
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
- BigXthaPlug
- Bossman DLow
- Burna Boy
- Drake
- Future
- WINNER: Kendrick Lamar
- Key Glock
- Lil Wayne
- Tyler, The Creator
Video of the Year
- “3AM in Tokeyo” — Key Glock
- “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” — Shaboozey
- “After Hours” — Kehlani
- “Denial Is a River” — Doechii
- “Family Matters” — Drake
- WINNER: “Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar
- “Timeless” — The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti
- “Type Shit” — Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti
Video Director of the Year
- Anderson .Paak
- B Pace Productions & Jacquees
- Benny Boom
- Cactus Jack
- Cole Bennett
- WINNER: Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
- Dave Meyers
- Foggieraw
- Tyler, The Creator
Best New Artist
- 41
- Ayra Starr
- BigXthaPlug
- BossMan Dlow
- Dee Billz
- WINNER: Leon Thomas
- October London
- Shaboozey
- Teddy Swims
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
- “A God (There Is)” — Common & Pete Rock feat. Jennifer Hudson
- “Amen” — Pastor Mike Jr.
- “Better Days” — Fridayy
- “Church Doors” — Yolanda Adams feat. Sir The Baptist & Donald Lawrence (Terry Hunter Remix)
- “Constant” — Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula
- “Deserve to Win” — Tamela Mann
- “Faith” — Rapsody
- WINNER: “Rain Down on Me” — GloRilla feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music
Viewer’s Choice Award
- WINNER: “Residuals” — Chris Brown
- “Denial Is a River” — Doechii
- “Nokia” — Drake
- “Like That” — Future & Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar
- “TGIF” — GloRilla
- “Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar
- “Luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- “Brokey” — Latto
Best International Act
- Any Gabrielly (Brazil)
- WINNER: Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Basky (UK)
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- Ezra Collective (UK)
- Joé Dwèt Filé (France)
- MC Luanna (Brazil)
- Rema (Nigeria)
- SDM (France)
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
Best New International Act
- Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
- Ajulicosta (Brazil)
- Amabbi (Brazil)
- Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
- Dr Yaro (France)
- KWN (UK)
- Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
- Merveille (France)
- Odeal (UK)
- Shallipopi (Nigeria)
- WINNER: TxC (South Africa)
BET Her
- “Beautiful People” — Mary J. Blige
- “Blackbiird” — Beyonce feat. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts
- “Bloom” — Doechii
- “Burning” — Tems
- “Defying Gravity” — Cynthia Erivo feat. Ariana Grande
- WINNER: “Heart of a Woman” — Summer Walker
- “Hold On” — Tems
- “In My Bag” — Flo & GloRilla
Best Movie
- Bad Boys: Ride or Die
- Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
- WINNER: Luther: Never Too Much
- Mufasa: The Lion King
- One of Them Days
- Rebel Ridge
- The Piano Lesson
- The Six Triple Eight
Best Actor
- Aaron Pierce
- Aldis Hodge
- Anthony Mackie
- Colman Domingo
- WINNER: Denzel Washington
- Jamie Foxx
- Joey Bada$$
- Kevin Hart
- Sterling K. Brown
- Will Smith
Best Actress
- Andra Day
- Angela Bassett
- Coco Jones
- WINNER: Cynthia Erivo
- Keke Palmer
- Kerry Washington
- Quinta Brunson
- Viola Davis
- Zendaya
Young Stars Award
- Akira Akbar
- WINNER: Blue Ivy Carter
- Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth
- Heiress Harris
- Melody Hurd
- Thaddeus J. Mixson
- Tyrik Johnson
- VanVan
Sportswoman of the Year Award
- A’ja Wilson
- WINNER: Angel Reese
- Claressa Shields
- Coco Gauff
- Dawn Staley
- Flau’jae Johnson
- Juju Watkins
- Sha’Carri Richardson
- Simone Biles
Sportsman of the Year
- Aaron Judge
- Anthony Edwards
- Deion Sanders
- WINNER: Jalen Hurts
- Jayson Tatum
- LeBron James
- Saquon Barkley
- Stephen Curry
