Justin Timberlake thrills music fans at the 30th Video Music Awards in Brooklyn Miley Cyrus performed an almost X rated dance with Robin Thicke at Video Music Awards. Courtesy MVA/Vine THE 2013 MTV Video Music Awards have been all about Justin Timberlake who wrestled the spotlight away from a rehabilitated Lady Gaga, an X-rated Miley Cyrus and a vengeful Taylor Swift with a medley of hits and on stage reunion with former boy band mates 'N Sync. Timberlake - the night's top nominee with early leader Macklemore &Ryan Lewis - also was given the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award by Jimmy Fallon. Justin Timberlake accepts his award from Jimmy Fallon. Picture: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for MTV Source: Getty Images Timberlake, dressed in a black suit and black hat with a red feather, powered through a breathless series of solo hits before the other four members of 'N Sync - JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, and Lance Bass - joined him on stage, opening with Bye Bye Bye. Justin Timberlake reunited on stage with Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, JC Chasez and Lance Bass from 'N Sync. Picture: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for MTV Source: Getty Images Australian rapper Iggy Azalea has missed out on the Artist To Watch gong. The singer's name started trending on Twitter following the announcement, as fans sent her messages of consolation. "Iggy Azalea definitely deserved to win," wrote steevrae. "This why I don't watch MTV awards they never give the real artist awards IGGYAZALEA you the bestest," added another fan. Earlier in the night, Azalea walked the red carpet in a golden, see-through sequin dress by Emilio Pucci. She later changed into a black, lacy, knee-length number on stage to present the award for Best Hip Hop Video to rapper Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Up till then, the ladies of pop music dominated as Cyrus became the rare artist to upstage Lady Gaga. But Swift managed to take the spotlight from both after appearing to utter an expletive when One Direction and rumoured former love interest Harry Styles appeared on stage at the award show - a moment that lit up Twitter and was memorialised immediately in a GIF online. Taylor Swift accepts the award for best female video for I Knew You Were Trouble from Pharrell Williams and Daft Punk at the MTV Video Music Awards. Picture: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP Source: AP She also thanked a former beau for helping her win another moonman trophy for I Knew You Were Trouble in the best female video category. It was a predictably unpredictable appearance for Gaga, who seemed to pump in boos over the over the sound system as she opened the song in a white nun's habit and square headdress. Lady Gaga opened the show with an eye-catching performance. Lady Gaga in the raw. Picture: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for MTV/Getty Source: Supplied Lady Gaga's outfit was tame compared with Miley Cyrus" unique dance moves in barely-there underwear. Picture: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV Source: Supplied By the time she finished the song, the singer famous for wearing a meat dress was surrounded by unitard-clad male dancers in the raw in just a thong bikini decorated in shells and a long blonde wig. Lady Gaga performs Applause. Cyrus immediately kicked things up well beyond provocative, however, as she appeared on stage with a multitude of dancing teddy bears in a bodysuit adorned with a cartoon character. Miley Cyrus began her performance in this skimpy number and then stripped down to laytex underwear. Picture: AP Photo/MTV, John Shearer Source: AP She twerked to her song "We Can't Stop, "changed into a nude bikini, ran a fan's foam finger along her privates as Robin Thicke appeared on stage to perform Blurred Lines, then gave the singer a lap dance. Miley Cyrus put on a raunchy display with Robin Thicke at the MTV Video Music Awards. Picture: Scott Gries/Invision/AP Source: AP A parched Miley Cyrus pictured after the controversial routine. Picture: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV Source: Getty Images Macklemore &Ryan Lewis were the early leaders, taking best hip-hop video for Thrift Shop and best video with a social message for their song Same Love, which espouses marriage equality. Other early winners included Pink and Nate Ruess for best collaboration, Thirty Seconds to Mars for best rock video and Selena Gomez for best pop video. And Swift wasn't the only one with a strong reaction to One Direction - cheers mixed with boos as they won song of the summer for Best Song Ever. Video of the Year Justin Timberlake, Mirrors Best Hip Hop Video Macklemore &Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, Can't Hold Us Best Male Video Bruno Mars, Locked Out of Heaven Best Female Video Taylor Swift, I Knew You Were Trouble Best Pop Video Selena Gomez, Come and Get It Artist To Watch Austin Mahone, What About Love Best Collaboration Pink feat. Nate Ruess, Just Give Me A Reason Best Video With A Social Message Macklemore &Ryan Lewis, Same Love Best Rock Video Thirty Seconds To Mars, Up in the Air Best Art Direction Janelle Monae feat. Erykah Badu, Q.U. E. E. N Best Choreography Bruno Mars, Treasure Best Cinematography Best Direction Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z, Suit &Tie Best Editing Best Visual Effects Capital Cities, Safe and Sound Best Song of the Summer One Direction, Best Song Ever Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award Justin Timberlake