Miami welcomed the second MTV awards in fewer than two months on October 21 when the third annual MTV Latin American Video Music Awards were held at the Jackie Gleason Theater on Miami Beach.
Instead of red, purple was the royal color of the carpet upon which celebrities such as Lenny Kravitz, La Ley and Molotov, Julieta Venegas, Pitbull, and the Beastie Boys took their obligatory strolls into the show.
Paulina Rubio, who hosted the awards show, made her arrival aboard a massive tongue hoisted by a gaggle of buff boys. The 15-foot creation resembled the evening's award, which symbolizes the Spanish language that unites Latin America. The show took off with a videotaped welcome from U2's Bono, followed by a performance by the Black Eyed Peas set against a giant screen that showed a projection of the live performance.
The stage was designed in psychedelic patterns-odd-shaped and ever-changing designs that featured bold, bright colors. It included an open pit that housed an audience of fervent, young fans. A large video screen served as a backdrop, continuously flashing live shots and video clips.
Break-dancers took turns gyrating on stage with performers, and two live DJs spun hip-hop and techno tunes between live acts. The evening ended on an explosive note with the high jinks of the Beastie Boys and a shower of multicolored confetti.
Celebrity gift bags featured products from up-and-coming Latin American fashion designers such as Ecoist Handbags, NaCo, Citrine by the Stones, Furia and Carlos Mora, as well as items such as Motorola phones, Nintendo Gameboy Advance, HP cameras, and IK Multimedia Software.
Once the awards show was over, a glamorous crowd of music industry insiders descended on Mansion nightclub in South Beach for the postshow festivities.
Event sponsor AOL Latino outfitted the upstairs V.I.P. area with iconic "Running Man" plush toys on every table. Gran Centenario Tequila, sponsor of the V.I.P. bar, kept the drinks flowing and gave away silver keepsake necklaces inspired by an antique Mexican coin from 1857, the year Gran Centenario was first made. The logo medallions on thin strands of black leather were a unanimous hit with partygoers. Downstairs a lifesize AOL "Running Man" greeted celebrities arriving on the red carpet and later danced with guests on the dance floor.
A definite downside to the party was the tired choice of music that dominated the night. The DJ's playlist read a bit like a mid-80's bar mitzvah. Wham, Queen, and Prince failed to pack the dance floor in the main room. Noticeably absent from the headlining DJ's set was any song by any MTV Latin VMA award winner or music remotely Latin in flavor. Meanwhile, DJ Pedro from Spain packed a downstairs side room with funked-out club hits, live percussion by Mandy, and sexy ladies in lingerie dancing on tabletops.
—Stephen Bridges and Lourdes Diaz
Instead of red, purple was the royal color of the carpet upon which celebrities such as Lenny Kravitz, La Ley and Molotov, Julieta Venegas, Pitbull, and the Beastie Boys took their obligatory strolls into the show.
Paulina Rubio, who hosted the awards show, made her arrival aboard a massive tongue hoisted by a gaggle of buff boys. The 15-foot creation resembled the evening's award, which symbolizes the Spanish language that unites Latin America. The show took off with a videotaped welcome from U2's Bono, followed by a performance by the Black Eyed Peas set against a giant screen that showed a projection of the live performance.
The stage was designed in psychedelic patterns-odd-shaped and ever-changing designs that featured bold, bright colors. It included an open pit that housed an audience of fervent, young fans. A large video screen served as a backdrop, continuously flashing live shots and video clips.
Break-dancers took turns gyrating on stage with performers, and two live DJs spun hip-hop and techno tunes between live acts. The evening ended on an explosive note with the high jinks of the Beastie Boys and a shower of multicolored confetti.
Celebrity gift bags featured products from up-and-coming Latin American fashion designers such as Ecoist Handbags, NaCo, Citrine by the Stones, Furia and Carlos Mora, as well as items such as Motorola phones, Nintendo Gameboy Advance, HP cameras, and IK Multimedia Software.
Once the awards show was over, a glamorous crowd of music industry insiders descended on Mansion nightclub in South Beach for the postshow festivities.
Event sponsor AOL Latino outfitted the upstairs V.I.P. area with iconic "Running Man" plush toys on every table. Gran Centenario Tequila, sponsor of the V.I.P. bar, kept the drinks flowing and gave away silver keepsake necklaces inspired by an antique Mexican coin from 1857, the year Gran Centenario was first made. The logo medallions on thin strands of black leather were a unanimous hit with partygoers. Downstairs a lifesize AOL "Running Man" greeted celebrities arriving on the red carpet and later danced with guests on the dance floor.
A definite downside to the party was the tired choice of music that dominated the night. The DJ's playlist read a bit like a mid-80's bar mitzvah. Wham, Queen, and Prince failed to pack the dance floor in the main room. Noticeably absent from the headlining DJ's set was any song by any MTV Latin VMA award winner or music remotely Latin in flavor. Meanwhile, DJ Pedro from Spain packed a downstairs side room with funked-out club hits, live percussion by Mandy, and sexy ladies in lingerie dancing on tabletops.
—Stephen Bridges and Lourdes Diaz

Vivid color and ever-changing images set the stage for a boisterous MTV Latin America Video Music Awards show. (Photo courtesy of MTV Latin America)

Paulina Rubio arrived at the MTV LVMAs via a giant tongue. (Photo courtesy of MTV Latin America)

Multiple images were projected onto giant screens that lined the stage in the Jackie Gleason Theater for the MTV VMAs. (Photo courtesy of MTV Latin America)

Live drumming by Mandy added some Latin flavor to the after-party.