Entertainment Awards Shows and Events Look Back at Katy Perry's VMAs History, Ahead of Her 2024 Vanguard Award Since 2008, the "Teenage Dream" singer has been a staple at the VMAs. Look back at all her past appearances ahead of her taking a top honor tonight By Alexandra Schonfeld Alexandra Schonfeld Alexandra Schonfeld is a features writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since April 2022. Her work previously appeared in Newsweek. People Editorial Guidelines Published on September 11, 2024 04:30PM EDT Comments Katy Perry poses with the Moon Man at the 2009 VMAs in New York City. . Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage Katy Perry is making room for another Moon Person! Since her first VMAs appearance back in 2008, Perry has taken home five of the coveted statues and on Sept. 11, 2024 — during the award show's 40th anniversary — she will add another to her collection as she is this year's recipient of the Video Vanguard Award. Before Wednesday's big event, where Perry will perform ahead of the Sept. 20 release of her upcoming album 143, take a look back at all of her VMA appearances throughout the years. 01 of 08 Katy Perry with Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift in 2008 Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus at the 2008 VMAs. Kevin Mazur/WireImage Perry's very first VMA appearance came in 2008, the same year "I Kissed a Girl" was released. That year, she was nominated in the best new artist category alongside none other than Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus though the Moon Person ultimately went to Tokio Hotel. 02 of 08 Katy Perry Rocks Silver at Radio City Music Hall in 2009 Katy Perry at the 2009 VMAs. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic The following year, Perry was back at the VMAs which were held at Radio City Musical Hall. That year also marked the first time she hit the VMAs stage as a performer, singing “We Will Rock You" with Aerosmith's Joe Perry. 03 of 08 Katy Perry Achieving Liftoff in 2010 Katy Perry at the 2010 VMAs. Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic Perry had some fun with the Moon Person on the red carpet ahead of the 2010 festivities in L.A. 04 of 08 Katy Perry Celebrating Her Winning Night in 2011 Katy Perry at the 2011 VMAs. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty 2011 would mark the first time Perry walked home from the VMAs a winner when she took home three Moon People for best visual effects and best collaboration ("E.T" featuring Kanye West) and video of the year ("Firework"). This was also the height of Perry's on-theme attire, and her statue-holding hands were finished off with a record-motif manicure that matched her outfit. 05 of 08 Katy Perry Giving a Celebratory Smooch to Harry Styles in 2012 Katy Perry presents an award to One Direction at the 2012 VMAs. Kevin Mazur/WireImage When she presented the award for best pop video to One Direction in 2012, she gave each of them a friendly smooch. She kissed Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson — and she liked it! 06 of 08 Katy Perry Being Greeted By Richard Simmons in 2013 Katy Perry and Richard Simmons at the 2013 VMAs. Larry Busacca/Getty In 2013, Perry shared a sweet moment on the red carpet with Richard Simmons at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 07 of 08 Katy Perry Posing with Sam Smith in 2014 Katy Perry and Sam Smith at the 2014 VMAs. Kevin Mazur/MTV1415/WireImage Perry posed with Sam Smith at the 2014 ceremony where she sported an all denim look. Her date, Riff Raff, was also in full denim — an unmistakable homage to Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake's 2001 American Music Awards ensembles. Jason Merritt/Getty 08 of 08 Katy Perry Hosting the VMAs in 2017 Katy Perry at the 2017 VMAs. John Shearer/Getty In 2017 — Perry's last VMAs appearance until now — the five-time winner (she also took home trophies for "Wide Awake" in 2012 and "Dark Horse" in 2014) floated onto the stage as a Moon Person as she served as both host and one of the night's performers. Close