Entertainment Awards Shows and Events VMAs Anitta Sings a Mix of Hits — and an Unreleased Song! — at the 2023 MTV VMAs Last year, Anitta made history as the first Brazilian artist to take home a Moon Person trophy By Daniela Avila Daniela Avila Daniela Avila is an editorial assistant at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2021. Her work previously appeared on The Poly Post. People Editorial Guidelines and Rachel DeSantis Rachel DeSantis Rachel DeSantis is a senior writer on the music team at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2019, and her work has previously appeared in Entertainment Weekly and the New York Daily News. People Editorial Guidelines Published on September 12, 2023 09:35PM EDT Anitta performing at the 2023 MTV VMAs. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Anitta brought the heat with her performance at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards! At Tuesday's show, held at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., the Brazilian pop star took the stage to perform a medley of hits, including an unreleased track, before taking home the Moon Person trophy for best Latin video for "Funk Rave." After an introduction from Outer Banks star Madelyn Cline, Anitta kicked things off with a rousing rendition of her new hit "Used to Be." The singer, 30, wore a pair of sparkly black shorts and a multi-patterned leotard as she danced amid a group of equally colorfully dressed back-up dancers. The star later went into "Funk Rave" and also sang the unreleased song "Grip," which is expected on her upcoming funk album. At the end of her performance, she laughed and smiled as she blew a kiss to the adoring crowd. The "Envolver" singer made made history with her first VMA win last year, becoming the only Brazilian to ever take home an MTV Moon Person. She looks to repeat her win in the best Latin category this year. Taylor Swift, SZA, Miley Cyrus and More Lead 2023 MTV Video Music Awards Nominations — See the List! The star has been on a hot streak this year. In February, she opened up to PEOPLE about her first-ever Grammy nomination, for Best New Artist. "I'm so happy. I've said it a lot because it means a lot," Anitta said at the time. "It's been half a century. Fifty years that Brazil is not here in a main category. So, for me, we're making history. My whole country is watching in Brazil, waiting for this. I'm really happy. For me, the victory is to be here tonight, to be honest." Check out PEOPLE's full MTV VMAs coverage to get the latest news on music’s big night. "I hope with my presence here I can open room for more artists from Brazil to come here, so we don't have to wait for 50 years," she added. "I'm really happy and it's a really long journey." She also expressed the importance of not giving up on your dreams while speaking to PEOPLE at WSJ. Magazine's 12th annual Innovator Awards in November. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Shakira to Be Honored with Video Vanguard Award at 2023 MTV VMAs: 'She's a Trailblazer for Women' "I would say to not care about what people, in general, are saying like friends in school and things like that," Anitta told PEOPLE. "I would say just be yourself, just try to find something that represents what you want to be and what you are when you look at yourself and not project you on other people, you know." The 2023 MTV VMAs are airing live from The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Tuesday, Sept. 12 on CBS and BET, BET Her, VH1, Comedy Central, CMT, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon and Paramount Network. Viewers can also catch the show through an MTV.com live stream or on Paramount+. Close