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Return of the Surprised Face: Taylor Swift Cleans Up at MTV European Music Awards

Posted by Andrew Unterberger on 11/12/2012 at 9:27 AM News

The Popdust Files: award shows, justin bieber, MTV EMAs, rihanna, taylor swift

Ah, it feels like forever since Taylor Swift acted shocked and ecstatic at an award show win. Time was when you couldn’t go a couple weeks without a Taylor “OH MY GAWSH!” award celebration, but this having been a down cycle both for award shows and Taylor Swift releases, it’s been a minute now. But with a lot of the big award ceremonies coming up, and with Taylor’s Red (and its accompanying hit singles) likely to win a bunch of the big ones, you know what it’s time for: The Return of the Surprised Face.

Taylor broke out the Face a couple times over the weekend at the MTV European Music Awards, where she won three times, for Best Female, Best Live Act and Best Look. “This is my very first EMA, I’m so excited. This is unreal,” swore the never-jaded Swift. “This is my first time touring in Europe. Thank you for giving us another reason to come back.” Taylor’s bud Justin Bieber also took home a trio of trophies, for Best Male, Best Pop and Best World Stage, while Bieb’s protegé Carly Rae Jepsen of course took home Best Song (ever, we’re assuming) for “Call Me Maybe.”

Amidst all the winning, one name was notably absent—Rihanna, global pop star and six-time nominee, who somehow posted a big zero for the night. But as Billboard points out, the night’s top honors mostly went to the up-and-coming—Psy and One Direction were also among the big winners, natch—and perhaps Rihanna is just a little too established at this point to continue racking up EMA wins. With a new album to promote, a world tour to plan, and an internet to continue baiting with Chris Brown stuff, we’re sure she has other stuff on her mind these days anyway.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

Best Song: Carly Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe”

Best New: One Direction

Best Female: Taylor Swift

Best Male: Justin Bieber

Best Pop: Justin Bieber

Best Live: Taylor Swift

Best Hip Hop: Nicki Minaj

Best Rock: Linkin Park

Best Electronic: David Guetta

Best Alternative: Lana Del Rey

Best Video: PSY, “Gangnam Style”