Bootylicious Beyonce is an MTV Award winner

Bootylicious must be how Beyonce describes life these days. The 21-year-old beauty of the singing trio Destiny’s Child is sitting on top of the world as a music artist and movie star. Her solo single debut Crazy in Love featuring Jay-Z is a huge hit. So is the album Dangerously in Love. Then there is a new single coming up, a collaboration with the sensational Sean Paul titled Baby Boy and it also looks very promising. Chart performance such as this can only mean that although she was the last to go solo among Destiny girls Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, Beyonce’s album has turned out to be the most successful.

Why is this happening to the very lucky Beyonce? Very clever moves, I must say. First, the long wait for the album paid off. Kelly and Michelle have released theirs and the time was ripe for a new Destiny’s Child album, but this time what buyers got was Beyonce. She is also the best-looking among the trio and among most of the girls in the music business these days. Say what you will. It helps to be pretty. Then of course, Beyonce is also one brainy girl. She wrote most of the songs in the album and had a large say in the total sound as executive producer.

Dangerously in Love is an impressive package and I am not just talking about the gorgeous photographs of Beyonce on the cover but also in the way she is presented. Beyonce is versatile. Jazz, hip hop, rock and pop all come together in the album in lush, complicated but strangely accessible arrangements. And the girl can sing. Beyonce has the sweet singing voice that trills in the high register and purrs seductively when she hits the low notes. It is very sexy and she knows how to use it, soaring in joy in Crazy in Love and vamping with attitude in Signs which features Missy Elliott.

She also got a lot of star help in the making of the album. Aside from Jay-Z, Missy Elliott and Sean Paul, she also gets to sing The Closer I Get to You with the legendary soul balladeer Luther Vandross, Hip Hop Star with Big Boi and Sleepy Brown and would you believe, in keeping with the F4 fever, she has a version of Crazy in Love with Vanness Yu.

Watch out for Beyonce in The Fighting Temptations where she co-stars with Cuba Gooding, Jr., and congratulate her for bringing home three MTV Video awards.

MTV Video Music Awards winners

The Moonmen are safely home with their new owners and the news is out. The top winners in the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards are Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and Coldplay with three trophies each. Although she was nominated for eight categories and won in only two, the indomitable Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott still managed to put one over pop idols like Justin and Beyonce and legends like country music artist Johnny Cash by winning the Video of the Year for Work It, which was also named Best Hip Hop Video. The song is the lead cut from Missy’s Under Construction album.

Here is the complete list of winners:

* Video of the Year: Work It by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott.

* Male Video: Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake.

* Female Video: Crazy in Love by Beyonce featuring Jay-Z

* Group Video: The Scientist by Coldplay.

* Rap Video: In Da Club by 50 Cent.

* R&B Video: Crazy in Love by Beyonce featuring Jay-Z.

* Hip Hop Video: Work It by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott.

* Dance Video: Rock Your Body by Justin Timberlake.

* Rock Video: Somewhere I Belong by Linkin Park.

* Pop Video: Cry Me A River by Justin Timberlake.

* New Artist in a Video: 50 Cent In Da Club.

* Video from a Film: Lose Yourself by Eminem from 8 Mile.

* Breakthrough Video: The Scientist by Coldplay.

* Viewer’s Choice: Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous by Good Charlotte.

* Choreography: Crazy in Love by Beyonce.

* Special Effects: Go with the Flow by Queens of the Stone Age.

* Art Direction: There, There by Radiohead.

* Direction: The Scientist by Coldplay

* Editing: Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes

* Cinematography: Hurt by Johnny Cash

* MTV2 Award: AFI Girl’s Not Grey.

A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the recently reunited Duran Duran.

The Moonman trophies were given out last Thursday, Aug. 28 during ceremonies that were held at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Watch MTV for announcements re telecast of the event in the region.