Shakira tops first Latin MTV Video Music Awards

Undulating Colombian pop star Shakira cleaned up at MTV’s first annual Video Music Awards Latin America on Thursday. Besides performing at the ceremony, she won all five prizes for which she was nominated, including awards for best female artist, best pop artist, best artist from the north region, and artist of the year. Her ”Suerte” (the Spanish-language version of ”Whenever, Wherever”) beat Enrique Iglesias’ ”Hero,” Juanes’ ”A Dios Le Pido,” Diego Torres’ ”Color Esperanza,” and Paulina Rubio’s ”Si Tu Te Vas” (the Spanish version of (”Don’t Say Goodbye”) for video of the year honors.

Winning two awards were rockers La Ley, named best rock artist and best group or duo. Best male artist was Shakira’s countryman Juanes. Manu Chau was named best alternative artist, and Argentine star Torres was named best artist from the southeast region.

Some not-exactly-Latin artists won awards, too. Avril Lavigne was named best new international artist, Pink won for best international pop artist, and best international rock artist went to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. (Maybe it was their name.)

Other performers on the show included the Rolling Stones, Lavigne, Carlos Santana with Michelle Branch, and System of a Down. The ceremony was broadcast live on MTV2 from the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami, hosted by Argentine TV and radio star Mario Pergolini and Mexican actor Diego Luna, star of ”Y Tu Mama Tambien” and the upcoming ”Dirty Dancing” prequel, ”Havana Nights.”