LOS ANGELES: Taylor Swift was crowned queen of the MTV Video Music Awards as rapper Kanye West announced an improbable run for president in 2020 and Miley Cyrus released her new album for free.

Pop superstar Swift, still only 25 years old, won four of her whopping 10 nominations, including Video of the Year for “Bad Blood” with Kendrick Lamar and Best Pop Video for “Blank Space”.

She buried the hatchet with rapper Nicki Minaj, embracing her former foe on stage during a brief rendition of “Bad Blood” dressed in a red tassled mini-dress and presented West with a career achievement award.

Cheered by his biggest fan, pregnant wife and reality star Kim Kardashian in a lace-up dress that left little to the imagination, West appeared moved — but not humbled — by an extended standing ovation.

Winning MTV’s Video Vanguard lifetime achievement award was a significant milestone for West, previously given to greats such as Madonna, Michael Jackson and Beyonce.

“I have decided in 2020 to run for president,” he announced at the end of a rambling address in which he also appeared to confess to smoking marijuana before taking the stage.

“I will die for the art, for what I believe in and I ain’t always gonna be polite,” he said. “I rolled up a little something.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2015

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