The Worst-Dressed Celebs At The 2023 Billboard Music Awards
If you thought the 2023 Billboard Music Awards would be anything like previous years' events, think again. In lieu of the program's traditional format — you know, a live, full-fledged ceremony — tonight's Billboard Music Awards was streamed entirely online and largely with pre-recorded videos. Still, the evening's entertainers have included stars like K-pop group Stray Kids, pop singer Bebe Rexha, and singer-musician Peso Pluma. Plus, songstress Mariah Carey made history by giving "All I Want for Christmas Is You" its award show debut.
Outside of Carey's Christmas classic, the evening has focused heavily on Billboard's top-charting hits of 2023, but plenty of us tune in to catch the show's red-carpet fashions just like with any other awards ceremony. After all, who could forget iconic styles like Mary J. Blige's patent black jumpsuit in 1995 or Britney Spears' pink and orange ensemble from the 2000 BBMAs? Considering the star-studded guest list at tonight's ceremony, we could have only imagined we'd be wowed in more ways than one.
Unfortunately, tonight's show — or, rather, series of uploaded videos — didn't quite deliver the fashion we'd hoped to see. Frankly, some A-lister 'fits simply didn't hit the mark. Ready to see the best of a bad bunch? We know it's been hard to locate many of the evening's looks due to Billboard's multi-channel broadcast, so we've curated them in one place for you.
Karol G
As one of the evening's performers and most-nominated artists, we had high hopes for Karol G's attire at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards. However, those dreams were dashed when we saw her 'fit. We'll give her credit for the avante-gardness of it all, but we have to be frank: This dress looks too much like packing tape for our tastes — the kind your grandmother lovingly applied to a cardboard box of Christmas ornaments in 1973 for you to unearth years later. Between the perplexing texture of the minidress and her stringy wet hair look, we can't help but shudder at this sensory nightmare.
Anne Wilson
This year's Billboard Music Awards show was unconventional, to say the least. Countless celebs accepted awards from the comfort of their homes, and Anne Wilson was no exception. Unfortunately, the Christian music singer and Lexington, Kentucky, native didn't exactly twang our heartstrings with her understated Western wear. This denim-cowprint look could be cute for a quick bite at Applebee's or a family function, but it's definitely not what we associate with awards shows. Given the evening's laidback vibe, we're not surprised by the stars' styling choices, but with any luck, we hope to see the ceremony return to its former glory in 2024.
CeCe Winans
It literally pains us to place gospel singer — and 2023 Billboard Music Award winner — CeCe Winans on our worst-dressed list, though we were left with little choice. Winans looked as gorgeous as ever receiving the trophy for top gospel song with "Goodness of God," but her simple, black leather jacket look felt a touch underdressed. With that, we can't entirely blame her — it seems that Billboard's new broadcasting format left many celebs and fans alike feeling a little confused. Even so, other singers, like Lauren Daigle, dressed in cute dresses with matching makeup that felt much more in line with traditional awards show-ware.
Bebe Rexha
We love Bebe Rexha as much as the next music fan, but we weren't feeling her dress at tonight's Billboard Music Awards. Beyond the trendy mermaid silhouette and Barbarella-inspired silver panels, we couldn't find much to love about Rexha's black strapless gown. Moreover, we've seen the "I'm Good (Blue)" singer rely on the same style of dress for numerous awards show looks in recent years — and truthfully, we'd love to see her rock something colorful on the red carpet once in a while. That said, we've got to congratulate Rexha for winning the BBMA trophy for top dance/electronic song with David Guetta at this year's awards.
Tate McRae
Maybe we're just "Greedy," but we really wanted more from singer Tate McRae at tonight's Billboard festivities. McRae's Y2K-inspired 'fit featured a white tank top, pleated bondage midi skirt, and knee-high boots, emulating the likes of Avril Lavigne or Kelly Osbourne circa 2004. However, her pop-punk attire felt a little too casual for the likes of the Billboard Music Awards, and it didn't have enough personality to pay homage to the alternative styles of yesteryear, in our opinion. Still, with a bit more color or daring accessorization, we could easily see McRae dodging our worst-dressed list next time.