All Pop - Artists

By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- The little girls are all grown up.

Britney Spears shed her wholesome teen queen image at the MTV Video Music Awards Thursday night, stripping off a man-style tuxedo to reveal a nude-colored glimmering bikini top and matching pants as she performed a version of The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction."

Spears, 18, also teamed with fellow teen pop sensation Christina Aguilera, 19, onstage as presenters -- and both wore sexy black dresses with thigh-high slits.

The red carpet outside Radio City Music Hall was a parade of stars, each trying to be sexier and more daring than the other. Everyone was a candidate for the most-talked about outfit at the awards -- a la Jennifer Lopez at this year's Grammy Awards.

Lopez toned down her look from that memorable green Versace gown with the plunging neckline and slit-up-to-there skirt, opting for a white midriff-baring top and hiphugger pants made for her by boyfriend Sean (Puff Daddy) Combs' Sean Jean clothing line.

Lil' Kim, however, didn't stray from her typically shocking look. She arrived in a revealing reddish-orange spider-web design that looked more like lingerie.

Merle Ginsberg, entertainment editor for Women's Wear Daily, a leading fashion newspaper, and W magazine, wasn't impressed with Lopez, Kim -- or anyone else.

"There was a severe lack of fashion. People were going for coolness instead of style," Ginsberg said. But there was plenty of cleavage, bellybuttons and shoulders on display.

Aguilera's asymmetrical dress was held up by a shoulder strap on only one side, and two of the three members of Destiny's Child showed off bare shoulders.

Destiny's Child, winners for the R&B video "Say My Name," also kept up with another trend -- leather -- as the three women wore similar but not matching studded black leather outfits.

Best hip-hop video award winner Sisqo wore a studded red leather outfit during his onstage performance. Black leather was the fashion choice for the majority of 'N Sync, which won three awards for the "Bye Bye Bye" video.

Professional wrestling star Chyna wrapped herself in what looked like a leather flag.

A handful of stars stuck to more traditional award-show fashions, including Toni Braxton in a tuxedo (although she was missing the shirt). Moby and two of the Red Hot Chili Peppers wore monochromatic suits, shirts and ties, sporting the look made popular by "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" host Regis Philbin.

Eminem went the opposite route, wearing a series of baggy athletic pants and plain white T-shirts.

"People used to try to do fashion at these awards, but now they make grunge look good," Ginsberg said.

Message to mom: Spears and Aguilera are all grown up