Ayra Starr, Nigerian music sensation added another major accolade to her growing list of achievements after clinching the Best International Act award at the BET Awards 2025.
The celebrated singer triumphed in a competitive category featuring top talents like Rema (Nigeria), Tyla (South Africa), Black Sherif (Ghana), and Uncle Waffles (Swaziland).
The prestigious ceremony, which took place on Monday, June 9, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, marked the 25th anniversary of the BET Awards. It was a night dedicated to celebrating Black excellence across music, film, TV, and sports. Hosted by comedian and actor Kevin Hart, this year’s event drew a star-studded guest list including Tyler Perry, Keke Palmer, Jennifer Hudson, and Shaboozey.
Leading the nominations was Kendrick Lamar with 10 nods, and he made a big statement by winning four major categories including Album of the Year, Best Male Hip Hop Artist, and Video of the Year for his viral hit Not Like Us.
Rising rap star Doechii also had a breakthrough night, taking home her first-ever BET Awards for Best Female Hip Hop Artist and Best Collaboration for her track ALTER EGOfeaturing JT. Fellow nominee GloRilla clinched her first BET trophy too, winning the Viewer’s Choice Award for TGIF.
The 2025 BET Awards evening was packed with electrifying performances from artists including Lil Wayne, Ledisi, Teyana Taylor, Playboi Carti, Mya, Keyshia Cole, and B2K, with a special nostalgic tribute to 106 & Park. Honorees for the Ultimate Icon Awardincluded Snoop Dogg, Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, and Kirk Franklin.
With her latest international win, Ayra Starr continues to solidify her place as one of Afrobeats’ leading voices on the global stage, flying the Nigerian flag high at one of Black entertainment’s biggest nights.
See the complete list of 2025 BET Awards winners below, updating live throughout the show.
Album of the Year
- $Ome $Exy $Ongs 4 U – Drake & PartyNextDoor
- 11:11 Deluxe – Chris Brown
- Alligator Bites Never Heal – Doechii
- Cowboy Carter – Beyoncé
- Glorious – GloRilla
- GNX – Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
- Hurry Up Tomorrow – The Weeknd
- We Don’t Trust You – Future & Metro Boomin
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
- Ari Lennox
- Ayra Starr
- Coco Jones
- Kehlani
- Muni Long
- Summer Walker
- SZA — WINNER
- Victoria Monét
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
- Bruno Mars
- Chris Brown — WINNER
- Drake
- Fridayy
- Leon Thomas
- Teddy Swims
- The Weeknd
- Usher
Best Group
- 41
- Common & Pete Rock
- Drake & PartyNextDoor
- FLO
- Future & Metro Boomin — WINNER
- Jacquees & Dej Loaf
- Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist
- Maverick City Music
Best Collaboration
- “30 For 30” – SZA Feat. Kendrick Lamar
- “Alter Ego” – Doechii Feat. JT
- “Are You Even Real” – Teddy Swims Feat. Givēon
- “Beckham” – Dee Billz Feat. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, Kj Swervo
- “Bless” – Lil Wayne, Wheezy & Young Thug
- “Like That” – Future & Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
- “Luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA — WINNER
- “Sticky” – Tyler, the Creator Feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne
- “Timeless” – The Weeknd Feat. Playboi Carti
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
- Cardi B
- Doechii — WINNER
- Doja Cat
- GloRilla
- Latto
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Nicki Minaj
- Rapsody
- Sexyy Red
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
- BigXthaPlug
- Bossman Dlow
- Burna Boy
- Drake
- Future
- Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
- Key Glock
- Lil Wayne
- Tyler, the Creator
Video of the Year
- “3AM in ToKEYo” – Key Glock
- “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey
- “After Hours” – Kehlani
- “Denial Is a River” – Doechii
- “Family Matters” – Drake
- “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
- “Timeless” – The Weeknd Feat. Playboi Carti
- “Type S—” – Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti
Video Director of the Year
- Anderson .Paak
- B Pace Productions & Jacquees
- Benny Boom
- Cactus Jack
- Cole Bennett
- Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
- Dave Meyers
- Foggieraw
- Tyler, the Creator
Best New Artist
- 41
- Ayra Starr
- BigXthaPlug
- Bossman Dlow
- Dee Billz
- Leon Thomas — WINNER
- October London
- Shaboozey
- Teddy Swims
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
- “A God (There Is)” – Common & Pete Rock Feat. Jennifer Hudson
- “Amen” – Pastor Mike Jr.
- “Better Days” – Fridayy
- “Church Doors (Terry Hunter Remix)” – Yolanda Adams Feat. Sir The Baptist & Donald Lawrence
- “Constant” – Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula
- “Deserve To Win” – Tamela Mann
- “Faith” – Rapsody
- “Rain Down on Me” – GloRilla Feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music — WINNER
Viewer’s Choice Award
- “Residuals” – Chris Brown — WINNER
- “Denial Is a River” – Doechii
- “Nokia” – Drake
- “Like That” – Future & Metro Boomin Feat. Kendrick Lamar
- “TGIF” – GloRilla
- “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
- “Luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- “Brokey” – Latto
Best International Act
- Any Gabrielly (Brazil)
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Bashy (United Kingdom)
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- Ezra Collective (United Kingdom)
- Joé Dwèt Filé (France)
- Mc Luanna (Brazil)
- Rema (Nigeria)
- Sdm (France)
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
Best New International Act
- Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
- Ajuliacosta (Brazil)
- Amabbi (Brazil)
- Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
- Dr Yaro (France)
- kwn (United Kingdom)
- Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
- Merveille (France)
- Odeal (United Kingdom)
- Shallipopi (Nigeria)
- TxC (South Africa)
BET Her
- “Beautiful People” – Mary J. Blige
- “Blackbiird” – Beyoncé Feat. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts
- “Bloom” – Doechii
- “Burning” – Tems
- “Defying Gravity” – Cynthia Erivo Feat. Ariana Grande
- “Heart of a Woman” – Summer Walker — WINNER
- “Hold On” – Tems
- “In My Bag” FLO & GloRilla
Best Movie
- Bad Boys: Ride Or Die
- Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
- Luther: Never Too Much — WINNER
- Mufasa: The Lion King
- One Of Them Days
- Rebel Ridge
- The Piano Lesson
- The Six Triple Eight
Best Actor
- Aaron Pierre
- Aldis Hodge
- Anthony Mackie
- Colman Domingo
- Denzel Washington — WINNER
- Jamie Foxx
- Joey Bada$$
- Kevin Hart
- Sterling K. Brown
- Will Smith
Best Actress
- Andra Day
- Angela Bassett
- Coco Jones
- Cynthia Erivo — WINNER
- Keke Palmer
- Kerry Washington
- Quinta Brunson
- Viola Davis
- Zendaya
YoungStars Award
- Akira Akbar
- Blue Ivy Carter — WINNER
- Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth
- Heiress Harris
- Melody Hurd
- Thaddeus J. Mixson
- Tyrik Johnson
- Vanvan
Sportswoman of the Year Award
- A’ja Wilson
- Angel Reese — WINNER
- Claressa Shields
- Coco Gauff
- Dawn Staley
- Flau’jae Johnson
- Juju Watkins
- Sha’Carri Richardson
- Simone Biles
Sportsman of the Year Award
- Aaron Judge
- Anthony Edwards
- Deion Sanders
- Jalen Hurts — WINNER
- Jayson Tatum
- LeBron James
- Saquon Barkley
- Stephen Curry
