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She wore a structured corset-style bodysuit with lace-up detailing down the front, along with fishnet tights and black heels. A leather jacket sat loosely around her shoulders, while her long blonde hair fell in waves around her face.
A sparkling necklace provided contrast against the darker textures.
Madonna was also photographed with Taylor Swift during the ceremony and later appeared onstage beside Sabrina Carpenter, where Carpenter held a Moon Person trophy as the two stood together at the microphone.
Madonna’s presence at the ceremony carried special significance for Rinna.
The pop icon returned to the VMAs for her first live performance at the awards show in 23 years. Her previous live VMA appearance had been in 2003, when she opened the ceremony alongside Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Missy Elliott.
That performance included “Hollywood,” “Like a Virgin,” and “Passenger,” while Madonna’s famous onstage kisses with Spears and Aguilera became one of the most memorable moments in VMA history.
Madonna’s connection to the awards stretches back even further.
At the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards in 1984, she famously appeared from a giant wedding cake while wearing a wedding dress and her “Boy Toy” belt during a performance of “Like a Virgin.”
Over the years, she repeatedly became one of the ceremony’s most recognizable figures.
Her “Vogue” era earned her nine VMA nominations in 1990, while “Ray of Light” and “Frozen” brought another nine nominations in 1998.
In 2026, Madonna entered the ceremony with 11 nominations, more than any other artist that year. They included Artist of the Year, Video of the Year for “Confessions II – The Film,” and Song of the Year for “Bring Your Love,” her collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter.
For Rinna, however, Madonna was more than just another performer appearing at the ceremony.
She openly admitted that the music legend was the main reason she attended.
<blockquote>“I’m here for one reason and one reason only: Madonna,”</blockquote>
Rinna told People.
<blockquote>“I love to create, I love to do this fashion thing. And this is what came out of Madonna VMAs Sunday. Here we are.”</blockquote>
Rinna also revealed that Madonna’s 1990 “Vogue” music video remains one of her favorite moments from the singer’s career.
Once Rinna’s complete red-carpet transformation came into view, that influence became much easier to recognize.
She wore a sculptural white Seks gown featuring a corseted bodice, a molded breastplate with provocative detailing, and a draped skirt.
But the outfit itself was only part of the transformation.
Rinna abandoned her familiar hairstyle for short, spiky platinum-blonde hair, which she confirmed was inspired by Madonna.
The dramatic blonde look recalled some of Madonna’s recognizable styles from the 1980s and gave Rinna an appearance that was noticeably different from what longtime fans were accustomed to seeing.
As soon as photographs reached social media, viewers began reacting.