- Rising star Tyla made waves at the MTV EMAs, winning Best African Act, Best R&B, and Best Afrobeats—making her the first young African artist to secure all three awards in one night.
- Tyla’s tiger-print dress, reminiscent of the one Aaliyah wore when she won her MTV VMA, paid homage to the late icon, sparking fans to debate “Who wore it better?”
- Both Tyla and Aaliyah turned heads and embodied star power on their respective nights, each making fashion statements that continue to inspire fans globally.
South African-born Tyla made history at the MTV Europe Music Awards (MTV EMAs), clinching three major awards: Best African Act, Best R&B, and Best Afrobeats. This groundbreaking achievement makes Tyla the first young African artist to win all three awards in a single night, a historic win for African music on an international stage.
Adding to the iconic nature of her night, Tyla donned a tiger-print dress—a tribute to R&B legend Aaliyah, who first rocked a similar look on the red carpet at the MTV VMAs years ago. Aaliyah’s tiger print moment became an instant classic, inspiring fans and sparking countless replications of the style in homage to her. Tyla’s bold choice of dress had fans buzzing, drawing comparisons between the two artists and their head-turning red carpet moments.
Fans across social media were quick to debate who owned the look better, with hashtags like #Tyla and #Aaliyah filling timelines. With her show-stopping fashion and award sweep, Tyla not only paid homage to an R&B legend but also proved her own star power, leaving fans with the ultimate question: who rocked the tiger print dress better—#Tyla or #Aaliyah?