Ayra Starr emerged "Best International Act" at BET Awards 2025

After winning the Best International Act prize at the 2025 BET Awards, Nigerian music sensation Ayra Starr won yet another significant honor to her already impressive record of accomplishments.

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 BET Awards celebrated their 25th anniversary with a prestigious ceremony held on Monday, June 9, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The evening was devoted to honoring Black excellence in sports, TV, movies, and music. This year's event, which was hosted by comedian and actor Kevin Hart, attracted a star-studded guest list that included Shaboozey, Tyler Perry, Keke Palmer, and Jennifer Hudson.

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 EGO featuring 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 Award included Snoop Dogg, Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, and Kirk Franklin.

Flying the Nigerian flag high at one of Black entertainment's biggest evenings, Ayra Starr's most recent international victory further solidifies her position as one of Afrobeats' most prominent voices on the worldwide scene.

See full list of winners below:

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
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
Victoria Monét

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
Drake
Fridayy
Leon Thomas
Teddy Swims
The Weeknd
Usher

Best Group

41
Common & Pete Rock
Drake & Partynextdoor
FLO
Future & Metro Boomin
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
“Sticky” — Tyler, The Creator feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne
“Timeless” — The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

Cardi B
Doechii
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
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
“Timeless” — The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti

“Type Shit” — 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
Dave Meyers
Foggieraw
Tyler, The Creator

Best New Artist

41
Ayra Starr
BigXthePlug
Bossman DLow
Dee Billz
Leon Thomas
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” — Yolanda Adams feat. Sir The Baptist & Donald Lawrence (Terry Hunter Remix)
“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

Viewer’s Choice Award

“Residuals” — Chris Brown
“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)
Basky (UK)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Ezra Collective (UK)
Joé Dwèt Filé (France)
MC Luanna (Brazil)
Rema (Nigeria)
SDM (France)
Tyla (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)

Best New International Act

Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
Ajulicosta (Brazil)
Amabbi (Brazil)
Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
Dr Yaro (France)
KWN (UK)
Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
Merveille (France)
Odeal (UK)
Shallipopi (Nigeria)
TxC (South Africa)

BET Her

“Beautiful People” — Mary J. Blige
“BLACKBIIRD” — Beyonce 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
“Hold On” — Tems
“In My Bag” — FLO & GloRilla

Best Movie

Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Luther: Never Too Much
Mufasa: The Lion King
One of Them Days
Rebel Ridge
The Piano Lesson
The Six Triple Eight

Best Actor

Aaron Pierce
Aldis Hodge
Anthony Mackie
Colman Domingo
Denzel Washington
Jamie Foxx
Joey Bada$$
Kevin Hart
Sterling K. Brown
Will Smith

Best Actress

Andra Day
Angela Bassett
Coco Jones
Cynthia Erivo
Keke Palmer
Kerry Washington
Quinta Brunson
Viola Davis
Zendaya

Young Stars Award

Akira Akbar
Blue Ivy Carter
Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth
Heiress Harris
Melody Hurd
Thaddeus J. Mixson
Tyrik Johnson
VanVan

Sportswoman of the Year Award

A’ja Wilson
Angel Reese
Claressa Shields
Coco Gauff
Dawn Staley
Flau’jae Johnson
Juju Watkins
Sha’Carri Richardson
Simone Biles

Sportsman of the Year

Aaron Judge
Anthony Edwards
Deion Sanders
Jalen Hurts
Jayson Tatum
LeBron James
Saquon Barkley
Stephen Curry