Timberlake the winner - but Aguilera steals MTV show

Justin Timberlake was the big winner at the MTV Europe Music Awards but it was host Christina Aguilera who stole the show.

Timberlake scooped three awards – Best Male, Best Pop and Best Album for Justified.

Aguilera was crowned Best Female at last night’s awards bash in Edinburgh, beating Beyonce, Kylie Minogue, Madonna and Pink.

And as host of the ceremony, the pop diva made sure she was the undisputed star of the show.

As the curtain went up, the 22-year-old singer made her entrance dressed as a nun.

She then ripped off her habit to reveal a barely there top and leather chaps, before launching into her hit single Dirrty.

It was the first of many costume changes for the star, who regularly tops the worst dressed celebrity list.

Most outrageous of all was a white cardboard basque which drew gasps from the audience.

“This is my show and if anyone’s going to be getting the award for showing the most skin, it’s me,” she said.

Later she carried out an on-stage inspection of a group of male models to discover what Scotsmen really wear under their kilts.

And she joked: “I guess when they said ’Wee Scottish laddies’ they weren’t kidding.”

Aguilera has a history of shocking behaviour at the MTVs – at the Video Music Awards in New York earlier this year, she was involved in the night’s most memorable moment when she and Britney Spears kissed Madonna on stage.

The awards were held at the Ocean Terminal Arena in Leith and were broadcast live to a worldwide audience of up to a billion people.

Timberlake was clearly delighted with his haul and told the audience: “If I could have had a picture-perfect night it wouldn’t have been as good as this.”

He beat Craig David, Eminem, Robbie Williams and Sean Paul to the title of Best Male.

At the after-show press conference, the singer refused to answer any questions about his private life.

Timberlake, who arrived in Edinburgh without girlfriend Cameron Diaz, made it known he would walk out if anyone asked him a personal question.

Beyonce looked put out when Aguilera beat her to the Best Female crown.

But she did win two awards, for Best R&B act and Best Song for Crazy In Love.

Other winners included The White Stripes (Best Rock), Eminem (Best Hip Hop), Panjabi MC (Best Dance), and Sean Paul (Best New Act).

Coldplay were voted Best Group but were not there to pick up the award.

There were performances from Beyonce, Kylie, The Darkness, The White Stripes and The Black Eyed Peas, who were joined on stage by Timberlake.

Beyonce wore a stunning silver dress for Baby Boy, while Kylie sang new single Slow surrounded by male dancers wielding Star Wars style light sabres.

Action star Vin Diesel co-hosted the awards from the Ocean Terminal and a special open air concert in Edinburgh city centre.

Aguilera made up for the non-appearance of Britney Spears, who dropped out citing ill-health.

There was no sign of Jennifer Lopez, rumoured to be the surprise guest.

This was the biggest showbiz event in Scotland’s history and has brought in an extra £4m (€5.8m) for the Edinburgh economy.

Timberlake thanked the Scots for their hospitality, saying: “You don’t get nicer than you people.” He said he had loved his time in the Scottish city and told people: “I sampled some haggis, it was pretty cool. And I might just buy a kilt before I go.”