U.S. singer Justin Timberlake (L) holds a blow up doll as he jokes on stage with U.S. singer Christina Aguilera (R) at the MTV Europe Awards in Edinburgh, November 6, 2003. Photo – REUTERS

EDINBURGH – Cheered on by up to one billion pop fans around the world, American heart-throb Justin Timberlake was the big star of the MTV Europe Awards on Thursday night when he landed three top prizes. „If I could have had a picture perfect night, it could not have been better than this,“ said the overjoyed singer after sweeping all before him to cap a memorable year. The Best Male Artist, Best Album and Best Pop Awards went to the former Mickey Mouse Club mouseketeer whose career has soared with the release of his critically acclaimed album „Justified.“ „I feel really, really blessed as I have worked so hard on this album,“ said the U.S. pin-up, who is now one of the biggest sex symbols in the pop business.

One of the biggest sensations of the night was pop diva Christina Aguilera who arrived on stage demurely dressed as a nun and then stripped down to one of her notoriously skimpy outfits that leave very little to the imagination. Aguilera, who has been touring with Timberlake, hosted the extravaganza and certainly did not go away empty-handed from one of the biggest „Pop Oscar“ shows of the year — she was named Best Female Artist. She proudly showed off one of her more understated outfits and then, taking a dig at the tabloids and paparazzi who pursue her so relentlessly, said: „I‘m sure I‘ll find out what‘s wrong with it in the papers tomorrow. But I don‘t give a F***k.“ She teased Timberlake on stage by asking „Didn‘t you leave something on our tour bus?“ and then presenting him with a life-size inflatable doll.

Sean Paul, one of Jamaica‘s biggest stars since Bob Marley, did a duet with Beyonce Knowles and was then named Best New Act Of the Year. The king of dancehall reggae told Reuters: „It feels like I am finally accepted after so many years trying to break through.“ Beyonce herself had plenty to celebrate. She won the Best R and B Award and then ended the evening on a high note when MTV viewers picked her „Crazy in Love“ as the Best Song of the Year.

Fran Healey, lead singer of the Scottish group Travis, was in fiercely patriotic mood after the pop channel brought the awards ceremony to a giant circus tent in the Scottish capital. „It is great that MTV has come to the greatest country in the world,“ he told Reuters before providing one of the most striking images of the evening. To accompany the Travis protest song „Beautiful Occupation“ about the war in Iraq, the Scottish rockers were flanked on stage by 125 naked protesters who were certainly waving more than just their banners at the end of the song.

Reuters