How Bryan Hearns Designed Normani’s MTV VMAs Performance Outfit in 24 Hours

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For the first time ever, Normani took the stage at the 2019 MTV VMAs, solo—her last performance was in 2017 with Fifth Harmony before the group took an indefinite hiatus—to perform her new single “Motivation.”

Similar to the music video, the stage was transformed into a basketball court, with the former gymnast sitting atop a basketball hoop. From there, her dancers joined her on stage to perform the “Motivation” dance routine (you know, the one you’ve likely been practicing in your room since the video was released.) Then came a lot of twerking, a backflip, and a stellar dance solo that included the same handstand into a split combo she performed in the video.

And she did all of this while wearing a purple velour hoodie and skirt set created by celebrity designer Bryan Hearns, the man behind tour looks for Cardi B and Ariana Grande.

Courtesy of the designer

Courtesy of the designer

“[Stylist] Kollin Carter worked with me very closely, a bunch of sketches and edits were made by Normani and her team to ensure we got the perfect finished product for the big moment,” Hearns explained to ELLE.com of the look that came together in 24 hours.

Inspired by stills from the “Motivation” video, Hearns also wanted to give Normani a 2000s moment.

“I grew up in the early 2000s, it was all about skin, sexiness, confidence, and playfulness wrapped in metallics, velours and one shoulder moments,” says the designer. “There were so many memorable and iconic moments from J. Lo’s Versace dress, Christina Aguilera’s bandeau and mini skirt moment to Lil’ Kim’s purple pasty moment and Britney and Justin’s with denim on denim. [It’s a] look that will be remembered forever.”