BET Awards: The Most Iconic Looks from the Past Two Decades

Chloe Bailey and Halle Bailey of Chloe x Halle served up two monochromatic looks for the red carpet and their performance of “Drop.” 

Aja Naomi King stunned in a flowing sea-foam green gown at the awards, in which she presented with her The Birth of a Nation cast.

Janelle Monáe performed a soulful tribute in honor of Prince featuring songs “Delirious," “Kiss,” “Pop Life,” and “I Would Die 4 U.”

Yara Shahidi wore a colorful Tracy Reese design perfect for summer, which she said was “a step outside of my comfort zone.”

Mya was a burst of sunshine in a yellow two-piece ensemble.

Alicia Keys—who performed “In Common” during the awards—drew applause from fans for embracing a minimalist makeup look.

Beyoncé opened the show with a stunning performance of “Freedom” with Kendrick Lamar. She also appeared with her backup dancers from the Formation World Tour, which included a 50-foot-long pool. 

2017 

A quick look back: Beyoncé won five awards at the 2017 ceremony, which was hosted by Saturday Night Live's Leslie Jones. Hidden Figures won for Best Movie, and Serena Williams went home with the Sportswoman of the Year award. 

Leslie Jones had multiple outfit changes while hosting the 2017 ceremony, but it was this low-cut green Stello design that drew rave reviews.

Issa Rae—a Best Actress nominee—wore a stunning Balmain open-knit blazer with black fitted shorts.

Cardi B made one of her first BET Awards appearance in 2017, and two years later she would go on to become the first female rapper to win Rap Album of the Year for her first studio album, Invasion of Privacy.

In Yara Shahidi's acceptance speech for the YoungStars Award, she thanked BET for "celebrating our culture so beautifully when it isn’t celebrated everywhere else as it should be."

Longtime friends and costars (Set It Off, Girls Trip) Jada Pinkett-Smith and Queen Latifah posed for photos together on the red carpet prior to the ceremony.

Comedian and television personality Amanda Seales has long been a BET Awards favorite. She's hosting the 2020 ceremony and will be taking over Glamour's Instagram Stories on Sunday before the show.

2018 

A quick look back: The 2018 BET Awards will be remembered for bringing out the most colorful fashion in the show's history. From rainbow skirts to constellation designs, everyone displayed a sense of whimsy and fun. Jamie Foxx hosted for the second time, and Anita Baker was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Janelle Monáe stunned in a Nicolas Jebran design. She later performed the songs “Django Jane” and “I Like That.”

Storm Reid celebrated her starring role in Ava DuVernay's A Wrinkle in Time by wearing a Reem Akra celestial-inspired design and bantu knots.

A year before her ABC sitcom Mixed-ish would premiere, Tika Sumpter wowed in a neon green dress to present the Best International Act Award to Davido from Nigeria.  

BET-Awards-show regular Tyra Banks (in a Stello jumpsuit) presented the Best Actress award to Tiffany Haddish.

Purple power! Actor, host, and reality TV star Garcelle Beauvais wore a stunning Solace London design on the silver carpet.

Dear White People star Logan Browning dressed for the summer temps in an intricate Dion Lee two-piece ensemble. 

The Hate U Give costars Regina Hall and Amandla Stenberg color-coordinated their looks on the same night the trailer for their critically acclaimed film dropped. 

2019 

A quick look back: The 2019 ceremony will be remembered for that truly iconic Lizzo performance of “Truth Hurts,” Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus riding in on actual horses, and Mary J. Blige receiving the Lifetime Achievement award. 

In addition to performing at the awards, Lizzo was also nominated for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist. 

Doja Cat accompanied her eccentric pink feathered ensemble with a cat handbag and multicolored yarn.

Ciara's dramatic Jean Paul Gaultier dress landed her on multiple best dressed lists and rightfully so.  

Black Lightning star Nafessa Williams rocked a metallic Annakiki dress. 

Queen & Slim writer Lena Waithe and director Melina Matsoukas made the rounds backstage. They introduced the trailer for their film—along with star Jodie Turner Smith—during the awards.

Lizzo's performance of “Truth Hurts” was so exceptional that Rihanna gave her a standing ovation. 

The 2020 BET Awards airs Sunday, June 28, on CBS.

Jessica Radloff is the Glamour West Coast editor. You can follow her on Instagram @jessicaradloff14.