Ayra Starr Wins Best International Act at 2025 BET Awards
Nigerian music sensation Ayra Starr has clinched the award for Best International Act at the just-concluded 2025 BET Awards, marking a defining moment in her rapidly ascending career. The prestigious ceremony, held on Monday, June 9, at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrated its 25th anniversary with a glittering tribute to Black excellence across music, film, TV, and sports.
The 22-year-old Afropop star, known for her genre-fluid blend of Afrobeats, soulful R&B, and fashion-forward presence, stood out in a fiercely competitive category that included Rema (Nigeria), Tyla (South Africa), Black Sherif (Ghana), Uncle Waffles (Eswatini), Any Gabrielly (Brazil), and others. While Ayra was also nominated in two other major categories—Best New Artist and Best Female R&B/Pop Artist—those honours went to Leon Thomas and SZA, respectively.
Despite her presence at the event, Ayra’s win was not presented on stage, a detail that didn’t go unnoticed. Many have expressed surprise and mild disappointment that such a milestone moment for the pop star wasn’t given prime-time recognition. Still, the reaction to her win was overwhelmingly celebratory.
The awards ceremony, hosted by Kevin Hart, featured appearances by stars such as Tyler Perry, Keke Palmer, Jennifer Hudson, and Shaboozey, and included dynamic performances from Lil Wayne, Ledisi, Teyana Taylor, Playboi Carti, Mya, Keyshia Cole, and B2K, with a special nostalgic tribute to 106 & Park. Honourees for the Ultimate Icon Award included Snoop Dogg, Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, and Kirk Franklin.
In a night filled with standout wins, Kendrick Lamar led the pack with 10 nominations, ultimately taking home four major awards, including Album of the Year, Best Male Hip Hop Artist, and Video of the Year for his viral hit “Not Like Us”. Breakout star Doechii had her own breakthrough, winning Best Female Hip Hop Artist and Best Collaboration for “ALTER EGO” featuring JT, while GloRilla won Viewer’s Choice for her track “TGIF”.
Ayra Starr’s win adds a fresh chapter to a legacy built by previous Nigerian winners like Wizkid and Burna Boy, marking her first BET Awards win. With each accolade, Ayra Starr continues to cement her place as one of Afrobeats’ most important and enduring young voices. In contrast to previous years, the 2025 BET Awards were notably free from controversy.
