Rita Ora wows in a dusty pink feathered robe as she joins leggy Maya Jama, Vick Hope and Raye on the star-studded MTV EMAs pink carpet in Manchester

Taylor Swift may well lead the nominations, but it was an array of home grown stars leading the glamour as the MTV Europe Music Awards got underway in Manchester on Sunday evening. 

The English city is hosting the annual ceremony for the first time in its storied 29-year history, with Co-Op Live Arena chose as the appropriately cavernous venue for this year’s event. 

Having already made history as the first person to host the MTV European Music Awards for the third time, Rita Ora claimed the red carpet as her own as she arrived alongside her filmmaker husband Taika Waititi, 49.

The singer, 33, who wore a dusty pink feathered gown, was joined by the equally glamorous Maya Jama, whose safety-pin embellished dress conjured images of Elizabeth Hurley‘s iconic Versace outfit from 1994. 

The BRIT Award-winning singer Raye, 27, and radio presenter Vick Hope, 35, also ensured the fashion stakes were raised as guests made their way into the venue. 

Rita looked sensational in the light pink gown which was adorned with hundreds of feathers and featured a corset style top.

She boosted her height with huge starppy silk heels and wore her brunette tresses in a wavy style while opting for a glamorous makeup look. 

Meanwhile Maya put on a jaw-dropping display on Sunday night, as she arrived on the red carpet. The Love Island host, 30, commanded attention in a plunging black gown with a daringly high slit, showcasing her cleavage and toned legs.

Her racy dress boasted cut-outs, held together with giant gold safety pins, and almost identical to the iconic Versace number that shot Elizabeth Hurley to fame.

The actress, 59, went from an unknown star to making headlines around the world, when she wore the £3,000 plunging gown to the 1994 premiere of Four Weddings And A Funeral, with then-boyfriend Hugh Grant.

And exactly three decades later, Maya brought the career-making gown back to the red carpet, ensuring she stood out from the crowd.

Raye put on a very animated display as she hit the red carpet. The British singer, who is nominated for Best UK & Ireland Act, Best Artist, and Best Live, posed up a storm in a quirky dark gold gown. 

Raye’s dress hugged every inch of her jaw-dropping figure and boasted sparking bejewelled detailing and quirky hem.

Styling her hair into it’s trademark 1950s style, she completed the look with dangling diamond earrings and a matching necklace. 

Raye oozed confidence as she posed up a storm ahead of her performance to a crowd of 20K fans at the ceremony.

It comes after organisers were forced to cancel last year’s event in Paris due to security fears amid the Israel and Hamas war. 

Taylor Swift leads the 2024 nominations with seven nods, while Raye, Shawn Mendes and Teddy Swims will be performing to the huge crowd of 20,000 fans.  

During the show host Rita will also reportedly pay tribute to late pal and One Direction star Liam Payne, following the singer’s tragic death aged 31 last month.

The One Direction singer fell 45ft from the third floor into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires.

A source claimed the tribute could range from a musical performance of Liam’s hits to a video looking back at his time in showbiz.

They told The Sun: ‘In the coming days they will start drawing up official plans. Officially Rita is yet to be announced, but she is hosting this year’s awards and will be involved in whatever MTV decides to do’.

‘She and Liam have been close for years and grew in the industry together. Obviously she is devastated by his passing’.

Pop superstar Taylor, who already has 15 MTV EMAs to her name, is up for Best Artist, Best Video, Best Pop, Best Live and Biggest Fans. She is also up for Best Collaboration for her single Fortnight with Post Malone, which has also scored a nod in the Best Video category for her 11th studio album The Tortured Poets Department.

Yet she faces stiff competition on the night as Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter all scored five nominations each, appearing in categories such as Best Song, Best Video and Best Artist.

Closely following with four nominations each are Ayra Starr, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, LISA, plus first-time nominees Chappell Roan and Tyla.

There are 19 nominees have the chance to score their first ever MTV EMA at this year’s show, including: Kehlani and Tinashe in the Best R&B category, Disclosure and Fred Again.. for Best Electronic, Fontaines D.C. for Best Alternative, The Last Dinner Party for Best New and BTS’ Jimin for Best K-Pop, which marks his first nomination as a solo artist.

Elsewhere, MTV Push’s finest battle it out in the Best Push category, which features Flyana Boss, Laufey, Shaboozey, The Warning, Victoria Monét, as well as LE SSERAFIM and Teddy Swims, who are also up for Best New.

With the MTV EMAs headed to Manchester, there is even more anticipation in store for fans in the city, as Liam Gallagher goes head to head with Bon Jovi, Coldplay, Green Day, Kings of Leon, Lenny Kravitz and The Killers in the Best Rock category.

Speaking ahead of the event host Rita said: ‘I’m over the moon that I get to be back with my MTV family hosting the EMAs for the third time!

‘The EMAs stage has become like another home for me, and this year’s show in Manchester is going to be absolutely incredible!

‘We’ve got an amazing lineup of music performances and plenty of surprises in store. We’re all ‘mad fer it!’.’

One of the biggest global music events celebrates the world’s most iconic artists, bringing fans a unique, multi-platform experience across MTV’s global network in nearly 150 countries.

The 2024 MTV EMAs will broadcast at 9pm GMT Sunday, November 10 on MTV UK, Channel 5 and Pluto TV.

The awards, sponsored by Cetaphil for Sensitive Skin and Paramount+, will be available on demand on Paramount+ from November 12.