By Alicia Powell and Lisa Richwine

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Pop singer Lady Gaga was named artist of the year at MTV’s Video Music Awards on Sunday, prevailing over heavyweights Taylor Swift and Beyonce at the fan-voted honors in New York.

Gaga, currently on tour with her album “Mayhem,” took the stage in a black ruffled dress with giant sleeves and purple accents. She thanked her fans as she held the VMAs Moon Person trophy.

“I cannot begin to tell you what this means to be rewarded for being an artist, being rewarded for something that is already so rewarding,” Gaga said before leaving the venue to perform a concert at Madison Square Garden.

Gaga’s win prevented Beyonce or Swift from emerging as the most-honored artist in VMA history. The pair remain tied at 30 VMAs each.

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