Twilight, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber win big at Teen Choice Awards

Teens vote for their top favourites in various categories.

LOS ANGELES:

Teenage fan favourites, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and The Twilight Saga shone bright on Sunday as they won the top honours at the Teen Choice Awards. The show was hosted by former Disney Channel actor and current “X Factor” judge Demi Lovato and “Glee” star Kevin McHale.

Country music star Taylor Swift, 22, bagged five awards, including Choice Music Female Artist and Female Country Artist, as well as voice actress for her role in the animated comedy The Lorax. The widely popular singer was also among the top winners at the awards show last year.

Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, 18, received a loud welcome as he performed his renowned song “Boyfriend” and his latest single, “As Long As You Love Me” with rapper Big Sean on a futuristic set. The teen sensation won four awards, including Choice Music Male Artist and Single by Male Artist for “Boyfriend”.

Teen Choice favourite film, The Twilight Saga picked up the Ultimate Choice Award this year, ahead of the franchise’s final installment, Breaking Dawn — Part 2, which is coming out in theaters this November. The blockbuster movie series and its actors have won a total of 41 Teen Choice awards over the last four years. Stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner came on stage together to accept the surfboard trophies, which they then gave to the audience.

“This award especially is an extreme honour. It’s a true testament to all the support you’ve given us over the years. It’s amazing you’re still around and just as loyal and just as strong,” Lautner said to the avid Twilight fans in the audience, known as “Twi-hards.”

The Teen Choice Awards voted for by teen viewers online, gives actors, musicians and other artists who are popular with kids the chance to thank their fans. The trophies are life-size surfboards and are given in numerous categories spanning film, television and music, as well as unconventional awards.

Southern Californian pop punk band No Doubt, which will be releasing their first album in over a decade this month, performed their single “Settle Down” from the upcoming release “Push and Shove.” Rapper Flo Rida also performed his latest single “Whistle” and his hit song, “Wild Ones”.

Carly Rae Jepsen, Choice Breakout Artist Winner, sang her infectious hit single “Call Me Maybe” which was voted Choice Summer Song, accompanied by a video of the night’s star-studded audience lip-syncing to the song.  Also, Selena Gomez, who celebrated her twentieth birthday on Sunday, won a surfboard for Best Music Group and single by a group with her band, The Scene.

Host Lovato, 19, who won the special ‘Inspire’ award at last year’s Teen Choice awards after overcoming personal abuse issues, presented this year’s ‘Inspire’ award to fellow starlet and Nickelodeon actor Miranda Cosgrove, for her work with young people and education, lending an encouraging twist to the Awards show and the young, impressionable teenagers who were watching it eagerly.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2012.