Taylor Swift officially surpassed Beyoncé to become the most-awarded artist in the history of the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) this past Sunday. With her latest wins, Swift’s career total at the ceremony now stands at 31 awards.

During the event, Swift was honored with the inaugural Artist Director Honors, a recognition that highlights her work behind the camera. Swift noted during the ceremony that she has written and directed 18 of her own music videos. In addition to accepting the awards, she used the platform to premiere her self-directed music video for the track “Patient Zero,” which features actors Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.

While the event focused on celebrating these milestones, the ceremony also served as a showcase for Swift’s transition into directing. By highlighting her creative control over her visual projects, the awards show underscored her shift from a traditional pop performer to a multi-hyphenate creative director. The record-breaking achievement marks a significant moment in the history of the long-running music awards show, solidifying Swift's current dominance in the music industry.