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The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) on September 7 were a historic night for K-pop, with BLACKPINK making headlines. Rosé, in particular, captured attention by taking home the Song of the Year award alongside Bruno Mars for their collaboration on APT.—marking the first time a K-pop act has won this major category.
During her acceptance speech, Rosé delivered a heartfelt and unexpectedly personal message. She began by thanking Bruno Mars for believing in her, saying, “I feel like this is a really big moment for myself and a lot of other people. Thank you so much, Bruno. I can’t believe this. I’m gonna call you after.” She then reflected on her journey, sharing that a recent conversation revealed her deepest fear: “I feared that somewhere along this journey of pursuing my dreams I might hit a wall and disappoint my 16-year-old self who grew up always an oddball among society, who wished someday she could be herself and pursue her dreams like anyone else I saw on television.”
Rosé dedicated her award to her younger self and expressed gratitude to those who supported her growth, helping her overcome imposter syndrome. She also included a unique shoutout: “As my therapist tells me to do every day, I’d like to thank myself for not giving up even in the toughest of times.”
BLACKPINK didn’t stop there—they also took home Group of the Year, cementing their milestone moment at the VMAs. The night celebrated both individual and collective achievements, shining a spotlight on the global impact of K-pop.