Ariana Grande didn't come to play at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards—she came to pray... or at least, make everyone bow down to the cosmic goddess that she is.

The Sweetener singer made her live "God Is a Woman" performance debut tonight (Monday, August 20) at the VMAs, dazzling the Radio City Music Hall crowd in New York City with nearly 50 diverse female backup dancers—a visual treat her brother Frankie teased on the red carpet just hours before the show.

Wearing a glittering gold two-piece, Grande kicked off her performance by posing like a Renaissance painting diva amid a scenic display of regal columns and swirling celestial visuals. Dancing slowly and sensually along with her backup dancers, Grande embraced the goddess within her, making for an empowering display of feminist pop.

Her message of girl power culminated towards the end though, when she welcomed her cousin, Lani, grandmother, Marjorie, and mother, Joan, onstage, while beau Pete Davidson and brother Frankie Grande clapped for the ladies in their lives from the audience.

2018 MTV Video Music Awards - Show
Kevin Mazur, Getty Images
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