It’s safe to say that Ukrainian director Tanu Muiño has won 2021.
Muiño collected three MTV Video Music Awards for “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” a music video for U.S. rapper Lil Nax X. She co-directed the video along with Lil Nax X himself. The ceremony took place in New York City on Sept. 12.
“Montero” won the main prize as Video of the Year, as well as awards for Best Directing and Best Visual Effects.
Lil Nas X accepted the Video of the Year prize on stage. It was a directorial debut and the first expressively sexual music video for the openly gay rapper. After first saying “let’s go gay agenda” in his acceptance speech, Lil Nas X went on to thank his co-director. “Thank you to Tanu (Muiño), oh my God!” the singer said.
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Muiño hasn’t yet commented on the win. So far the Ukrainian director has reposted Instagram posts by Lil Nas X and the Video Music Awards to her Instagram stories adding “yess!” and “what!”
In the Video of the Year category, Muiño’s video beat Cardi B’s “WAP,” Doja Cat’s “Kiss Me More,” Drake and DJ Khaled’s “Popstar” and Ed Sheeran’s “Bad Habits.”
“Montero” came out in late March. Provocative and bold, it quickly became a sensation. The video has reached nearly 347 million views on YouTube.
The music video was nominated for five MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 11. “OMG! Dream come true!!!” Muiño wrote on Instagram following the announcement of nominations.
Muiño has an impressive portfolio of directing music videos for big music stars such as Cardi B, Lizzo, Normani and Yungblud.
