Doja Cat and SZA light up the main stage of 2021 Billboard Awards with performance of Kiss Me More

Some of the biggest and brightest pop stars hit the stage for the 2021 Billboard Awards at the Microsoft Theaters in Downtown Los Angeles on Sunday.

Among the highlights: Doja Cat and SZA’s racy performance of Kiss Me More, complete with spectacularly colorful backdrop and a bevy of backup dancers.

Doja commanded the spotlight as the dancers, decked out in skimpy ensembles and orange globes on their heads, circled around her for the opening bars.

Center stage: Doja Cat and SZA performed a racy rendition of Kiss Me More at the 2021 Billboard Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Downtown Los Angeles on Sunday

But once the angelic opening gave way to a smooth-groovin’ beat, Cat (born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini) took center stage all by her one.

Decked out in a skin-tight white number with a black spot over her breasts, she proceeded to deliver the catchy number as she gyrated alongside the dancers.

Celebrity stylist Jared Henderson used a few go-to products from Joico’s range including hairsprays and oils to ‘keep her hair in place all night while also producing maximum shine and gloss under all of the lights.’

‘Our theme of the night was Afrocentric Futurism so I wanted to incorporate braided elements in our hairstyles tonight while also pulling the hair out of her face so that the outfits really shined for the evening,’ Henderson added.

After breaking into a rap and delivering another chorus, SZA (born Solána Imani Rowe) made her grand arrival on to the stage for the breakdown section of the song.

Making waves: Kiss Me More has peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart since its dropped on April 9

Owning it: Off the top, Doja commanded the spotlight as her backup dancers, decked out in skimpy ensembles and orange globes on their heads, circled around her for the opening bars

Dynamic duo: : SZA would make her grand arrival on stage about midway through the song

With striking bright yellow tresses, SZA left little to the imagination in a sheer black ensemble consisting of skimpy shorts and a matching crop top.
She would belt out her vocals while atop a platform at the back of the stage.

Cat would step up her dance moves, with the backup dancers, when the song reached a percussion-heavy instrumental section.

There were several points during the performance where Cat pushed the racy envelope and began to touch herself.

As the plush colors of orange, yellow, red, blue and green surrounded the stage in the closing moments, the two ladies would eventually sing together and trade lines, all while still shaking their stuff about the stage.

Doja Cat shares sneak peek backstage at Billboard Music Awards

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Do a little dance: Cat would step up her dance moves, with the backup dancers, when the song reached a percussion-heavy instrumental section

Top dog: Cat would win the award for Top Female R&B Artist out of her five nominations

‘Felt so great to perform ‘Kiss Me More’ with @SZA on the @BBMAs,’ the Say So singer captioned a clip of the performance she posted on Instagram.

SZA stunned on the red carpet wearing a strappy black dress, and makeup architect Deena Paley used Charlotte Tilbury products to create an effortless glow.

She prepped her face with magic cream moisturizer before applying Airbrush Flawless Longwear Foundation, and added glitter to her eyes with the help of Tilbury’s cream shadow pot Star Gold and Palette of Pops Luxury Eyeshadow Palette.

Some of the other performers during the event included The Weeknd, Pink, Duran Duran, AJR, Bad Bunny, Karol G, BTS, Glass Animals, Sounds of Blackness featuring Ann Nesby, Alicia Keys, Jonas Brothers and Twenty One Pilots.

Kiss Me More has peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart since its dropped on April 9.

Cat came into the event with five BBMA nominations, which is the third-highest total for any of the female artists this year. She would go on to beat out SZA and take home the trophy for Top Female R&B Artist.

SZA had previously won the awards for Top Female R&B artist three years ago.

SZA stuns in black as she poses ahead of Billboard Music Awards

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As the plush colors of orange, yellow, red, blue and green surrounded the stage in the closing moments, the two ladies would eventually sing together and trade lines