Taylor Momsen, frontwoman of the rock band the Pretty Reckless and former Gossip Girl actor, drew attention at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday after walking the red carpet in a look that exposed her sculpted midsection.
The 32-year-old wore a black bra paired with a low-slung leather maxi skirt, chunky platform boots and multiple silver necklaces, an outfit styled by Lindsey Hartman. Hairstylist Eddie Parra added waves to Momsen’s platinum‑blonde hair while makeup artist Steph Gomez applied a dramatic smoky eye and defined brows. She posed on the carpet with fellow goth rocker Yungblud and flashed a rare smile behind the scenes during the fan‑voted ceremony at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, which aired live on MTV, CBS and Paramount+.
Social media users reacted quickly to images from the event. On X, some praised Momsen’s appearance — @_colorfulmess called out her "chiseled abs" — while other accounts speculated about possible cosmetic procedures. A translated post attributed to @Lu_Marandes suggested ab etching or a non‑surgical laser procedure, and @Horlamide121 asked why she appeared thinner. User @bisuneri1979 said, "Taylor's always been unapologetically herself, and those abs are proof she's still rocking it." Accounts cited are individual reactions on the platform and represent a range of comments on the red carpet appearance.
Momsen has posted fitness‑related content in recent days, including a gym selfie captioned "back to work," but she has not detailed a specific regimen. The singer and rhythm guitarist has been active on the music front: last Friday the Pretty Reckless released "For I Am Death," the band's first single in four years, accompanied by a music video in which Momsen appears nude with black body paint. The track is widely presumed to be the lead single from the band’s forthcoming fifth studio album; Momsen told Loudwire Nights on Aug. 29 that more announcements are coming and asked fans to "stay tuned. This is just the beginning and the next 12 months is going to be insane."
The release follows a 15‑month tour run as the opening act for AC/DC’s Power Up Tour, a 61‑date trek that completed in late August. Momsen has described working with the veteran rock band positively, telling reporters she had made a "lifelong connection" with the group and calling the experience a dream come true. The Pretty Reckless, which Momsen founded in 2009, has sold more than 1 million records and averages roughly 2.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Beyond touring and new music, the band is scheduled to contribute a cover of Bad Company's 1970 hit "All Right Now" to the tribute album Can't Get Enough: A Tribute to Bad Company, set for release Oct. 24.
Momsen began her career as a child actor and recording artist. She released her first song, "Where Are You Christmas?", at age 7 for the 2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas soundtrack and played Cindy Lou Who in the film. She later retired from acting after her six‑season stint as Jenny Humphrey on the CW series Gossip Girl, telling Podcrushed in 2023 that acting was "a childhood thing" she had been placed into and that she chose to focus on music as an adult.
At the VMAs, Momsen’s appearance briefly shifted conversation toward her physical transformation and current projects, joining a broader red‑carpet landscape of nominees and performers. The ceremony featured a wide range of contemporary artists across categories including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Rock, among others.
Momsen and the Pretty Reckless continue to promote new material while balancing live performances and festival appearances; the band’s recent single and video mark their first major release since completing the AC/DC opening dates. Momsen has repeatedly signaled more activity ahead but has otherwise kept details of the band’s plans tightly controlled, saying there is ‘‘so much I’m not allowed to say’’ about upcoming projects.
Her transition from child actor to rock frontwoman remains a focal point of her public narrative: Momsen has emphasized the shift toward creative control and touring life, and continues to generate media attention both for her music and her public image.