Selena Gomez emerged onstage amidst low lights and fog, looking ethereal and slightly more grown-up. Although it wasn't a stadium-rocking performance like Lady Gaga or Katy Perry, Gomez powered through her pop song with a sense of earnestness and commitment. She didn't even miss a beat when her earpiece appeared to fall out mid-song.

Gomez and her band were presented with the Favorite Breakout Artist award, beating out B.o.B, Ke$ha, Bruno Mars and, curiously enough, Justin Bieber. Gomez was noticeably moved by the recognition. "Thank you so much," she said. "If you let me, I would do this forever."

The teen queen told MTV News earlier this year that her album was partly inspired by her fans.

"I mean, even down from putting the track listing and numbering it, I wanted to make sure I envisioned [fans] putting it in their car or putting it on their iPod and how I wanted them to listen to the record," she explained of the process. "I wanted to make sure it made people feel good, but I also dedicated a couple songs to my fans, because there were moments onstage that I wish I could give to them, because they mean so much to me."