Image via Complex Original
Award shows are a time for people of the entertainment industry to gather, celebrate, and, most importantly, one up each other. For some, fashion is the best way to show off your better body, or if your body is average, show off your confidence. For others, it's is a way to express yourself, like by wearing chunks of meat or simply donning a pasty over your lady parts.
Through the years, sexy celebrities have racked up some insane fashion statements. From sheer gowns to fishnet dresses, here's a record of the red carpet's most risqué looks of all time.
Written by Hope Schreiber (@hopeschreiber)
RELATED: The 100 Sexiest Red Carpet Moments In Oscar History
RELATED: The 50 Most Infamous Actresses of All Time
50. Beyoncé
Event: Met Gala, 2012
It has been 11 years since "Bootylicious" was released, and we have been ready for this jelly ever since.
49. Rebecca Romijn
Event: MTV Video Music Awards, 1998
Rebecca Romijn may look like she has bedded Cousin It, but she's just wearing a dress made of horse hair. Really.
48. Mariah Carey
Event: MTV Video Music Awards, 1997
In some pictures, it's hard to tell if Mariah Carey is wearing an actual top or a censor bar.
47. Olivia Munn
Event: Emmy Awards, 2012
The Newsroom actress is still classy when she's inches from a wardrobe malfunction.
46. Elizabeth Hurley
Event: Four Weddings and a Funeral premiere, 1994
This dress probably seems tame now, but in 1994, it really caused a stir. It's like when people used to freak out about seeing ladies' wrists.
45. Sasha Gradiva
Event: Grammy Awards, 2012
Red carpets are all about one-upping each other. Gradiva, the Russian-born American singer, did so by cosplay-ing as the Terminator.
44. Lea Michele
Event: Golden Globes, 2012
Lea Michele likes to distance herself from her innocent Rachel Berry character on Glee by wearing just enough to cover what's important.
43. Halle Berry
Event: MTV Video Music Awards, 2000
We guess there's no dress code at the Monster's Ball. Get it? Get it?!
42. Celine Dion
Event: Academy Awards, 1999
We will never understand the mysteries of Celine Dion. How did you button your blazer backwards? And why?
41. Anne Vyalitsyna
Event: Grammy Awards, 2012
The Victoria's Secret model opted against the typical "sideboob," and instead went for the side-vag look.
40. Kristen Stewart
Event: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn premiere, 2012
At the Breaking Dawn premiere a new moon rose: K-Stew's own full moon through her sheer dress.
39. Bjork
Event: Academy Awards, 2001
Upon seeing this dress, for the first time in history, the world let out a collective, "Nope."
38. Katy Perry
Event: MTV Movie Awards, 2011
We can't say we're surprised that Katy Perry had a risky red carpet look; she did shoot whipped cream out of her chest a couple of times.
37. Charlize Theron
Event: Snow White and the Huntsman premiere, 2012
The actress risked flashing more than she wanted to in this sheer dress, but she successfully maintained her ladyhood by just showcasing her legs.
36. Pamela Anderson
Event: MTV Video Music Awards, 2001
There's two reasons why Pamela is famous: her talent and her charm. (Talent and Charm are what we nicknamed her bewbz.)
35. Serena Williams
Event: After the Sunset event, 2004
The tennis pro was so close to having strategically placed stripes. Alas, her tennis balls ended up out of bounds.
34. Vivica A. Fox
Event: MTV Video Music Awards, 2003
50 Cent's smile represents how we all felt about this outfit in 2003, when we were freshmen in high school and never saw a naked woman before.
33. M.I.A.
Event: Grammy Awards, 2009
For when you can't wait to show off your baby.
32. Carmen Electra
Event: MTV Video Music Awards, 1997
The VMAs are like a time capsule of '90s fashion. We thank you for all the trends you've promoted, Electra; that is, for sideboobs and bare legs today.
31. Fergie
Event: MTV Video Music Awards, 2006
Fergie looks like she's about to appear in the porno version of Annie Hall. Annie Ball?
30. Kristin Cavallari
Event: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, 2011
Forgive her, the reality star mistook this red carpet event for a Dancing With the Stars rehearsal.
29. Keri Hilson
Event: Hennessy White Rabbit Event, 2012
The sexy singer's outfit looks fit for a museum. Also, vintage issues of Playboy.
28. Edie Williams
Event: Writers Guild Awards, 2004
The Beyond the Valley of the Dolls actress is well known for her red carpet looks, but at the 2004 Writers Guild Awards, she looked like your senile grandma walking through the neighborhood in her bra.
27. Candice Boucher
Event: Cannes Film Festival, 2011
The South African model was in Cannes for the screening of Footnote. The film almost won Best Foreign Picture, just like Boucher's dress almost left something to the imagination.
26. Christina Aguilera
Event: MTV Video Music Awards, 2002
Fashion tip! Recycle your winter wardrobe by making your scarf your shirt. Thanks, Christina.
25. Kate Bosworth
Event: Vanity Fair Oscar After-Party, 2006
The designer of this dress, Francisco Costa, said, "That red dress had a lining, and she took it out." Thanks, Kate!
24. Sharon Stone
Event: Golden Globes, 2003
Sharon Stone was a different kind of vampire at the awards show. While presenting Richard Gere with his trophy, she didn't suck blood, she sucked up his speech time.
23. Melody Thornton
Event: Elle's Women in Music, 2012
The singer showed her own, uh, "Pussycat" Doll, when she chose to forgo the underwear beneath her see-through dress. She said she "brought a classy twist" to her vintage dress. Yeah, we think we learned that at our etiquette school.
22. Erin Wasson
Event: InStyle Golden Globes After-Party, 2012
We'd make a joke, but she's probably still in character as the vampire from Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
21. Ke$ha
Event: MTV Europe Music Awards, 2010
Ke$ha likes to keep it simple—simple for where she comes from, which we suspect is the year 2525.
20. Adrienne Bailon
Event: Escape to Total Rewards event, 2012
The Cheetah Girl thought she'd just show a little skin, until her dress blew up and the camera captured, um, everything.
19. Nicki Minaj
Event: Grammy Awards, 2012
The eccentric rapper didn't show off any skin, but she still managed to be offensive. Don't worry, her date, the Pope, will probably forgive her.
18. Uma Thurman
Event: Swarovski charity event, 2007
Uma Thurman, while co-hosting the charity event, proved that Swarovski crystals are as timeless as her own 37-year-old butt.
17. Rihanna
Event: Grammy Awards, 2011
When Rihanna's stylists were plotting her outfit, they thought, "Who is the biggest diva we know?" Miss Piggy, of course. They then proceed to skin a Muppet and string it along, victoriously, across Rihanna's body.
16. Tara Reid
Event: MTV Movie Awards, 2003
Nothing says, "I'm a lady," like wearing booty shorts and a cape to the red carpet.
15. Gwyneth Paltrow
Event: Academy Awards, 2002
For a long time, we wondered what Paltrow would look like topless, then we saw this outfit. Some things are better left unknown.
14. Pink
Event: Grammy Awards, 2002
Pink compromised with herself when she couldn't decide between showing off her legs or wearing a comfy track suit.
13. Barbra Streisand
Event: Academy Awards, 1969
The designer of these transparent pants, Scaasi, told Streisand, "Let's show people how young and cute you are. Let's forget about that elegant bit." Success, Scaasi made Streisand the OG of see-through.
12. Micaela Schaefer
Event: German premiere of Men in Black 3, 2012
The model/actress improvised after her dress was caught in the office's paper shredder.
11. Margaret Cho
Event: Grammy Awards, 2004
Male peacocks erect their vibrant trains to attract mates. Unfortunately, nothing is erect while looking at this dress.
10. Dasha Astafieva
Event: Playboy's 55th Anniversary event, 2008
At least this Playmate knew to wear underwear underneath her sheer dress. That is, of course, before she removed her black thong further down the red carpet for pictures. Well, at least she's dedicated to her job at Playboy.
9. Coco Austin
Event: MTV Video Music Awards, 2005
Coco in a glorified fishnet dress? Yesyes please.
8. Toni Braxton
Event: Grammy Awards, 2001
There's nothing sexier than a long slit along the side of a woman's dress, showing off perfectly sculpted legs. However, when there's a slit on each side of the dress, and you can see the curve of a buttcheek, it's not a slit, it's a glorified loin cloth.
7. Traci Bingham
Event: Grammy Awards, 2001
Note to bachelors: invest in a bedazzler for when you run out of clean clothes on laundry day.
6. Lady Gaga
Event: MTV Video Music Awards, 2010
We're still not sure what Lady Gaga was promoting with this outfit; is eating meat good or bad? Should we skillet-fry our steaks or don them to our dinner party?
5. Britney Spears
Event: MTV Video Music Awards, 2002
Always a step up from the matching denim outfit with Justin Timberlake, Spears appeared at the VMAs dressed as a biker daddy.
4. Cher
Event: MTV Video Music Awards, 2010
A collective sigh was heard from drag queens across the land. "Damn," they said, "Now we have to dress up like this."
3. Lil' Kim
Event: MTV Video Music Awards, 1999
As if Lil' Kim's breast's appearance on the red carpet wasn't enough, we still have flashbacks of the great Diana Ross cupping it on stage while the two presented the award for Best Hip-Hop Video. Unfortunately, this fashion trend didn't take off; our prom dates and brides will never wear formal attire that exposes their left breasts, no matter how many times we've asked.
2. Jennifer Lopez
Event: Grammy Awards, 2000
J.Lo's swimsuit cover-esque dress is so infamous that South Park creator Trey Parker even paid homage to it at the Oscars that same year.
1. Rose McGowan
Event: MTV Video Music Awards, 1998
By showing a pasty butt and pretty much the rest of her, McGowan, to this day, is still the only person to distract from Marilyn Manson's weirdness.
