Inside Leslie Jones’s Hilarious and Chic Night at the MTV Movie & TV Awards

The MTV Movie and TV Awards couldn’t have found a better host than Leslie Jones. The actress-comedian is not just funny; she’s clued-in to every pop culture development, as anyone who follows Jones on social media can attest. Naturally, when she took to the stage at Hollywood Palladium to kick off the ceremony this weekend, Jones was ready. “I was so excited! I watch all the movies and TV, so I was the perfect person to host these awards,” Jones shared post-show. “[Plus] it was so great being in front of a live audience again!” 

Jones had the crowd in stitches with her send-ups of hits like Bridgerton and WandaVision. She had a hand in every element of the process, going in with a list of programming ripe for parody. “I had just live-tweeted the Justice League Snyder Cut, so I wanted to incorporate that in the show somehow,” says Jones. “We were able to work it into that iconic Bridgerton scene, and it’s just such a hilarious mashup.” The spoof of Netflix’s period drama and its steamy sex scenes immediately went viral thanks to a raucous performance from Jones and a cameo from the show’s heartthrob, Regé-Jean Page. In the clip, Jones is inserted into the show and lands a bodice-ripping night with the Duke of Hastings.  “I had a vision for that from the beginning, and it was so cool seeing it come together,” says Jones. “My glam team went all out creating that look, and it was perfect!” 

Regency period garb wasn’t the only area where Jones and her team of stylist Brian McPhatter, makeup artist Lola Okanlawon, and hairstylist Dennis Bailey went all out. With multiple outfit changes, Jones switched from the slinky—an orange column gown by Bishme Cromartie—to the sleek—Escada’s zebra print power suit. “Anytime I’m on stage, I am very active, so comfort is a top priority,” says Jones. “I consider [my team] to be my family! They do a great job making me look good, and they have my back—I know everything is going to go well with them by my side.” 

Hosting was thrilling, but Jones’s night ended with a surprise: the award for Best Comedic Performance for her role in Coming 2 America. “I was surprised and grateful,” she says. “My fans are awesome, and I love that the film is still so loved across the world. It was a great moment for me.” 

Here, the star takes Vogue along for her evening with a special diary.