VMAs 2015: Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj make nice with joint performance of 'Bad Blood'

Two of the most powerful women in pop hugged following the performance

(Getty)

Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift put an end to their 'feud' in style at the MTV Video Music Awards last night, performing a dazzling surprise medley together.

Minaj kicked off the ceremony as planned, performing 'Trini Dem Girls', before launching into 'The Night Is Young,' during which Swift arose from beneath the stage in a matching red outfit.

The pair then sang Swift's 'Bad Blood' together, before hugging and smiling at each other to close the performance.

.@NICKIMINAJ just killed it opening the #VMAs and so did her special guest! http://t.co/Xpl2djiKQ4

— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2015

Conversely however, Minaj appeared to initiate new beef during the ceremony with Miley Cyrus, though many think the moment was staged and the pair were merely joking about the endless gossip site-fuelled "beefs" that are always being talked up.

Swift had a busy night, releasing her new music video for 'Wildest Dreams' during the pre-show and picking up a host of awards for 'Bad Blood' and 'Blank Space'.

Cyrus proved a predictably naked host - skimpy outfits and (intentional?) nipple slips abound - while Kanye West stunned the audience by announcing he will run for president in 2020.

Perhaps the best performance of the night came from The Weeknd, whose sizzling rendition of 'Can't Feel My Face' even had Kanye dancing in the audience.