Music
Tyla Hosted the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, Got Slimed & Still Slayed Every Look
Y2K fashion met Gen Z cool as South Africa’s Tyla hosted the 2025 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in vintage Cavalli, made a high-energy entrance, and walked away with a fan-voted award celebrating African excellence.

Photo Credit: Tyla/Instagram
Tyla had a big night at the 2025 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, and not just because she left the stage covered in slime. The South African pop star hosted the event and won Favourite Global Music Star, joining a long list of artists who’ve used this award show to embrace the chaos and have fun with it.
The event, held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, marked her first time hosting a major international awards show. She admitted the whole thing felt surreal. Years ago, she auditioned for Nickelodeon. This time, she was centre stage. “It’s crazy how things come around,” she said. “I just hope I only get a little drizzle of slime.” That didn’t quite happen.
Tyla kicked things off with a huge dance-filled opener celebrating the songs of summer. Benny Blanco was on the decks, dancers filled the stage, and Smurfette made a surprise appearance. The vibe was all about joy, movement, and having a good time.
When her name was called halfway through the night, she looked genuinely moved. “This means the world to me — to represent Africa on a global stage and be recognised by all you amazing kids out there… wow,” she said. “Thank you for believing in me and dancing with me. Africa to the world.”
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