LONDON - Pop sensation Charli XCX turned the Brit Awards into the brat awards on Saturday as she claimed five gongs at the annual celebration of UK music.
Fresh from winning three Grammys, the 32-year-old behind the cultural movement "brat summer" won Album Of The Year, the evening's most coveted gong, at the 45th annual awards ceremony in London's O2 Arena.
"Brat", the artist's sixth album and launched in June with its lime-green cover and celebration of a relaxed, partying lifestyle, transformed her into one of the top music stars in 2024.
It redefined the word "brat", which even became associated with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris when fans began applying the coloured "brat" filter to the nominee's images.
"I am living proof that you don't need to compromise," she said on picking up the award.
The album beat off competition from veteran band The Cure, seven-time Brit winner Dua Lipa, jazz group Ezra Collective and indie-rockers The Last Dinner Party.
Charli XCX -- full name Charlotte Aitchison -- also won song of the year for "Guess", featuring Billie Eilish, and thanked the US singer for the collaboration.
"I'm really happy a song about underwear now has a Brit Award," she joked.
Her other two awards on the night were for best artist and best dance act, adding to the best songwriter prize she was awarded on Wednesday.
However, she asked not to perform as she did not want the "added pressure", but laughed at her table when host Jack Whitehall suggested it was because she wanted to get drunk.
Ezra Collective claimed the best group award, while The Last Dinner Party won best new artist.