Lady Gaga stole the show at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Belfast on Sunday, scooping four prizes and going one better than 2010 when she also led the field with three.

The flamboyant 25-year-old New Yorker won best female artist, best song and video for her hit single Born This Way as well as the biggest fans award.

“I knew that this song was very special when I wrote it and I just didn’t know when I first started out … how special you would all be to me,” a tearful Gaga told a packed, boisterous Odyssey Arena as she accepted the best song award.

“This is the single most important song that I’ve ever written and the single most important album. I love you little monsters to the end!” she added, using the term she employs to describe her fans.

Canadian teen sensation Justin Bieber was among the other multiple winners, picking up best pop act and top male singer.

Much of the attention in the run-up to the awards has been on the 17-year-old, who has denied allegations made by a US woman that he fathered her child when he was 16.

Lady Gaga, Bieber’s girlfriend Selena Gomez, an actress and singer, hosted the MTV event, and the pair were photographed out the previous night in the city in a public show of togetherness.

Los Angeles rockers Thirty Seconds to Mars won two awards — best alternative act and best world stage – as did Bruno Mars, honoured as the best new act and “push” artist who was promoted by MTV as an up-and-coming talent.

Katy Perry was voted best live act by more than 150 million MTV voters who decided most of the prizes. Eminem won best hip-hop artist, repeating his 2010 success, and Linkin Park scooped best rock.