Celebrity Parents Shakira Brings Her Two Kids to the 2023 MTV VMAs to Accept the Video Vanguard Award The musician shares her two sons — Milan, 9, and Sasha, 7 – with ex Gerard Piqué By Hannah Sacks Hannah Sacks Hannah Sacks is a writer/reporter for the Parents team at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since May 2023. Her work has previously appeared in The Toy Insider, The Toy Book, The Pop Insider, and Saratoga Living. People Editorial Guidelines Published on September 12, 2023 08:22PM EDT Milan Piqué, Shakira and Sasha Piqué. Photo: Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Shakira is hit the 2023 MTV VMAs red carpet with two special plus ones — her sons! The Colombian superstar, who will be honored with the video vanguard award at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, brought along her two sons, Milan, 9, and Sasha, 7, as her dates to the award show. The family was all smiles on the red carpet, with the two boys embracing their mother, who is up for four Moon Person nominations. (In addition to receiving the video vanguard award, the Grammy winner is also up for artist of the year, best Latin for both "Acróstico" and both best Latin and best collaboration for "TQG," her song with Karol G.) Milan Piqué, Shakira and Sasha Piqué. Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty While the singer wore a glamorous gold gown, her sons rocked matching outfits that complimented her look. Both boys wore head to two black-and-yellow sweat suits, paired with sneakers in the same print to match. Check out PEOPLE's full MTV VMAs coverage to get the latest news on music’s big night. Shakira shares her two kids with ex Gerard Piqué. Although she split from the former footballer in June 2022, the star said she is doing all that she can to "conceal" the situation from her kids. "I try to do it and to protect them, because that's my number one mission in life," she told ELLE. Shakira to Be Honored with Video Vanguard Award at 2023 MTV VMAs: 'She's a Trailblazer for Women' She's also been adamant about giving her sons as normal of a life as possible. "I can't deny they can't escape the reality that I'm a public person, as well as their dad," Shakira told ET Canada in 2021. "But we try to provide as much normalcy as we can, and live really as very simple people." On Instagram in April, the singer opened up about moving from Barcelona, her family's previous homebase, to Miami. The Colombian singer penned a farewell to Barcelona, her home of the last eight years, in the caption, written in Spanish. Taylor Swift, SZA, Miley Cyrus and More Lead 2023 MTV Video Music Awards Nominations — See the List! "I settled in Barcelona to give my sons stability, the same that we are now looking for in another corner of the world besides family, friends and the sea. Today we started a new chapter in the search for happiness," she wrote, as translated to English. The Monotonía singer went on to thank "everyone who surfed many waves with me in Barcelona, the city where I learned that without a doubt, friendship is longer than love." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Shakira Snaps Cute Selfies with Sons Sasha and Milan at Dodgers Game in Los Angeles: 'Amazing' "Thank you to everyone there who encouraged me, dried my tears, inspired me and made me grow," she added. "Thank you to the Spanish public who always wrapped me up with care and loyalty. For you all this is just a see you later and, like my father always said, we'll see you in the curves!" The 2023 MTV VMAs are airing live from The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Tuesday, Sept. 12 on CBS and BET, BET Her, VH1, Comedy Central, CMT, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon and Paramount Network. Viewers can also catch the show through an MTV.com live stream or on Paramount+.