There may have been no signature moment at last week’s MTV Video Music Awards, but there was a signature sound: the screams of teenage girls wild about One Direction.

It stopped just short of a British invasion, but the hunky teens in the boy band won three awards on Thursday night’s show and barged in on Rihanna’s party.

Rihanna kicked off things with a spicy performance to open the night’s show, then ended it by taking the show’s top honor, video of the year, for her steamy hit “We Found Love.”

“Doesn’t my girl Rihanna look sexy tonight?” Katy Perry asked the crowd after the performance.

And the night’s lead nominee did, showing up in a pixie cut and a figure-hugging, elegant scoop-backed white dress before changing into a flowing red outfit for her medley of new single “Cockiness (I Love It)” with rapper A$AP Rocky and “We Found Love.” She brushed imaginary dust from her shoulder as she walked to the stage to thank fans and her creative team.

The camera returned to the pop star often — except when it was on One Direction, which provided the night’s most screamed-over performance. The band won best pop video, best new artist and most share-worthy video.

“We’ve grown up watching this show and to even be here is an honor,” Niall Horan said from the stage.