The best photos are the ones you didn’t see on the VMA red carpet

So much amazing stuff happened at the MTV Video Music Awards last night. Rihanna received the Vanguard Award, Beyoncé slayed the red carpet with Blue Ivy (even though little Blue didn’t want to be there!) and Rihanna and Drake almost kissed.

But there was so much morethat you didn’t see—and it’s all the best stuff! Check out some of the behind-the-scenes action…

Blue Ivy was happy to be there at one point.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJrFVYyBov2

Queen Bey was looking fly long before showtime.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJrD2uOBTj0

Olympian Michael Phelps and his gorgeous fiancée, Nicole Johnson, partied with Kim and Kanye.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJrshPHgeEp

Drake met Rihanna’s grandfather.

Further fueling those engagement rumors!

And Rihanna chopped it up with Naomi Campbell backstage before accepting her Vanguard Award.

You need to see Campbell’s incredible glittering lipstick.

Alicia Keys and her husband, Swizz Beats, gave us major #relationshipgoals.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJr2WMBhcbT

And Swizz shared this *epic* behind-the-scenes moment.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJr01KcBxE0

Puff Daddy took a powerful photo with Sybrina Fulton, Gwen Carr, Lezley McSpadden and Wanda Johnson,  the mothers of slain African-American men Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Michael Brown and Oscar Grant III.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJsSUqjAfhW

As did Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.

The women were guests of Beyoncé.

Kim, of course, was snapping the night away, taking selfies with members of the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team, and star of the Final Five, Simone Biles.

Britney Spears was pure loveliness backstage before her performance.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJq9iqHBeSS

And was having fun with Kim K.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJsxCvrBQXU

Ariana Grande made a new friend (!!)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJtDBP6Adeo

And in the end, Rihanna (tried to) give Drake the kiss we all hoped for (even if it was painfully awkward!)

Lmaoooooo RT @HOT97: Did Rihanna Kiss-Curve Drake at the #VMAs ?#EbroInTheMorning https://t.co/aMFEm6ORp5

— LA FINGITRIZ🦄✈️🦅💛 (@Lina_Loop) August 29, 2016

What a night, friends. What. A. Night.