Lorde goes home empty-handed from AMAs

Lorde performs onstage at the 2014 American Music Awards. Photo / Getty Images

Lorde has delivered a showstopping, lipstick-smearing performance at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles - but the Kiwi teen has gone home empty-handed.

The Devonport pop star was nominated for Artist of the Year, Favourite Female Artist, Favourite Album and Favourite Artist in the Alternative Rock categories, but missed out on all of them.

Artist of the Year went to 5 Seconds of Summer, Favourite Female Artist was won by Katy Perry, Favourite Album was taken out by One Direction's Midnight Melodies, and the Alt Rock award was won by Imagine Dragons.

But that didn't stop Lorde from delivering a showstopping performance of her latest song from the soundtrack of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, Yellow Flicker Beat.

Click here to watch:

Lorde first appeared bathed in a blue light which then changed to a red hue but it wasn't exactly clear where the singer was.

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Image 1 of 11: Luke James, left, and Jessie J arrive at the 42nd annual American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre. Photo / AP

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She appeared to be in a padded room, the walls of which then lifted to reveal the singer was on the stage at the awards ceremony in the Nokia Theatre in LA.

In a modest outfit of black pants and a cropped white T-shirt she sang her song and thrashed around while people in white stood eerily motionless on stage before busting out her signature dance moves.

Lorde's mother and fellow pop star Taylor Swift were seen dancing together throughout the song, with Swift gasping when Lorde wiped lipstick across her face as her finale.

Earlier, breakthrough newcomer Iggy Azalea won her first award ever at the American Music Awards, taking down rap heavyweights Eminem and Drake.

Azalea won favorite rap/hip-hop album for her debut, The New Classic.

Gallery: 2014 AMAs awards show

Image 1 of 15: Recording artist Lorde performs onstage at the 2014 American Music Awards. Photo / Getty Images

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"This award is the first award I've ever won in my entire life, and it means so much to me that it is for best hip-hop because that's what inspired me to move to America and pursue my dreams, and it's what helped me when I was a teenager to escape and to get through my life and to better times," the 24-year-old Australian rapper said.

"And it means so much that I can stand here against Eminem and Drake and come out with this," she continued.

Azalea was the lead nominee with six, including artist of the year. She performed her massive hit, Fancy, which is nominated for single of the year, as well as her new song, Beg for It.

Taylor Swift kicked off the AMAs as a mad woman and man eater by feeding a boy a poisonous apple, holding burning roses and giving crazy eyes during a performance of her song about her dating life.

Winners of the 2014 American Music Awards:

Artist of the year: One Direction
New artist of the year: 5 Seconds of Summer
Single of the year: Katy Perry feat. Juicy J, Dark Horse
Pop/rock female artist: Katy Perry
Pop/rock male artist: Sam Smith
Pop/rock band, duo or group: One Direction
Pop/rock album: One Direction, Midnight Melodies
Country female artist: Carrie Underwood
Country male artist: Luke Bryan
Country band, duo or group: Florida Georgia Line
Country album: Brantley Gilbert, Just As I Am
Rap/hip-hop artist: Iggy Azalea
Rap/hip-hop album: Iggy Azalea, The New Classic
Soul/R&B female artist: Beyoncé
Soul/R&B male artist: John Legend
Soul/R&B album: Beyoncé, Beyoncé
Latin artist: Enrique Iglesias
Alternative rock: Imagine Dragons
Adult contemporary: Katy Perry
Contemporary inspirational: Casting Crowns
Electronic dance music: Calvin Harris
Soundtrack: Frozen

- AAP and AP