Britney still the Teen Choice

The awards were shaped like surfboards

Pop superstar Britney Spears was among the big winners at this year's US Teen Choice Awards, proving that she is still adored by her fans despite reports that she was losing her appeal.

Rappers Ja Rule and Nelly were among the other stars to pick up prizes at the ceremony that included awards like best lip lock, the movie your parents didn't want you to see and "best hissy fit".

Friends was named best TV comedy

Spears was named best female artist in the awards, which are voted for by readers of the US teenage girls' magazine Seventeen.

She was also voted "female hottie" of the year and presented the gong for best comedy to Friends stars Matt Le Blanc and Matthew Perry.

She appeared on stage with her younger sister Jamie Lynn, who threatened to sell pictures of the singer in the bath on an internet auction site.

Spears recently courted anger from her fans for abandoning a concert after just four songs and made an obscene gesture to photographers.

Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt sang at the show

She has also been booed at the UK première of her debut film, Crossroads, and at concerts in Texas and Australia.

'N Sync won two awards, and they were joined on stage by a man in a spacesuit who was standing in for Lance Bass - currently training to become the next space tourist.

'N Sync's collaboration with Nelly, Girlfriend, was named best single, while Ja Rule was crowned best male artist.

The ceremony also featured an appearance by actress Jennifer Love Hewitt, who surprised the crowd by breaking into a performance of a single she had been working on.

"What I just did is possibly the best thing I have ever felt in my whole life. I had a really good time," she said.

Ben Stiller won the coveted "best hissy fit" award

The Osbournes was voted best reality TV show, while Adam Sandler was best comedian. His film Mr Deeds joined American Pie 2 and Spider-Man as winners in the movie categories.

Before the show, stars talked about their teenage years as they walked up the red carpet and Pamela Anderson described herself as "still a teenager at heart".

Straight-talking British Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell - who now features on American Idol - said he thought US teenagers had more spirit than they had shown during the auditions for the talent show.

"I'm more surprised that more haven't answered me back," he said.