It’s been three years since she last won a major music award after taking a step back from the industry to become a mother.

But last night at the World Music Awards in Monaco, the Latina singer showed she was back for good as she dazzled in three different outfits.

It appeared the animal world was the inspiration for the night with the 40-year-old star wearing both leopard and tiger-print Roberto Cavalli dresses at the glitzy bash at the Sporting Club in Monte Carlo.

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Wild thing: Jennifer Lopez wore a leopard-print plunging gown as she arrived at last night’s World Music Awards in Monaco, before changing into a sparkling tiger-print gown with feathered hem to collect her award

Showcasing those famous curves: The backless Cavalli dresses showed Lopez’s toned back and hugged her famous derrière

Her love for animal print didn’t stop there – she managed to squeeze in a snake-skin clutch bag, which clashed with her leopard-print red carpet dress.

Lopez also slipped into a third ensemble, a sparkly silver and black mini-dress with fringed hemline and plunging neckline as she opened the show with a medley of her biggest hits on stage.

The singer, who launched her music career nearly 11 years ago, was honoured with the Legend for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts.

What a legend: Lopez was named Legend for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts

Let’s Get Loud: Lopez wore a tiny silver sparkly dress and thigh-high boots as she performed a medley of her hit songs

Previous winners of the Legend award include Sir Elton John, Madonna, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Prince, Mariah Carey and Cher.

Accepting the award, Lopez said it meant a lot to her but it was ‘only the beginning’ of what she hoped would be a long musical career.

The decision to honour Lopez with the Legend Award is sure to surprise many after her music career has been significantly less successful in recent years.

Her last big musical success was her 2002 album This Is Me… Then, which hit number six in the US charts and sold over 6million copies worldwide.

Me and my men: Lopez arrived with husband Marc Anthony (left) and posed alongside Italian designer Roberto Cavalli, who designed her two dresses

However, her 2005 album Rebirth received mixed reviews from critics and sold 731,000 copies in the U.S.

Her last album Brave, which was released three years ago, was her least successful album to date and only reached 24 on the British album charts.

Lopez announced she had parted ways with her record label Sony in February after 10 years, amid reports executives were unhappy with the commercial response to her latest singles Louboutins and Fresh Out Of The Oven.

She has now signed with Def Jam Recordings and is hoping to release her seventh studio album later this year.

Glamour: (L-R) Hostess Hayden Panettiere in an Emilio Pucci mini-dress, Czech supermodel Karolina Kurkova in a sparkly black Chanel mini and New Zealand model Rachel Hunter in a gold scaled mini

Lopez arrived at the ceremony on the arm of her singer husband Marc Anthony and also posed alongside Italian designer Cavalli, who is currently renting the couple his £20,000 eponymous-titled yacht.

The New Yorker and Anthony have been cruising around the French Riviera since arriving with their two-year-old twins Max and Emme last week.

Ahead of Lopez’s World Music Awards performance, she spent the day visiting billionaires Lakhsmi Mittal and Sir Philip Green on their respective multi-million pound yachts.

Family outing: Paris Hilton (2nd left) was joined by younger brother Barron and sister Nicky (centre), mother Kathy (2nd right) and father Rick

Aside from Lopez’s honour, the big winners of the night were The Black Eyed Peas and Lady GaGa.

The flamboyant GaGa was a notable absence at the bash, despite being named World’s Best Pop/Rock Artist, World’s Best New Artist, Best-Selling US Artist, World’s Best Single for Poker Face and World’s Best Album for The Fame.

Hip-hop group The Black Eyed Peas picked up three accolades, with only bandmember Will.i.am in attendance.

The rapper, who later joined Cheryl Cole at the de Grisogon party at Antibes, accepted the group’s World’s Best R&B Artist trophy from socialites Paris and Nicky Hilton.

Lots of leg: (L-R) American singer Deborah Cox, actress Michelle Rodriguez and Swedish model Victoria Silvstedt showed off their pins in short dresses

Full-length and fabulous: (L-R) Israeli socialite Hofit Golan in a red Jean Fares Couture gown, ex-Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton in a yellow strapless dress and Paris Hilton in pink silk number

It was a real family affair for the Hilton sisters, who arrived on the red carpet with parents Rick and Kathy and younger brother Barron.

Writing on her Twitter page, Paris said: ‘Jennifer Lopez looks beautiful, just did an amazing performance. Stunning.

‘David Guetta is Amazing! He won a lot of awards tonight and did an amazing set with Kelly Rowland, Akon and Wil.i.am. What great songs.’

French DJ David Guetta, who won two gongs last night, including Producer and World’s Best DJ, performed with Will.i.am and Kelly Rowland.

Show-stopping: French DJ David Guetta (back) and Black Eyed Peas rapper Will.i.am performed with a troupe of scantily-clad female dancers

Little black dress: American singers Kelly Rowland and Deborah Cox (right) showed their curves in tiny dresses as they performed on stage

Former Destiny’s Child singer Rowland performed their dance anthem When Love Takes Over in an unusual black dress which exposed one of her long legs.

Other winners included U2 with World’s Best Rock Artist, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli with World’s Best Classical Artist and Susan Boyle with Best-Selling Artist in the UK.

Last night’s ceremony was co-hosted by Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere, who attended with her Ukrainian boxer boyfriend Wladimir Klitschko.

Winners circle: (L-R) Senegalese R&B singer Akon won Best-selling African Artist, tenor Andrea Bocelli was named World’s Best Classical Artist while rapper Will.i.am accepted three awards on behalf of his group The Black Eyed Peas

Glitzy: Retail tycoon Sir Philip Green with his wife Lady Christina and daughter Chloe (left) and American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger with his wife Dee Ocleppo

The 20-year-old actress, who wore a cream and pink Emilio Pucci mini-dress and nude Christian Louboutin peep-toe heels, arrived separately from 35-year-old Klitschko, who she has been dating since Christmas.

Also providing some glamour last night was Czech supermodel Karolina Kurkova, Swedish model Victoria Silvstedt, New Zealand model Rachel Hunter and American actress Michelle Rodriguez.

Other performers included Senegalese singer Akon – who won Best-selling Artist in Africa, American singer Deborah Cox, Bocelli, The Scorpions, Italian crooner Tiziano Ferro and Japanese singer Namie Amuro.

Ready to party: (L-R) Australian singer Peter Andre, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko and former Bee Gee Robin Gibb also attended