Rihanna performed a short version of " Only Girl ( In the World ) " at the 31st Brit Awards on February 15 , 2011 , as part of a medley with two other singles from '' Loud '' : " S&M " and " What 's My Name ? " . She had planned to perform " S&M " only ( to coincide with its United Kingdom release ) , but was asked by the British Phonographic Industry to " tone down the sexual references in the song 's lyrics " . Rihanna was reportedly angered at the request and a related one to perform a different song . She made the changes because the BPI wanted to avoid complaints like those received after the seventh-series finale of '' The X Factor '' on December 11 , 2010 , when Rihanna was criticized for wearing a provocative outfit and performing a suggestive , " disgusting " dance routine before the 9 pm UK watershed . Rihanna performed " Only Girl ( In the World ) " , " California King Bed " , " What 's My Name ? " and " S&M " on NBC 's May 27 , 2011 '' Today '' as part of its summer concert series . The song , which was included on the Loud , 777 and the Diamonds World Tours , was the opener for her performance at Radio 1 's Hackney Weekend on May 24 , 2012 . She also performed the song at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards
2016 MTV Video Music Awards
2016 MTV Video Music Awards
Only Girl (In the World)