MIAMI (AP) - Colombian superstars Shakira and Juanes and Argentine pop singer Diego Torres led the nominations with five each at the first ever MTV Video Music Awards Latin America.

Thursday night's awards show, to air live in Spanish on MTV Latin America and with English subtitles on MTV2, honors the best music videos in Latin music.

Nominees for video of the year were: Enrique Iglesias, "Hero"; Juanes, "A Dios Le Pido"; Paulino Rubio, "Si Tu Te Vas"; Shakira, "Suerte"; and Diego Torres, "Color Esperanza."

The English-language versions of some of the nominated videos have been huge hits on MTV. Iglesias' "Hero," Rubio's video, translated as "Don't Say Goodbye," and Shakira's video, known on MTV as "Whenever, Wherever," have been mainstays on the network's "Total Request Live" countdown.

Last month, Shakira won a Latin Grammy for the "Suerte" video. Juanes also was a winner that night, for best rock song for "A Dios Le Pido."

Carlos Santana, Juanes, Rubio and Mana were among scheduled performers at the awards show Thursday, to be held at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach.

The hosts were Argentine TV and radio personality Mario Pergolini and Mexican actor Diego Luna. Scheduled presenters included Iggy Pop, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter and model Elsa Benitez.

ON THE NET

MTV Video Music Awards Latin America: http://www.mtv.com/onair/vma_la/2002/