TORONTO — Keshia Chante was the belle of the ball at the Urban Music Awards on Thursday, walking away with hardware for all three categories she was nominated in.

Wearing a bright teal dress and fur caplet, the 16-year-old Ottawa-born singer took home best new artist, video of the year for Bad Boy and the fan's choice award. She beat Canadian Idol runner-up Gary Beals, rapper Kyprios and soul group In Essence for the new artist honours.

Chante said she's always wanted a career in music like the idols she grew up watching on MuchMusic.

"I used to pretend I was the one on TV. I used to watch their mannerisms," she said on her way inside the John Bassett Theatre on the city's waterfront.

"It feels really natural now. I feel like this is where I'm supposed to be."

It's the latest triumph for the petite chanteuse, whose sound resembles her idol Beyonce. Last year, she won best new solo artist at the Canadian Radio Awards.

It's the sixth year the non-profit Urban Music Association of Canada has been organizing the awards, which cover 24 categories including soca, gospel, jazz and spoken word.

For the first time, the artists were greeted with a red carpet filled with journalists and photographers.

Rapper K-os was awarded best hip hop recording for his song B-Boy Stance, a infectious '80s-influenced breakdance number.

Ray Robinson won best soul recording for Missed Your Chance. The Toronto-born singer started his career as a gospel singer in the U.S. and was a backup singer for the Philosopher Kings before breaking out as a solo artist.

Haydain Neale of Jacksoul took best songwriter honours.

The Hamilton-born soul singer said he practices his craft daily.

"I treat it as cross-training. I want to keep myself always warmed up," said Neale, who will be touring with legend James Brown next month.

Neale said it was important for urban artists to get together separate from the other awards shows like the Junos.

"It's more a celebration for a bunch of insiders that have realized they have a lot in common," he said. "For a bunch of us this industry didn't exist when we were kids. It's neat to know there's enough of us to fill a nationally televised TV show."

The show featured some American guests, with American hip hop artist Lloyd Banks of G-Unit and Anson Carter of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings among the presenters.

But the ceremony was mostly about recognizing Canada's growing pool of urban talent. Chante, Robinson, Jacksoul and Dione Taylor were among the performers.

Other winners included K-Naan for best global rhythms recording and the Clayton/Scott Group for best jazz recording.

Montreal rap group Muzion, who joined Wyclef Jean for a track on the singer's latest record, took the best francophone recording award. Best reggae recording went to Kardinal Offishall for Empty Barrell, a track featuring Blessed.

Popular urban music director Mr. X was awarded a special achievement award. He's responsible for creating sonic visuals for some of the world's hottest artists, including Usher, Alicia Keys, R. Kelly and Jay-Z.

The Toronto-born Mr. X also shared the best video award for directing Chante's Bad Boy video.