01of 18
Big Debut
Lifetime
JoJo Siwa – whose real name is Joelle Joanie – was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 19, 2003.
02of 18
Dance Kid
Siwa followed up her debut with a two-season stint onDance Momsin 2015.
Siwa toldPEOPLEin 2016 of her relationship with Miller, “She’s tough, but I love her. She makes me cry a lot, but you kind of just have to grab some tissues and go back in.”
The show’s executive producer, Bryan Stinson, toldRolling Stone, “During shooting, the crew would gather in the control room to watch JoJo’s interviews live because they were so compelling.”
03of 18YouTube SensationGettyIn 2015, Siwa took her newfound fan base and headed to YouTube, where she soon began to amass a large amount of followers. Shecurrently has more than 12 million subscriberson YouTube.
03of 18
YouTube Sensation
Getty
In 2015, Siwa took her newfound fan base and headed to YouTube, where she soon began to amass a large amount of followers. Shecurrently has more than 12 million subscriberson YouTube.
04of 18Sing OutGettyIn 2016, Siwa broke onto the music scene with her first single, “Boomerang.” The video has been viewed upwards of 900 million times on YouTube and went platinum in August 2017.
04of 18
Sing Out
In 2016, Siwa broke onto the music scene with her first single, “Boomerang.” The video has been viewed upwards of 900 million times on YouTube and went platinum in August 2017.
05of 18
Bow Down to the Bow Queen
Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photobank
Siwa toldTodayin 2019 that her bow is “more than a cute, fun hair accessory.” She said that, because she and her fans don’t stand for bullying, the bow is almost a signal for others. “When you see a kid or someone wearing a JoJo bow, you know that they’re a Siwanator, which means they are kind, they are nice, they are strong, they are powerful, they love everyone, they support everyone, they want to be your friend, they want to be everyone’s friend.”
Siwatold the outletthat there were 60 million bows sold that year.
06of 18
A Big Deal
Andrew Toth/Getty
Siwa has her own doll, a line of slime, a clothing line called JoJo’s Closet, a beverage called JoJo’s Juice and more. She has continued to sell products through Claire’s as well, though that hasn’t been without a few hiccups.
The star has had to respond to backlash from fans (and their parents) because of her products: In June 2019, her makeup line wasrecalled for containing asbestosand in January 2021, the star had toapologize for content included in her board game.
07of 18Acting AppearancesMatt Winkelmeyer/GettyOn top of seemingly endless merch, Siwa also guest-starred on shows likeThe ThundermansandSchool of Rockand has voiced herself in the Web series,The JoJo & BowBow Show Show.Siwa alsovoiced a characterinThe Angry Birds Movie 2.
07of 18
Acting Appearances
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
On top of seemingly endless merch, Siwa also guest-starred on shows likeThe ThundermansandSchool of Rockand has voiced herself in the Web series,The JoJo & BowBow Show Show.Siwa alsovoiced a characterinThe Angry Birds Movie 2.
08of 18Home Is Where the Candy IsIn 2019, Siwa and her family moved into a California mansion complete with a candy counter, mannequins wearing her iconic costumes and a room filled with her branded merchandise. Siwa showed off hercolorful, over-the-top, candy-filled residenceto fans on YouTube in January 2020.
08of 18
Home Is Where the Candy Is
In 2019, Siwa and her family moved into a California mansion complete with a candy counter, mannequins wearing her iconic costumes and a room filled with her branded merchandise. Siwa showed off hercolorful, over-the-top, candy-filled residenceto fans on YouTube in January 2020.
09of 18
Making New (Famous) Friends
JoJo Siwa/Instagram
Siwa, of course, shared the experience with the world in a nearly seven-minute video. Kardashian was actually there, watching from behind the scenes.
“I had so much fun getting to film with North and@kimkardashian. Seriously North is SO adorable and awesome, and Kim is one of the SWEETEST people ever!” the teen sensationshared on Instagram.
10of 18She’s Got InfluenceJoJo Siwa.Bruce Glikas/GettyIn 2020, Siwa was named one ofTIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020.Kim Kardashianwrote an essay about the young mogulin which she called her, “a ray of sunshine in a world that seems scary right now.“Kardashian added, “She’s a great role model for children, and her optimism is more necessary now than ever. It’s no wonder my 7-year-old daughter North and millions of other children around the world adore her.”
10of 18
She’s Got Influence
JoJo Siwa.Bruce Glikas/Getty
In 2020, Siwa was named one ofTIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020.Kim Kardashianwrote an essay about the young mogulin which she called her, “a ray of sunshine in a world that seems scary right now.”
Kardashian added, “She’s a great role model for children, and her optimism is more necessary now than ever. It’s no wonder my 7-year-old daughter North and millions of other children around the world adore her.”
11of 18Taking It On TourGettyIn 2018, Siwa announced the D.R.E.A.M. tour, a 70-city tour that began in May 2019 in Phoenix and was meant to run through June 2020. Unfortunately for JoJo and her Siwanatorz, the tour was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
11of 18
Taking It On Tour
In 2018, Siwa announced the D.R.E.A.M. tour, a 70-city tour that began in May 2019 in Phoenix and was meant to run through June 2020. Unfortunately for JoJo and her Siwanatorz, the tour was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
12of 18Masking UpGettyIn March 2020, Siwa wasrevealed as the T. RexonThe Masked Singer, telling the judges, “I actually paused my tour to do this. I was like, ‘Pause, I want to do this!’ "
12of 18
Masking Up
In March 2020, Siwa wasrevealed as the T. RexonThe Masked Singer, telling the judges, “I actually paused my tour to do this. I was like, ‘Pause, I want to do this!’ "
13of 18Going NaturalJojo Siwa/TikTokIn 2020, the 17-year-old shocked fans when sheditched her iconic side pony, accessories and colorful outfitson TikTok.
13of 18
Going Natural
Jojo Siwa/TikTok
In 2020, the 17-year-old shocked fans when sheditched her iconic side pony, accessories and colorful outfitson TikTok.
14of 18
Big Announcement
JoJo Siwa.Andrew Toth/Getty Images
Siwa surprised her fans when she posted a viralTikToklipsyncing toLady Gaga’s “Born This Way” in January 2021.
Many fans began congratulating theDance Momsalumna for coming out, especially after after she showed off a new T-shirt, reading “Best. Gay. Cousin. Ever,” on Twitter. “My cousin got me a new shirt,” she simplywrotealongside the photo of her wearing the top.
Siwathen went on Instagram Live to chat with her fansand, in reponse to a fan who asked, “What label are you?” the star said: “I have thought about this, but the reason I’m not going to say this answer is because I don’t really know this answer. I think humans are awesome, I think humans are really incredible people. Right now, I’m super duper happy and I want to share everything with the world but I also want to keep things in my life private until they are ready to be public. Right now what matters is that you guys know that no matter who you love, that it’s okay. It’s awesome and the world is there for you. There are so many people that are there for you. I know everyone’s situation is different and it might be harder for some people and easier for some people to come out or be themselves but I think coming out has this stigma around it — that it’s this really, really scary thing, but it’s not anymore. There are so many accepting and loving people out there that it’s okay. Of course people are going to say it’s not normal, but nothing is normal. Literally not one thing about anybody is normal and it’s okay not to be normal, it’s okay to be a little different, it’s okay to be a little weird, strange, different. That’s something we should never, ever be afraid of. That’s something we should be proud of. … I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, that’s what matters.”
15of 18
Show of Support
“You put your heart on the platter! (If you know you know),” Miller added. “Love you kiddo!!! Keep making me proud 🌈.”
16of 18PEOPLE’s Cover StarMichelle GroskopfIn April 2021, Siwa graced the cover of PEOPLE,opening up about her sexuality and coming out.She told PEOPLE, “I still don’t know what I am. It’s like, I want to figure it out. And I have this joke. Her name is Kylie. And so I say that I’m Ky-sexual,” she says. “But like, I don’t know, bisexual, pansexual, queer, lesbian, gay, straight. I always just say gay because it just kind of covers it or queer because I think the keyword is cool.““I like queer,” she adds. “Technically I would say that I am pansexual because that’s how I have always been my whole life is just like, my human is my human.“She opened up about some of the negative reactions to her coming out, saying, “My thing is, I don’t want people to watch my videos or buy my merchandise if they aren’t going to support not only me, but the LGBTQ community.“She added, though, that she has also felt a ton of support: “I’ve never gotten this much support from the world. I think this is the first time that I’ve felt so personally happy.”
16of 18
PEOPLE’s Cover Star
Michelle Groskopf
In April 2021, Siwa graced the cover of PEOPLE,opening up about her sexuality and coming out.
She told PEOPLE, “I still don’t know what I am. It’s like, I want to figure it out. And I have this joke. Her name is Kylie. And so I say that I’m Ky-sexual,” she says. “But like, I don’t know, bisexual, pansexual, queer, lesbian, gay, straight. I always just say gay because it just kind of covers it or queer because I think the keyword is cool.”
“I like queer,” she adds. “Technically I would say that I am pansexual because that’s how I have always been my whole life is just like, my human is my human.”
She opened up about some of the negative reactions to her coming out, saying, “My thing is, I don’t want people to watch my videos or buy my merchandise if they aren’t going to support not only me, but the LGBTQ community.”
She added, though, that she has also felt a ton of support: “I’ve never gotten this much support from the world. I think this is the first time that I’ve felt so personally happy.”
17of 18Dancing QueenMaarten de Boer/abcIn late August 2021, news broke that Siwa would be joining the upcoming cast ofDancing with the Starsseason 30, and for the first time in the show’s history, be paired with a female partner.“When I read the email it was like, ‘Would JoJo prefer to dance with a girl or with a boy?’ and I was like, ‘Wait, that’s an option? Let’s absolutely do it!’ It was a like, ‘Whoa, I’m changing the future’ [moment], because I have such a kid demographic,“she saidwhile co-hostingEntertainment Tonighton Aug. 30.“It’s making it acceptable, and I love that and I’m so proud of that,” Siwa added.She made it all the way to the finals as part of thefirst same-sex pair, partnered with Jenna Johnson.
17of 18
Dancing Queen
Maarten de Boer/abc
In late August 2021, news broke that Siwa would be joining the upcoming cast ofDancing with the Starsseason 30, and for the first time in the show’s history, be paired with a female partner.
“When I read the email it was like, ‘Would JoJo prefer to dance with a girl or with a boy?’ and I was like, ‘Wait, that’s an option? Let’s absolutely do it!’ It was a like, ‘Whoa, I’m changing the future’ [moment], because I have such a kid demographic,“she saidwhile co-hostingEntertainment Tonighton Aug. 30.
“It’s making it acceptable, and I love that and I’m so proud of that,” Siwa added.
She made it all the way to the finals as part of thefirst same-sex pair, partnered with Jenna Johnson.
18of 18Growing UpJoJo Siwa.Amy Sussman/GettyLeading up to her 19th year, Siwa continued coming into her own, making more adult fashion choices (like at the 2021 American Music Awards, right),chopping her hair, landing anew judging gig onSo You Think You Can Dance, scoring feature film roles andreuniting with girlfriend Kylie Prewafter a brief break.
18of 18
Growing Up
JoJo Siwa.Amy Sussman/Getty
Leading up to her 19th year, Siwa continued coming into her own, making more adult fashion choices (like at the 2021 American Music Awards, right),chopping her hair, landing anew judging gig onSo You Think You Can Dance, scoring feature film roles andreuniting with girlfriend Kylie Prewafter a brief break.
source: people.com
