JoJo Siwa is a multi-talented American personality, known for her prowess in singing, dancing, acting, and media presence.
She gained prominence as a dancer on the reality TV series “Dance Moms” from 2015 to 2016, where she appeared alongside her mother, Jessalynn Siwa. Transitioning to Nickelodeon in 2017, Siwa expanded her career, starring in a variety of television shows and movies.
Early life
Joelle Joanie Siwa, born in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19, 2003, is the daughter of Jessalynn Siwa, a professional dance instructor, and Tom Siwa, a chiropractor.
Career
With an older brother named Jayden, who formerly vlogged and now works in real estate, JoJo began her career as a standout contestant on Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition, reaching the top five and becoming the youngest participant in its second season. Transitioning to Dance Moms, she auditioned for Miller’s “ALDC” dance team in 2014, officially joining in early 2015. Siwa gained further recognition with the release of her songs “Boomerang” and “I Can Make U Dance” in May 2016, with “Boomerang” addressing the issue of online bullying. The song’s video has amassed over 1 billion views and received over 5 million likes. In 2018, Siwa was honored as the Breakout Artist of the Year by Vivid Seats.
In 2018, Siwa revealed plans for her inaugural major concert tour, D.R.E.A.M. The Tour, set for 2019. The extensive tour covered 52 cities across the United States and Canada, featuring performances in various venues from theaters to stadiums. Additionally, shows were scheduled in the United Kingdom and Australia. The tour commenced in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 17, with the first leg concluding on June 26 in Austin, Texas, before resuming for the second leg on July 10 in Orlando, Florida, and concluding on August 20 in Vancouver, Canada. Siwa’s influence continued to grow as she earned a spot on Time’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world in September 2020 and was recognized on Fast Company’s Queer 50 list in 2021. She further expanded her presence by joining the judging panel for the seventeenth season of So You Think You Can Dance in 2022, and later returning for the eighteenth season. Siwa’s dedication to anti-bullying advocacy earned her the prestigious Gamechanger Award from GLSEN in September 2022. However, her transition to adult artistry faced criticism with the release of her debut single, “Karma,” on April 5, 2024. Despite negative reviews and online backlash, Siwa embraced the change, making a striking appearance at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards, drawing comparisons to Miley Cyrus’s transformation during the release of her album Bangerz in 2013. Siwa referred to “Karma” as her “first breakout adult moment,” marking a significant shift from her previously child-friendly image.
Siwa’s collaboration with J. C. Penney resulted in a line of accessories, bedroom decor, and a doll modeled after her. Additionally, she authored several books targeted at young readers. In 2016, her partnership with Claire’s led to the release of a successful line of hair bows, inspired by her iconic style. Despite their popularity, some schools in the UK banned the bows due to various reasons. Siwa saw her bows as symbols of power and confidence. However, in 2019, Claire’s faced a setback when the FDA issued a warning about dangerous asbestos levels in a JoJo Siwa cosmetics kit, prompting a recall.
Transitioning to Nickelodeon in 2017, Siwa expanded her career with roles in the film “Blurt!” and the show “Lip Sync Battle Shorties.” She ventured into reality TV by competing as “T-Rex” on season 3 of “The Masked Singer” in 2020, becoming the youngest contestant at 16 until Honey Boo Boo’s appearance in season 6. Siwa’s digital presence extended to video games, with her inclusion as a playable character in “Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix” and its sequel.
Siwa made history on “Dancing with the Stars” in its thirtieth season by being part of the show’s first same-sex dancing partnership, ultimately finishing as the runner-up alongside her partner, Jenna Johnson. Her influence also reached breakfast tables with the release of a General Mills cereal named “JoJo Siwa Strawberry Bop.”
In 2021, Siwa was honored as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People. She continued to showcase her talent on television, forming the group XOMG Pop with her mother Jessalyn on “America’s Got Talent,” where they impressed judges with their performance of “Candy Hearts.” Additionally, Siwa captivated audiences with her rendition of “Step in Time” from “Mary Poppins” on the primetime CBS special, “Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic” in December 2023.
Personal Life
Siwa’s romantic journey has been quite public. She was in a relationship with TikTok personality Mark Bontempo from August to November 2020. In January 2021, she bravely came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community on social media, initially choosing not to label her sexuality. However, she later confirmed that she is not attracted to men.
From February 2021 to June 2022, Siwa had an on-and-off relationship with Kylie Prew. Following this, she dated social media content creator Avery Cyrus from August to December 2022. Throughout these relationships, Siwa has been open about her journey of self-discovery and embracing her identity.
Controversies
In January 2021, a board game titled JoJo’s Juice, targeted at children aged 6 and above, faced controversy over its content, which included inappropriate questions about nudity and arrests. Nickelodeon and Spin Master, the game’s creators, withdrew it from sales following public outcry. Siwa, upon learning about the game’s content, expressed her dismay, stating she was not informed about the questions and was upset by their inappropriate nature.
In February 2024, allegations surfaced claiming Siwa mistreated members of a band called XOMG! Pop, which she formed alongside her mother, Jessalyn.
Net Worth
Estimated to be over 7 million dollars