Jojo Siwa Came Out, So What?
graphic by bailey kretschmer
Child star, sparkle enthusiast, at one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, Jojo Siwa, gained her notoriety from appearing on popular reality show, Dance Moms. Her positive, over the top personality continued to charm her young audience long after her time on the show as she signed a deal with Nickelodeon and began a career as a popstar and low-key merchandising genius. With her sparkly bows and colorful clothes, Jojo has become a childhood icon for the youngest generations...but her societal impact has come far beyond marketing brilliance.
About a month ago, Siwa posted a TikTok lip-synching the words to "Born This Way.” Considering how the internet loves to speculate, it didn't take long for people to start assuming that this post was her way of coming out. After confirming the rumors, Jojo's next steps truly stood out, proving why she deserves the platform she's been given for all of these years.
Given her ties with such an influential channel as Nickelodeon and their history of tightly controlling the image of child actors, meant that making her sexuality public could’ve possibly put an end to her long-standing spotlight. But with a smile on her face and a courageous attitude that would inspire even the most cynical of viewers, she decided that being true to herself was more important than any contract she could sign.
"Technically that was a really big risk that I took, posting that (...) but if I lost everything that I've created because of being myself and because of loving who I wanna love, I don't want it." Jojo stated in an interview with Jimmy Fallon.
Coming from a seventeen-year-old girl, Siwa's perspective shows not only incredible confidence and maturity, but more importantly that she believes in a future where being yourself comes first. Even with the progress in the LGBTQ+ community over the last few years, it's still controversial for child stars to discuss their sexuality. Parents' backlash can be overwhelming, but by going against the grain, Jojo not only became a role model for young queer people who hardly ever see themselves represented onscreen, but also became a symbol of self-acceptance and bravery for the new generation.
With a platform of millions of young followers, Jojo Siwa truly risked it all by standing up for who she is. And by doing so, she has inspired everyone who believes in building a world where people are able to love without fear. It’s safe to say that we’re running to Target and buying rainbow bows, because we’re OBSESSED.