When you picture JoJo Siwa, maybe you see a rainbow-colored outfit, a gigantic hair bow, or her viral TikTok dance moves.
But sitting in a makeup chair during a recent photoshoot, with barely 20 minutes of glam prep and a clean face glowing with youth, JoJo—now 22—looks every bit the adult she’s becoming.
A few feet away, I casually comment on her flawless skin. “Well, yeah,” her publicist replies with a shrug. “She’s only 22.”
That single remark says it all—she’s still so young, yet she’s already lived a life most could only dream of.
JoJo’s story isn’t just one of fame, but of reinvention, resilience, and reality.
From Omaha to Hollywood: A Child Star Is Born
Joelle Joanie Siwa was born in Omaha, Nebraska, into a close-knit, middle-class family.
Her mom, Jessalynn, was a dance teacher, and her dad, Tom, worked as a chiropractor.
JoJo briefly attended private school before switching to homeschooling.
Why? “Honestly, I was bored,” she says. “School was too easy.”
By age nine, JoJo was competing on Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition, which led to a spot on Dance Moms.
If you’ve seen the show, you know how intense Abby Lee Miller was.
One scene has Abby yelling at a tiny JoJo in front of a crowd: “You deserve nothing.”
JoJo almost tears up but calmly responds, “If you yell at me, I’m going to cry.”
A moment that showed just how emotionally mature she already was.
No Grudges, Just Glitter
While many former Dance Moms stars have publicly criticized Abby Lee Miller, JoJo has taken the high road.
“It’s hard for me to hold onto bad feelings,” she says. “I’d rather choose happiness.”
That’s JoJo in a nutshell—always looking for the bright side, even in tough moments.
Nickelodeon Fame and a Billion-Dollar Brand
JoJo’s star exploded in 2017 when she signed with Nickelodeon.
At 13, she was producing music videos, acting in films, and gearing up for a 132-show world tour.
By 15, she had sold out London’s O2 Arena and launched a merch empire: dolls, backpacks, glittery shoes, and of course, those iconic bows—90 million of them.
Her face was everywhere: on shelves at Walmart and Claire’s, on slime containers and hairbrushes.
At one point, the UK had to ban JoJo bows from schools because they violated uniform policies.
Big Paychecks and Bigger Lessons
Despite a net worth now estimated at $20 million, JoJo isn’t letting money define her.
Under California law, only 15% of a child star’s earnings go into a locked account for when they turn 18.
The rest? Meant to cover living expenses—though many parents have been known to dip too deep.
JoJo’s mom worried she might take the money and cut ties. “That was never going to happen,” JoJo says now, laughing.
“But I also think no 18-year-old should have access to that kind of money. Even at 22, I can’t fully process it.”
She did splurge once, though—on a Lamborghini for her 18th birthday. “It was my survival gift,” she jokes.
She even had it wrapped with giant stickers of her face. (It’s since been sold.)
A New Chapter in the San Fernando Valley
JoJo’s now living alone in a rental apartment in Encino, having sold the six-bedroom mansion she bought at 17.
Why rent? “My rent is less than what I used to pay for air conditioning,” she says, dodging how many digits that bill had.
Her parents still live nearby in a house she purchased, and her brother Jayden, now 25, is an indoor skydiving instructor in Florida.
Though she didn’t realize it at the time, JoJo became her family’s financial anchor early on.
Growing Up in Public
JoJo never really had a private life. “I don’t remember not being public,” she tells me.
Her rise to stardom meant that even childhood memories feel like moments on stage.
And yet, she seems surprisingly grounded.
Much of that, she says, is thanks to her family—especially her mom, who still manages her and sews rhinestones onto her outfits.
“When she’s gone, I’m done. I won’t perform without knowing she helped make the costume,” JoJo says softly.
Coming Out, Corporate Pressure, and Moving On
At 17, JoJo came out as pansexual with a casual Instagram post wearing a shirt that read Best Gay Cousin Ever.
There was no PR strategy—just honesty. But the aftermath wasn’t easy.
A company executive allegedly told her to personally call retailers and assure them she wasn’t “losing it.”
Nickelodeon has denied it, but JoJo still remembers not being invited to their Kids’ Choice Awards months later.
“I don’t think they blackballed me,” she says.
“But they made the conscious choice to distance themselves. And if that was because of my sexuality, so be it.”
From Bow-Bows to Black Leather
As with most child stars, JoJo hit a crossroads: how do you grow up when the world only knows the glittery version of you? In 2024, she swapped rainbow bows for black leather and released a song with a line about being a “bad girl.”
But she admits now, “I faked being naughty. I think I just wanted attention.”
The dramatic rebrand didn’t match the commercial highs of her bow-wearing era.
Today, she plays smaller venues like Colors in London, rather than arenas—but she’s okay with that. “You grow. You change,” she says.
Celebrity Big Brother, Mickey Rourke, and Falling for Chris Hughes
Her stint on Celebrity Big Brother this year brought a fresh wave of attention—and controversy.
Just days into the show, actor Mickey Rourke made homophobic comments and was later removed.
JoJo handled it with calm indifference: “Honestly, if I saw him on the street, I don’t think he’d even know who I was.”
But what really made headlines was her connection with Love Island alum Chris Hughes.
Though JoJo had previously identified as a lesbian, she now says she feels more comfortable using the term “queer.”
Their relationship developed slowly after the show, with JoJo describing Chris as “the favorite part of my life.” She’s even meeting his family—and his horse.
Love, Labels, and Living Authentically
JoJo’s had to navigate labels—especially from within the LGBTQ+ community. “At 17, I said I was pansexual.
Then I called myself a lesbian because I felt pressure,” she says. “But sexuality is fluid.”
When her relationship with non-binary actor Kath Ebbs ended, JoJo stayed unbothered despite some shady social media posts.
“It’s all good,” she shrugs. “Sometimes people just want a quick bite.”