JoJo Siwa's Wild Ride: From Child Star to Big Brother Drama and a New Romance

At 22, Jojo Siwa has spent more than half her life in the public eye. Most of us watched her grow up, from the kid with the giant bow on Dance Moms to a global sensation. Her journey has always been interesting, but her recent time on Celebrity Big Brother UK seems to have been a turning point. She went in expecting career changes, but she left saying it "changed my personal life so much" and was "the best thing that’s ever happened to me." That is quite a statement for someone who has achieved so much already.

Siwa made her mark at 11 on Dance Moms. She was known for her big personality and even bigger hair bows. By 15, she was a cross-platform star with millions of YouTube followers, a Nickelodeon deal, and a huge business selling hair accessories. When she came out at 17, lip-syncing to Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," none other than Elton John called her to say congratulations. He still sends her birthday messages and Christmas cards, which Siwa confirms: "We love Sir Elton!" This girl has truly lived a life most of us can only dream of.

Siwa has been in the spotlight for 12 years. This is more than half her life, a fact she still seems to be processing. She talks about it as "a decade of learning," and says "It's really all I know." Despite her famously wild outfits—today she wore a Burberry polo shirt, denim shorts, and a slicked-back, sparkly ponytail—she comes across as very professional. She makes steady eye contact and has a deep tan. She looks younger than her years when she blushes talking about being "head over heels" for her new love. It shows a side of her that feels very real and personal.

The Controversial Encounter With Mickey Rourke Inside The Big Brother House

JoJo Siwa Addresses the Shocking Homophobic Comments and Her Reaction to Them

Siwa finished third on Celebrity Big Brother, behind Jack P Shepherd and Danny Beard. This was a bit of a surprise since she was the most talked-about person on the show. Early in the season, just two days in, 72-year-old actor Mickey Rourke targeted her. He asked her many questions about her sexuality. Then he told her: "If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay any more." Rourke kept going despite Siwa trying politely but firmly to stop him. He even announced he wanted to "vote the lesbian out."

It was uncomfortable for viewers to watch. Siwa's shock was clear. She said it affected her "even more than people know." She froze when it happened. But she quickly got herself together. She wanted to show how to react to such an outburst. She was also determined, thinking: "Some rat doesn’t get to ruin this for me. It’s only day two." Rourke got a warning and apologized on screen for his "short fuse." However, Siwa says he took back that apology in private. "He mentioned to me that he knew what he was doing, that he tried to get under my skin and wanted to offend me, all this shit," she revealed. "That’s what made me super upset—that was really hard to take."

Despite this, Siwa did not think Rourke should have been removed sooner as some viewers called for. "I wanted to give him a chance, and I think production could see that as well," she said. She thought about where they could go from there. "We got to have laughs with him and beautiful conversations about inclusion, and what you can and can’t say." These talks helped Siwa get some peace, making her feel that "He doesn’t hate me; he’s a very hurt man." Rourke later left the show due to "further use of inappropriate language" and "unacceptable behaviour" towards other people. Siwa had not faced such open homophobia in person before. "It was definitely a first," she said, "but I was lucky. I had a lot of support in that house."

A New Romance Blossoms For JoJo Siwa After Her Time On Reality Television

How a Friendship With Chris Hughes Unexpectedly Grew Into Something Much More Personal

The whole Mickey Rourke situation led to a positive outcome for JoJo. Chris Hughes, an ex-Love Islander, stood up for her right away. He had just met her but defended her. He also comforted her after the incident. The intensity of their situation, made bigger by the reality show setting, seemed to speed up their friendship. This surprised other housemates and viewers alike. Siwa says she and Hughes had to deal with the idea that they were just acting for the cameras even before they left the house. This gave them a chance to make it clear to each other: "No, this is a very genuine connection—we’re not faking a thing."

Their clear chemistry was complicated by Siwa being in another relationship at the time. She was with Kath Ebbs, who identifies as non-binary. Siwa herself identified as lesbian, and before that, gay and pansexual. When Siwa said on Big Brother that she felt more "queer" than lesbian, and then broke up with Ebbs soon after the show ended, rumors about her and Hughes grew fast. In their first joint interview on This Morning, both insisted their connection was "platonic soulmate."

I expected Siwa to shut down questions about her and Chris Hughes after all the daily news stories and awkward TV interviews. But she understands why people are curious. "People can see our chemistry, and they got to see it develop," she said. When asked directly if it was platonic or romantic, Siwa paused for a long time. She was smiling from ear to ear. "It’s not platonic any more," she finally said. "And it’s been a beautiful development, a beautiful connection, and I’m absolutely head over heels for him and he’s the same way." It is hard not to feel happy for her. She seems totally smitten, like the hearts-for-eyes emoji in human form.

Siwa believes anyone who calls their relationship a "PR stunt" has never been around them. "Clearly, you’ve never been around us," she stated. She said that for her, the happiness in her life is shining off her right now. "Literally yesterday, I was massaging my cheeks; I’ve never [before] been in pain from smiling so much," she shared. This shows how truly happy she is. She even serenaded Chris on stage at a concert in London, singing "Bette Davis Eyes" but changing the lyrics to "Chris Hughes' eyes." She wore his favorite team's football jersey too, a sweet nod to their connection.

JoJo Siwa's Shifting Identity And Her Thoughts On Growing Up In The Spotlight

Reflecting On Sexuality, Child Stardom, And Her Candid Moments About Feeling Empty

Joelle Joanie Siwa was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Her mom, Jessalynn, was a dance instructor and her manager. Her dad, Tom, was a chiropractor. JoJo was meant to be a star. Jessalynn made it her "mission in life" to make it happen. At nine, Siwa was picked for Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition. She came in fifth, but her personality led her to two seasons of Dance Moms starting in 2015. She was often called loud and over the top, even by her strict coach Abby Lee Miller. Still, everyone saw her stage presence and drive.

After Dance Moms, Siwa moved her show to YouTube. She made and edited her own videos. It was more work than TV, but the reward was greater. She misses that early time of "content creation." She called it "unreal fun." In 2016, her song "Boomerang" went platinum. She signed with Nickelodeon a year later. Her first world tour in 2019 sold out over 100 places. She loved performing and her career. She never felt forced. But she knew the pressure was always there. She recalled a moment on tour when her stage manager told her, "You can do the show without anybody; we can’t do the show without you. But do not abuse that power." Siwa agrees that another 16-year-old might misuse that power. "That’s why I am where I am now, because I don’t have that blood in my body."

Even as a child, she could "understand why child stars go crazy, because it’s really, really hard," she said. "I think the hardest thing was feeling like you weren’t in control of yourself." By 15, she was "running a billion-dollar business." She said this should never be on a 15-year-old’s shoulders, but it was normal for her. She had sold 90 million hair bows by 2019. The profits did not go straight to her. Jessalynn has been called a "stage mom" for pushing Siwa, but Siwa says Jessalynn was also working for her. Siwa insists she could not do it without her mom. "We don’t have a normal mother-daughter relationship," she said.

Siwa admits she sometimes wished for "more nurturing" parents and missed out on "stupid little things like high-school football games." She would have liked to go to medical school. "It’s crazy to me that it’s now a more realistic option for me to build and own a hospital." This past year, she had what she calls her "bad girl phase." After turning 21, she tried an edgier look with Kiss-inspired makeup and drank alcohol on stage. It felt like she was just going through the motions. "It wasn’t authentic." Even the Fireball shot she took on stage was apple juice and Diet Coke. "I think I just wanted to be so far away from being a child star," she shared. "And I look back at that like, ‘You’re an idiot—being a child star was so fun.’ I love what I do, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world."

Recently, Siwa shared some honest thoughts about feeling "empty" sometimes. When asked on Instagram where she gets her energy, she said, "I try and find happy in every moment, even when it's hard or fake it when I am empty. Currently what's happening hahaha." This admission shows the constant pressure she is under. It also reminds us that even with all her success and happiness, she is still human and faces challenges. She said she does take breaks for herself, like around her birthday and in June. She also plans to channel this freedom with her new song "Bulletproof." She said she released songs she "didn’t fully connect with" before, thinking they would be hits. With "Bulletproof," "It just feels right."

Siwa is not interested in explaining her happiness or responding to her ex Ebbs' comments about their breakup. She is "choosing peace." She said, "I’ve read 50 articles in the last week about me that are not true. You’re never gonna know the full truth—and I can’t be bothered to fill anybody in." She does confirm that "queer" best "encompasses how I am, and who I am." But she reserves the right to remain fluid. "There’s a lot of different sexual identities. I think there’s nothing more beautiful than somebody discovering themselves." It is hard to be in the public eye while figuring things out. But Siwa said, "You can’t help who you love." She feels the happiest she has been in years "Ever since Big Brother, genuinely." She described lying in bed with Hughes, feeling truly herself. "It’s the first time in my life that it feels like I’m switched off," she said. It seems JoJo Siwa is finally finding her own rhythm.