Jojo Siwa felt “pressure” beyond her kissing iheartradio awards appearance
Jojo Siwa teased the announcement of a “large project” that will soon come while wearing a large rhinestone headpiece at the Iheartradio Music Awards.
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Jojo Siwa has attracted a lot of attention, but it’s not in a good sense.
The 21-year-old singer, dancer, and former “dance mom” star accused her former partner, Australian influencer Kath Eves of “emotional cheating,” and said that Siwa ended the relationship on April 25th at a “Celebrity Big Brother” afterparty.
This season’s Wrinkle was a contestant in the British reality series where the stars live together. While at home, she was opened up about her sexuality and gender identity. She also formed an intimate friendship between her castmate and former “Love Island” star Chris Hughes. Chris Hughes raised an eyebrow among viewers who speculated that it could be the catalyst for her breakup.
Those who love or hate her will not deny that, as they age in the public eye, their child’s stars face unique challenges.
Melvin Williams, an associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University, says the headlines surrounding wrinkles and conversations about her evolving views on sexuality and gender serve as a key conversation starter for young fans who are thinking things for themselves.
A unique struggle with a child’s star face
Siwa grew up in the spotlight. She first grew up as a star in two seasons of “Dance Mama,” later on the Nickelodeon Show, and in her music career. Before joining “Big Brother,” she competed in “Masked Singer” and “Dancing with the Stars” and was a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance.”
Whiwa had to understand that she had little separation from the spotlight, Williams says.
“We live in a society where we are appropriate, inappropriate, invasive, private, in this case the lines of adults and childhood are quickly blurred and completely dismissed, and celebrity enthralled,” he says.
Like child stars like Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears Shed, Siwa is hugging the so-called female pop star Lewland starter kit and avoiding more adult personas, he adds.
Siwa tried to break out of her preppy, kids-oriented images of her in April 2024 with her song and music video “Karma”. The release was laughed online.
“It becomes this requirement that they show, ‘Hey, I’m an adult now,’ and become essentially overly sexual,” Williams argues.
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What did JoJo Siwa say about her sexuality and gender on “Big Brother”?
Williams’ brand development includes a starlet attacking parts of the LGBTQ community when she declared her desire to “start a new genre of music called gay pop” — including a valuable argument about Siwa’s sexuality, which she described as being freed.
“I feel so strange, do you know what I mean?” Siwa told “Big Brother” castmate Danny Beard. He landed at home after a mission in “Rupal’s Drag Race Britain.” “I think that’s what it is. I’ve always told myself I’m a lesbian. I think I’m here. ‘Oh, I’m not a lesbian, it’s weird.’ And I think it’s really cool. ”
Williams says sexuality is a complex and evolving aspect of identity.
Siwa may have faced pressure to declare her identity early when she was living in the public eye, he added. He says her reflection has led to important messages to younger fans. He says it’s okay to change your mind.
“This message makes it very clear that young people have the right to identify, take a step forward, get more educated about various aspects of their identity, identify them as something else, and add more nuance to their sexuality descriptors,” says Williams.
At the beginning of the season, Whiwa also meditated on her gender, and sometimes she said. It doesn’t identify as a man or a woman, and feels like the non-binary people she’s met in her life.
“I don’t know, that’s not something I want to say about myself yet, but it’s a mess,” she added.
Part of her sexuality scrutiny may be that Siwa is part of Gen Z, the most adult generation that identifies as LGBTQ. Of those born between 1997 and 2006, more than one in five call themselves something other than straight.
As the federal government cracks down on everything on Day, people like Wrinkle may be on a tougher path. But that doesn’t mean they go anywhere – nor do these arguments.
contribution: Brendan Moreau and Anna Kaufman
Rachel Hale’s role in covering youth mental health at USA Today is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editor input. Contact her at rhale@usatoday.com and @rachelleighhale.