JoJo Siwa is consistently breaking barriers – and the Internet.
The Omaha, Nebraska, native, born Joelle Joanie Siwa,is famous for her giant hair bows, sparkly outfits, larger-than-life personality, and being an icon for the LGBTQ community assheboasts millions of followers online.
“It’s really fun for me,” SiwatoldUSA TODAY in 2018 of creating social media content. “It’s like my version of going to the park.”
The internet sensation, who is now 18 years old, made headlines when she came out as part of the LGBTQ community in January.
In an interview with People published in April, Siwa said she usually refers to herself as "gay because it just kind of covers it or queer because I think the keyword is cool," but added that she would also identify aspansexual.
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"I like queer," Siwasaid. "Technically I would say that I am pansexual because that's how I have always been my whole life... my human is my human."
Here's what we know about Siwaand how she rose to digital superstardom.
'I am just so happy':JoJo Siwa opens up about being part of LGBTQ community
'Dance Moms' beginnings and more TV appearances
The entertainment world first met Siwa in 2013, when she appeared as a contestant on "Dance Moms"spinoff "Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition" before landing a role as a "Dance Moms" series regular in 2015.
In 2017, Nickelodeon signed Siwa to a talent deal, which led to 2018's animated series about her and her dog, "The JoJo and BowBow Show Show." She has also workedwith Nick Cannon on "Lip Sync Battle Shorties" and leant her voice to last year's "Angry Birds" movie sequel.
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She's won Kids' Choice Awards four years in a row, each in different categories: favorite viral music artist, favorite musical YouTube creator, favorite TV host (with Cannon) and favorite social media star.
Siwa was unmasked on Season 3 of"The Masked Singer", where she appeared as the T-Rex. Some clues about her background, like a plate of junk food seasoned with glitter, were dead giveaways for fans.
"Let me tell you, she subscribes to the idea that there is no 'off day,' " Siwa's coach said in herfinal episode."Even though she's young, she's got fans of all ages and always knows how to win over a crowd."
JoJo Siwa revealed:T-Rex goes extinct on 'The Masked Singer,' turns out to be young YouTube star
Music and internet stardom
And win over a crowd she does: The young star is also creating content on her own terms.
Across YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, Siwa has racked up more than 56million followers. Nearly always decked out in her signature giant bow, glitter makeup and bright clothing, she posts music videos anddances, and she gives inside looks at her rainbow explosion of a mansion.
She has two EPs including 2018's "D.R.E.A.M. The Music"and 2019's "Celebrate."Major songs include "Boomerang," "Hold the Drama" and "Kid in a Candy Store."
Her mother, Jessalynn Siwa, told USA TODAY in 2018: “The greatest thing about it is she literally was doing it all herself, from filming to editing to thumbnails to producing. To see her have the success is really just the cherry on top.”
Keeping up with JoJo: Playdatewith the Kardashians
Building her brand over the years has also attracted some famous fans:After Kim Kardashian West tweetedthat her oldest daughter, North, 7, was "obsessed with JoJo Siwa," North got a special visit from the sparkle-enthusiast herself.
In a playdate that turned into a YouTube video viewed more than 44million times and landed in an episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," Siwa showed North and Kim around her house and sent her home withtons of JoJo merchandise.
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Product lines galore: JoJo-branded everything
Siwa and her sparkly bows are practically synonymous: So much so that she told "Today" she'ssold over 60 million of them to fans, among other merchandise items.
But controversy sparked last year afterClaire's announced it wasvoluntarily recalling the JoJo Siwa Makeup Setbecause theU.S. Food and Drug Administrationissued a warningsaying it tested positive for asbestos.
Siwa released a YouTube video addressing the recall soon after, laughing at the beginning and saying, "I was gonna start this video all serious and dramatic but that's not who I am. That's not what this video is about."
She went on to stress that "safety is myself and Nickelodeon’s No. 1 priority in everything, in every JoJo product and in everything out there” and lamented putting"too much trust in other people" with the makeup line.
JoJo Siwa sports new look
While fans typically identify Siwa with her glitzed up looks with side ponytails and humongous hair bows. The star shows fans a different side of her by teasing a toned down look in an April 2020 TikTok video. The video featured Siwa sporting relaxed waves and a black t-shirt, a stark comparison to her glittery, metallic looks.
More:How Lil Nas X, JoJo Siwa and Zaya Wade are teaching kids to be more inclusive
Since then she's rocked a more casual look more often on TikTok posting another video of her wavy hair and t-shirt look in a May 26 postto the tune of Shania Twain's "Man! I Feel Like a Woman."
Siwa comes out as LGBTQ celeb
The star made waves in 2021 after announcing on social media she was part of the LGBTQ community.
Siwa posted an Instagram Livestream in January, saying she was "just so happy" after she received an outpouring of support for two posts she made earlier last week that seemed to indicate she had come out.
Before the livestream the "Boomerang" singer posted a TikTok of her mouthing the words to"Born This Way" by Lady Gaga, typically known as a LGBTQ anthem. Later that week, she tweeted, "My cousin got me a new shirt," with a picture of herself in a T-shirt that reads"BEST. GAY. COUSIN. EVER."
'My human is my human':JoJo Siwa opens up about being queer and pansexual, her girlfriend
A month later she made her relationship with her girlfriend Kylie Prew Instagram official by posting a series of photos of the two together.
"After being my best friend for over a year, January 8th 2021 I got to start calling this exceptional human my Girlfriend... and Since then I’ve been the happiest I have ever been!" Siwa wrote.
Siwa 'not about' filming kissing scene in upcoming film 'Bounce'
The YouTube sensation is also adding actress to her resume of work with her upcoming films like "The J Team" and film adaptation of the Megan Shull book "Bounce."
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly for its digital Pride cover published Tuesday Siwa said there's a kissing scene in "Bounce" that she wants removed.
JoJo Siwa wants kissing scene removed from upcoming movie: 'I'm trying to get it pulled'
"I'm madly in love and I do not want to kiss another human, especially because it's a man," she said.
The singer told Entertainment Weekly that though her girlfriend is OKwith the scene,Siwa thinks the scene could be a problem with her fans because it'll be "weird" for them to separate her as an actress from who she is in reality.
"I'm not about it. I'm trying to get it pulled so bad. It'll happen. It'll get pulled," Siwaadded.
Contributing: Sonja Haller, Jenna Ryu, Elise Brisco
