JoJo Siwa opened up about her journey with gender expression on the latest episode of Celebrity Big Brother UK, and her vulnerable account is not only incredibly valid, but relatable for folks with queer and gender nonconforming identities.
During the episode, Big Brother pointed out that JoJo had been sending secret messages to Chris Hughes, with whom she had formed a close bond throughout the season. When asked what that message was, the former child star revealed that it was something personal that she wasn’t sure she was ready to discuss.
“It’s something that I’m not ready, necessarily, to be open about or upfront about, but it has to do with gender, and... How do I feel?” JoJo started before explaining further.
The “Karma” singer, who shared she’s comfortable going by any pronouns, continued, “Essentially, you have female, you have male. I’ve met a lot of females. Love them. Don’t feel like I’m them. Met a lot of males. Love them. Definitely not them. I’ve met a lot of people in my life that are non-binary and these beautiful non-binary people are who I feel the most like.”
She added, “It's not something that I want to say about myself yet, but it’s something that is confusing. So that’s probably why we were talking about it last night.”
JoJo cried after sharing her thoughts with Big Brother, and when other contestants asked if she was okay, she responded, “Yeah. It’s a great conversation and one that I shouldn’t be scared of having, but I just haven’t had it.”
When asked why she should be scared, she explained, “I think just ’cause I don’t know myself or have all the answers, you know what I mean? There’s nothing to do. Nothing to change. Nothing to think about. No different way to think of anything. Everything stays the exact same.”
Danny Beard, a drag performer who also competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, reassured the Dance Moms star that she doesn’t always have to have the answers, and that she’s allowed to keep things to herself.
“You want to see you. You’ve been in this community for a while, and you’re growing up in a public spotlight. You don’t need to give anyone all the answers ever at all. Ever. Even when you know them for you, you don’t owe anyone,” they told JoJo.
JoJo has had a public upbringing since her career kick-started on Dance Moms, and she went on to become one of the most successful child stars in Nickelodeon’s history. In 2021, she came out as queer in a series of posts in which she wore a T-shirt that read “Best. Gay. Cousin. Ever.” She also confirmed her coming out in a TikTok post soundtracked by Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.”
Since then, she’s been part of the first same-sex couple on Dancing With the Stars and advocated for the LGBTQIA+ community throughout her career.
