Former Dance Moms star and internet personality Jojo Siwa has recently come out as part of the LGBTQ+ community via her widely followed TikTok and Instagram accounts. In a TikTok video, wearing a rainbow hoodie and matching hair bow, Siwa lip-synced Lady Gaga’s inclusive anthem, “Born This Way.” She didn’t even need to speak in the video. Her fans knew exactly what she meant by this. Siwa later confirmed that she was coming out via Instagram live, thanking everyone for their support. 

What makes the 17 year-old’s coming out so important is her mainly young fanbase, widely sold merchandise, and her relative youth. There is no one else quite like Siwa out there, let alone a precedent for her coming out. Additionally, Siwa, with her constant happiness and image of glitter and sunshine, is a role model for her fans, and now the LGBTQ+ community unlike any other. The proudness of her identity and confidence in shrugging off the haters is unshakeable and ensures a safe place for LGBTQ youth. She is a big and powerful voice telling the community that they are loved and important. 

On her Instagram live, Siwa says, “I think coming out has this stigma around it that makes it really really scary.” She continues, “There are so many accepting and loving people out there. Of course, people are gonna say it’s normal. But it’s your normal.” 

The effects on Siwa after her coming out have been a little turbulent. While she dismisses her haters confidently, such as responding to mothers saying their children will never watch her content again with a simple, cheery, “Okay!”, some take things too far. Shortly after discussing her coming out on Instagram live, Siwa’s house was “swatted,” meaning armed authorities were called to her home and likely entered forcibly under false claims that she and her family were in danger. While this was a terrifying experience for Siwa, it could not dull her shine. 

On the other hand, the 17-year old internet star has been receiving an overwhelming amount of support. While Siwa’s internet persona is monetized, as her fanbase is very young, she appears to be very touched by all of the support she is getting, and says she is now the happiest she has ever been. Nickelodeon, which signed Siwa to a talent deal in 2017, posted a photo of her on their official Instagram with the caption, “Never been more proud.” Her former dance teacher from the show Dance Moms, Abby Lee Miller, called her coming out a “shining example” for kids. 

When asked how long Siwa has known she was a part of the LQBTQ+ community, she replied, “I think my whole life, because my whole life I have really been just-I like people. But I had never fallen in love before, but I always believed my person was going to be my person. If that person happened to be a boy, then great. If that person happened to be a girl, great.” All in all, Siwa may now feel like she is being fully herself to the public, and her happiness speaks for itself.