JoJo Siwa opened up about her personal identity with unreserved honesty. The former "Dance Moms" star, who initially came out as a lesbian in 2021 but now embraces the label of queer, delved into how the public sphere influenced her coming-out journey and her struggle to define herself amidst her burgeoning romance with Chris Hughes.
"At seventeen, when I came out, I declared myself pansexual, unbothered by gender," JoJo shared in a June 20 interview with The Daily Mail. "Yet, I somehow confined myself and said, 'I'm a lesbian.' I believe I did that due to the pressure surrounding me."
Regarding the sources of this pressure, the 22-year-old attributed it to various factors, notably the LGBTQ community itself. "In an odd twist, I think it occasionally stemmed from within the community," she pondered. "From acquaintances, from past partners. Once you've announced, 'I'm a lesbian,' you feel compelled to embody that identity. But the reality is, sexuality flows like water."
Indeed, JoJo's revelation comes just two months after she clarified on "Celebrity Big Brother UK" that she now identifies as queer, and she recently shed light on why this label resonates deeply with her.
"I find the term 'queer' exquisitely beautiful," she exclusively told Francesca Amiker of E! News earlier this month. "It's an umbrella that says, 'I am simply me.' And what I cherish most about the LGBTQIA community is that love knows no bounds. It's reciprocal."
"I'm in perfect harmony with myself. I'm content with my joy," JoJo elaborated. "I'm relaxed, at ease, and truly happy and peaceful, knowing that the love I feel is genuine. You can't control whom your heart chooses."
Adding to her serenity is her blossoming relationship with Chris, 32, whom she met during her stint on the British reality show. "I'm in perfect alignment. I'm immersed in bliss," JoJo continued. "I'm serene, at peace, and overjoyed by the authenticity of my love. Love arrives unbidden."
Gushing about her relationship, she said, "I feel pure, radiant, and unencumbered by the need to project any specific energy. I'm glowing right now. I've never felt more together."
JoJo added, "'Serendipity' is a wondrous word for it, because it arrived when I was least expecting it."
