Many of us have gotten to know social media personality JoJo Siwa one way or another. From her debut on the reality show Dance Moms, her pop music career and the numerous memes made about her, this Nickelodeon star is all too familiar with the public eye.
Other than her constant presence in the spotlight since she was nine, one thing has remained a consistent part of Siwa: The iconic high ponytail.
So when JoJo cut off the iconic ponytail and came out as queer she was expressing her true self.
Siwa surprised everyone this year when she chopped her hair to a pixie cut in early spring. Many fans supported the new hairdo, but others were not as kind. Her social media comments were flooded with hate. This, paired with the fact that Siwa had come out as LGBTQ+ in 2021, meant she received considerable backlash. Many homophobic fans felt that Siwa’s identity was no longer kid-friendly.
But why is the ponytail so important to Siwa’s image?
Early days in Dance Moms
Siwa made her debut on the hit reality show, Dance Moms and immediately stood out from others due to her fiery and eccentric personality. She wore bright, colourful and patterned outfits and a large signature bow around her ponytail, making her even more recognizable. Her outlandish style quickly became a trademark.
Because Siwa’s look and personality were appealing to kids, she signed a consumer deal with Nickelodeon at 13 years old.
The JoJo Empire
With the help of Nickelodeon, Siwa started producing and selling products aimed at children that coincided with her image. Siwa started selling bows in 2016 and was hugely successful, selling over 80 million bows by 2020.
Siwa became a role model for kids who adored her personality and look. She won seven Kids’ Choice Awards and garnered more than 12 million subscribers on her YouTube channel.
All Grown Up
Everyone changes as they grow up. For Siwa, her entire career and brand revolved around her youthful identity. However, societal pressure to maintain her brand didn’t stop the young star from being true to herself.
Siwa came out as queer in 2021. The announcement was significant because there is a need for LGBT+ representation among role models for children. Siwa’s new public identity meant more representation, teaching children it’s okay to be their authentic selves.
Siwa was met with tons of support, but sadly, not everyone shared the excitement for her. The young star was bombarded with homophobia. Some accused her of pushing “a gay agenda.” Someone even called a SWAT team to her home under false pretenses of an emergency shortly after she came out.
Siwa undoubtedly shocked her fans when she chopped off the ponytail—it had been a part of her brand for so long. A few weeks following the haircut, Siwa revealed on her TikTok that she had not been invited to the 2022 Kids’ Choice Awards and did not know why. Many speculated that this had something to do with her new pixie cut—which many fans view as an expression of her identity—and because Siwa had always been invited in the past.
Detaching herself from her previous brand image is a clear symbol of Siwa breaking out of the mould created for her at such a young age. It’s no secret that Hollywood hates when stars change their personas. Just take a look at Nickelodeon stars of the past such as Amanda Bynes, Britney Spears or even Lindsy Lohan—it is no surprise that Siwa was criticized and shunned for changing her look.
It’s absurd that the entertainment industry ridicules young women who are changing and trying to come to terms with their sexuality. We’ve seen celebrities shamed for coming out as LGBTQ+ or making changes in their appearance, including Miley Cyrus. Watching their idols being torn down for trying to find themselves is undoubtedly harmful to young fans, especially since it is something we all do as we grow.
Luckily for Siwa, her brand wasn’t just built on her hair, but also on positivity and kindness. The industry may not accept her, but her fans always will.
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Feature image from @itsjojosiwa on TikTok.
