The transition from child star to mature artist is often fraught with challenges.
JoJo Siwa, known for her infectious energy and iconic hair bows, has recently embarked on a rebranding journey that has sparked both curiosity and controversy.
Siwa’s image has undergone a significant transformation from her early days on the reality TV series “Dance Moms,” where she captured hearts with her infectious energy.
Click and listen the full episode below:
Her squeaky-clean aesthetic of bright colours and wholesome image has given way to a more mature aesthetic, characterised by bold fashion choices and eccentric black outfits in her latest release, ‘Karma.’
So how did we get here? How is JoJo’s rebrand different from the other former child stars that have come before her, and what can we expect in the future?
On today’s The Briefing episode, we take a deep dive to reflect on Siwa’s journey and the broader phenomenon of child stars reinventing themselves.
The Briefing Producer Helen Smith highlights the pressure faced by child stars to shed their innocent image as they mature, often resorting to drastic measures to assert their newfound identity.
“I think Jo Jo plays into the whole cringe thing a lot. I think she has a very different style, fashion-wise, music-wise, compared to Britney and Miley,” she said.
Siwa started her career as a top-five finalist and the youngest contestant on the second season of Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition when she was ten.
This month, she released her official debut single, “Karma”, as an adult artist, which received many negative reviews at the iHeartRadio Awards.
“She is 20. She’s only turning 21. She’s legally in the state and can’t even drink. So I’m like, give her another five years; I’d love to see where she takes this brand.”
Subscribe to The Briefing, Australia’s fastest-growing news podcast on LiSTNR today. The Briefing serves up the latest news and deep dives on topics affecting you, all in under 20 minutes.