It all started with a TikTok. When JoJo was hanging out with her friends Mollee Gray, Jeka Jane, Garrett Clayton, and Kent Boyd last January, they filmed a super fun TikTok that showed them lip-syncing to Paramore’s “Ain’t It Fun.” But what made this video different is that Mollee, Jeka, Garrett, and Kent comprise the TikTok collective, Pride House LA. “Pride House LA started naturally as a group of people who downloaded TikTok over quarantine,” the members told Jejune Magazine. “We did, however, notice there were a ton of ‘houses,’ but none that seemed inclusive. Our mission then became to create a safe space for queer youth to feel seen!”
JoJo will never forget how she felt after filming the video. “I was like, ‘I think after they post this TikTok, I think it’s going to out me,'” she said. And then, the biggest teen superstar in the world made the most courageous leap of her life.
Since that TikTok was posted, JoJo’s career has reached amazing new heights. From landing the cover of People magazine to making history on Dancing with the Stars, audiences started seeing the incredible person behind the bows and bright colors and recognizing her for the iconic force she is. And now, JoJo is getting to live her truth, inspiring millions of new fans in the process. On the one-year anniversary of her coming out, she took to Instagram and shared a powerful reflection on her journey:
In the last 365 days I’ve felt more love than ever. A year ago today I posted this picture and shared with the world that I was gay 🌈 I get asked a lot “was coming out scary for you”… and the answer is yes of course, anything that’s different about you is scary, however… it’s what makes me… me. so I had no fear with sharing it with the world ❤️ I also get asked a lot “your demographic is so young are you worried about telling kids your gay”…. Truthfully I feel like I was put on this earth to be a role model for kids, and letting all the kids of the world know that loving everyone for who they are no matter what is something that I will always believe in and always share ❤️ please never forget that no matter who you are, what you look like, who you LOVE that you are absolutely perfect. thank you for showing me the most love throughout this year and throughout my entire life. I love you all ❤️🙏🏼🏳️🌈
We love you, too, JoJo! You can catch Miss Siwa on her epic D.R.E.A.M. The Tour, which is stopping in cities across North America through March. Click here for tickets!
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