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JoJo Siwa, the viral internet sensation and dancer best known for her time on "Dance Moms" and her massive Nickelodeon empire, signaled a major career shift on Wednesday by changing her display name on social media, E! News has confirmed. She was 22.
The star updated her TikTok bio to reflect her full legal name, Joelle Siwa, prompting immediate speculation that she is soft-launching a mature rebrand for the new year. She shared a video lip-syncing to her 2016 breakout hit "Boomerang," captioning it with an
allusion to her "plans for 2026." Fans immediately reacted to the update. "Joelle feels so authentic, wishing you every happiness in 2026," one user wrote, while others were hesitant to let go of the established brand, noting, "You couldn't pry that name away from me."
Nebraska-born Siwa was a prolific child prodigy who became a global merchandising phenomenon, selling millions of signature hair bows and appearing in projects like "The J Team," "The Angry Birds Movie 2" and her own docuseries. She was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2020.
Across many of her recent projects, she has attempted to shed her child-star image, most notably with her edgy 2024 single "Karma" and its "bad girl" aesthetic.
However, the pivot to "Joelle" suggests a move toward grounded maturity rather than shock value. In her latest posts, she appeared with natural waves and softer styling, a stark contrast to the rhinestone eye masks and high ponytails of her past. She teased the transformation by posting "The girl who entered 2025" versus "The girl who is exiting 2025," referencing her evolution.
Siwa also made history on "Dancing with the Stars" as part of the franchise's first same-sex dancing pair and served as a judge on "So You Think You Can Dance." She has remained a staple in reality television.
In April 2025, Siwa joined the cast of "Celebrity Big Brother UK," where she met British presenter Chris Hughes. The two began dating shortly after, and Siwa celebrated the holidays with his family in the UK, crediting the relationship for her newfound peace.
