LGBTQ

JoJo Siwa marks coming out anniversary with adorable throwback and emotional promise

JoJo Siwa celebrates coming out anniversary with sweet Instagram post (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

YouTube sensation JoJo Siwa has celebrated her coming out anniversary with an Instagram post, saying during the past year she has “felt more love than ever”.

The 18-year-old came out in January 2021 by sharing a photo of herself to Twitter wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words: “Best. Gay. Cousin. Ever”.

Celebrating the first anniversary of her coming out, Siwa shared the photo again, along with clips of her achievements since, including becoming the first contestant on Dancing with the Stars to dance with a same-sex partner, and an adorable throwback to her childhood.

JoJo Siwa wrote: “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.”

She vowed to continue being the representation so many kids need, adding: “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.”

Siwa’s coming out in 2021 attracted congratulations from celebrities and fans alike, with her original tweet gaining over 1.2 million likes.

Several parents of Siwa’s fans also thanked her for being a role model for queer teenagers.

“As a mom of two little girls, who absolutely love JoJo, I could not be more proud of this,” one fan’s mother said.

“I’m so happy that my girls have someone so amazing to look up to! Thank you for always being unapologetically YOU!”

Siwa, who has more than 12 million subscribers on YouTube, has been loved by the LGBT+ community since long before she publicly came out, being described as a “gay icon” by drag queens Izzy Uncut and Poppy.

Speaking on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Siwa said: “I think because I look at people who are called gay icons – like you, Lady Gaga, Freddie Mercury, my favourite people, and to be in that category at 18 is just insane. And just because of who I am, it feels amazing.”

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