A look into JoJo Siwa's 'awful but addictive' show that launched her into fame
Reality star JoJo Siwa is best known for her time on Dance Moms, a reality TV show that followed young girls training at an elite academy with renowned instructor Abby Lee Miller.
In early April, 21-year-old JoJo Siwa made her entrance into the the UK's Celebrity Big Brother house. Since then, the entertainer has won over fans with her open discussions about her gender and sexuality.
However, her journey hasn't been without challenges, as JoJo faced homophobic remarks from Mickey Rourke and scrutiny over her friendship with Love Island star Chris Hughes.
While she's currently entertaining viewers with her antics in the CBB house, JoJo is perhaps best known for her oversized bows and impressive dance skills on Dance Moms, a reality show that followed young girls training at an elite academy.
But what became of the controversial show that was eventually cancelled?
Let's revisit JoJo's Dance Moms journey, the scandals that shook the series, and where it stands now.
The show first aired in 2011, but JoJo didn't join until 2014. Her mother, Jessalynn Siwa, a professional dance instructor from Iowa, also joined the show with JoJo reports OK!.
The program chronicled the training and careers of young dancers under the tutelage of famed instructor Abby Lee Miller, owner of the Abby Lee Dance Company.
Viewers also got a glimpse into the complicated relationships between the dancers, their parents, and Abby herself.
Conflicts often arose within the show as parents expressed dissatisfaction with their daughters' positions on the dreaded pyramid.
The system, which was heavily criticized by viewers, involved Abby ranking the young dancers based on their performance, feedback, attitude, effort, and behavior.
In 2016, JoJo briefly left the show after landing a deal with Nickelodeon, but made a guest appearance in 2019.
Dance Moms was marred by controversy over the years, with Abby and some parents accused of exploiting the children for fame.
A 2013 review by The Guardian described the show as "awful but addictive," adding: "It makes Keeping Up With The Kardashians look like Keeping Bees With The Dimblebys."
The show also faced criticism for some of the costumes and routines performed by the young dancers. Abby's teaching methods sparked backlash, with some labeling her as toxic and abusive.
Maddie Ziegler, one of the show's biggest stars, criticized Abby on the High Low with Emrata podcast, stating that her teaching style had a devastating impact on her.
She said: "I've blocked out so much of my childhood that I actually don't know what my life was like, even just before working.
"I was such a perfectionist and I was so hard on myself, and now I'm trying to unlearn all those traits, and it's an ongoing battle."
The show aired until 2019, when it was canceled due to declining viewership and a shift in audience demographics. Abby's follow-up series, Abby's Virtual Dance-Off, got the chop before it could hit screens in 2020 after she became embroiled in a racism controversy.
The successor to the original, Dance Moms: A New Era, hit the airwaves in 2024 with coach Glo Hampton at the helm of Studio Bleu, leading the charge in national weekly competitions.
Opinions on Dance Moms have been divided, but JoJo Siwa has been a stalwart supporter, often coming to Abby's defense regarding her on-screen behavior.
The entertainer acknowledged her awareness of the situation, confessing: "I saw what she was like on TV and I somehow as a kid could always see the bigger picture."
Speaking on the Call Her Daddy podcast, she detailed her mindset, commenting: "The thing is, I was there to make a TV show. She was there to make a TV show. And that is how dance teachers are. And Dance Moms really just put that on display.
"But I will say, I have had teachers worse than Abby. Like, she's not the worst that I've had. Toughness-wise, mean-wise. And I liked it. Like I wanted to be good, and she was right."