JoJo Siwa leaves fans ‘sobbing’ with breathtaking Born This Way finale on Dancing with the Stars
JoJo Siwa ended her glorious run on Dancing with the Stars with a perfect performance of “Born This Way”.
The glittery bow-wearing 18-year-old made history in the 30th season of the reality dance competition as one-half of the series’ first same-sex couple.
After 10 weeks of competition, she and partner Jenna Johnson, 27, rounded off their time on the show with an energetic freestyle number to Lady Gaga.
Siwa said it was the song she wanted to end the season on as it “made me comfortable being gay”.
“You know coming here and being the first-ever same-sex couple I think people didn’t know what to expect,” the star said during Monday’s (22 November) finale.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwRgg7g94wE
“Winning the mirrorball [trophy] is not just winning it for me […] it’s winning it for so many people around the world that maybe are afraid to be themselves.”
For the fusion round, Siwa and Jenner could have easily been mistaken for professional dancers as they picked up, once again, 10s across the board with a Cha Cha / Tango number.
Fans were left in tears at Siwa’s final performance, one they said was a milestone moment for queer representation on television.
JOJO AND JENNA MAKING HISTORY + HAVING THEIR FINAL PERFORMANCE TO GAGA'S BORN THIS WAY
I AM SOBBING 😭😭#DWTS pic.twitter.com/TbOzcC7rV2
— J.B.A …ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ (@groobngoobr) November 23, 2021
Listen…I'm still in my feelings about that Jojo Siwa and Jenna's Born This Way!. THE POWER 🔥 THE REPRESENTATION 🔥 Jojo really looked like she laid it all out on that floor. Also, thank you Jenna! I need them to win! #emotional #teamjojo #DWTSfinale— queerdom (@queerswinning) November 23, 2021
Jojo Siwa dancing to Born This Way, the song she came out with, while being in the finale as the first same sex couple on #DWTS. I demand this be written in the history books pic.twitter.com/K0Hxz3fmHa— pp (@lmaopayton) November 23, 2021
OMG…@itsjojosiwa and Jenna dancing to born this way by @ladygaga is OMG PERFECTLY EPICCC #DWTS— Alison Greisch (@AliGreisch) November 23, 2021
JoJo Siwa has ‘transitioned into a woman’ while on Dancing with the Stars
JoJo Siwa was up against The Talk co-host Amanda Kloots, Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby and NBA star Iman Shumpert for the coveted mirrorball trophy.
Despite being the bookie’s favourite to win, she and partner Jenna Johnson ultimately took home second place, with fans voting in record numbers, host Tyra Banks said, for Shumpert and partner Daniella Karagach to win.
Being on Dancing with the Stars, Siwa said, has helped her blossom as a person.
She was self-conscious and shy on earlier episodes only to then stun the judging panel each week – even leaving them in tears.
The YouTube personality, who was catapulted to fame on Lifetime’s Dance Moms, said: “Even though I am only 18, it feels like I’ve transitioned into a woman.
“Jenna has single-handedly changed my life.”
Johnson initially had her “doubts” about being paired with another woman, she told Good Morning America after the finale. But it became a “life-changing” moment for her.
“Looking back, this has been one of the most fulfilling, scary and life-changing moments I’ve ever had on the show,” Johnson said.
“I’m so grateful I said yes to dancing with a female, and I’m so grateful it was JoJo. She has made this experience absolutely magic.”