JoJo Siwais ready to makeDancing with the Starshistory.The 18-year-oldDance Momsalum will compete on the upcoming 30th season ofDWTS, and Siwa will be the first female celebrity paired with a female pro dancer.“When I read the email it was like, ‘Would JoJo prefer to dance with a girl or with a boy?’ and I was like, ‘Wait, that’s an option? Let’s absolutely do it!’ It was a like, ‘Whoa, I’m changing the future’ [moment], because I have such a kid demographic,” she said while co-hostingEntertainment TonightMonday.“It’s making it acceptable, and I love that and I’m so proud of that,” Siwa added.The social media star/singer said she begins rehearsals Tuesday, when she’ll find out whom she’s paired with. She toldETshe looked forward to training for the show, given her dancing background.Want to get the biggest stories fromPEOPLEevery weekday?Subscribe to our new podcast,PEOPLE Every Day,to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday.“I’m not gonna hide that I’m a dancer. I was a dancer my whole life. Am I very out of practice? Absolutely. I perform all the time, but it’s different, you know? I don’t have to strengthen my legs, and ballroom is different. I’ve never taken ballroom,” the Nickelodeon star explained.“It’s gonna help me in a way, but it also is a disadvantage. Because I guarantee you the judges are 100 million percent gonna judge me harder than they do everybody else.“JoJo Siwa.Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU PhotobankIn January,Siwa came out as LGBTQ, over a series of posts on TikTok and Instagram. Shetold PEOPLE in April, “I never wanted [my coming out] to be a big deal. … I’ve known since I was little.““My thing is,” she added at the time, “I don’t want people to watch my videos or buy my merchandise if they aren’t going to support not only me, but the LGBTQ community.“RELATED VIDEO: ‘Beyond Proud’: JoJo Siwa on Her Live-Action Musical Coming to Life After 3Years in the WorksGymnastSuni Lee, who recently won gold at the Tokyo Olympics, will also compete onDWTS. The rest of the star-studded contestants will be unveiled onGood Morning Americanext week on Sept. 8.Ballroom expertsLen Goodman,Carrie Ann Inaba,Bruno TonioliandDerek Houghwill return to the long-running show’s judges panel.Tyra Banksis also set to reprise her role as host.Season 30 ofDancing with the Starspremieres Monday, Sept. 20, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
JoJo Siwais ready to makeDancing with the Starshistory.
The 18-year-oldDance Momsalum will compete on the upcoming 30th season ofDWTS, and Siwa will be the first female celebrity paired with a female pro dancer.
“When I read the email it was like, ‘Would JoJo prefer to dance with a girl or with a boy?’ and I was like, ‘Wait, that’s an option? Let’s absolutely do it!’ It was a like, ‘Whoa, I’m changing the future’ [moment], because I have such a kid demographic,” she said while co-hostingEntertainment TonightMonday.
“It’s making it acceptable, and I love that and I’m so proud of that,” Siwa added.
The social media star/singer said she begins rehearsals Tuesday, when she’ll find out whom she’s paired with. She toldETshe looked forward to training for the show, given her dancing background.
Want to get the biggest stories fromPEOPLEevery weekday?Subscribe to our new podcast,PEOPLE Every Day,to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday.
“I’m not gonna hide that I’m a dancer. I was a dancer my whole life. Am I very out of practice? Absolutely. I perform all the time, but it’s different, you know? I don’t have to strengthen my legs, and ballroom is different. I’ve never taken ballroom,” the Nickelodeon star explained.
“It’s gonna help me in a way, but it also is a disadvantage. Because I guarantee you the judges are 100 million percent gonna judge me harder than they do everybody else.”
JoJo Siwa.Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photobank
In January,Siwa came out as LGBTQ, over a series of posts on TikTok and Instagram. Shetold PEOPLE in April, “I never wanted [my coming out] to be a big deal. … I’ve known since I was little.”
“My thing is,” she added at the time, “I don’t want people to watch my videos or buy my merchandise if they aren’t going to support not only me, but the LGBTQ community.”
RELATED VIDEO: ‘Beyond Proud’: JoJo Siwa on Her Live-Action Musical Coming to Life After 3Years in the Works
GymnastSuni Lee, who recently won gold at the Tokyo Olympics, will also compete onDWTS. The rest of the star-studded contestants will be unveiled onGood Morning Americanext week on Sept. 8.
Ballroom expertsLen Goodman,Carrie Ann Inaba,Bruno TonioliandDerek Houghwill return to the long-running show’s judges panel.Tyra Banksis also set to reprise her role as host.
Season 30 ofDancing with the Starspremieres Monday, Sept. 20, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
source: people.com
