JoJo Siwa‘s adult era has piqued the interest of her former Dance Moms instructor.
In fact, Abby Lee Miller didn’t hold back her thoughts on the 20-year-old’s new look. After watching JoJo’s “Karma” music video—which featured the singer in dark, KISS-like makeup as she gyrated against another woman—Abby said she didn’t get why people were “making such a big deal about her rebranding.”
“It’s JoJo with paint on her face and a fabulous costume,” the choreographer remarked in an April 5 TikTok video. “It used to be stars and rainbows and pink and lavender and turquoise, and now it’s black.”
The 58-year-old continued, “It’s still her doing incredible dancing, so I don’t know if it’s so much as a rebranding or just maturing, getting older [and] wanting to show another side of her.”
As for JoJo’s edgy outfits, which were a far departure from her previous looks? “I thought the costumes were over-the-top,” she raved. “Loved it all.”
“JoJo’s a really pretty girl,” she added. “She could do a lot of different looks, but I thought the under-the-water with the hair long was beautiful.”
Abby and JoJo costarred in two seasons of Dance Moms from 2015 to 2016, when the dancer was just a pre-teen. Though JoJo later revealed that the stress of competing under the Abby Lee Dance Company gave her a bald spot, the two have seemingly been on good terms recent years.
Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for The Thirst Project; Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio“I talk to JoJo a lot,” Abby told E! News in 2022. “We text a lot.”
And as JoJo embarks a new chapter of her career, the former child star recently told E! that she feels “very lucky” to be able to grow with her fans.
“The way that I’m able to keep going and keep being like, ‘Wait, actually what I’m doing is right,'” JoJo explained, “is because some of the most respected people in the world have come up to me and been like, ‘What you’re doing right now is so right. It is what the world needs, and I’m learning from what you are doing right now.'”
To see JoJo’s evolution through the years, keep reading.
TwitterJoJo Siwa made her reality TV debut at age nine while competing on the second season of Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition, judged by Abby Lee Miller.
Michael Tullberg/Getty ImagesJoJo celebrated the launch of Abby Lee Dance Company LA’s VIP Grand Opening in May 2015.
David Livingston/Getty ImagesDance Moms star JoJo wore a glam jumpsuit at the 3rd Annual Reality TV Awards in May 2015.
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesJoJo accepted the award for Favorite Viral Music Artist at Nickelodeon’s 2017 Kids’ Choice Awards in March 2017.
Rachel Murray/Getty ImagesJoJo wore her shades at the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards in March 2018.
Jon Kopaloff/Getty ImagesBatter up! JoJo donned a classic baseball outfit at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Sports in July 2018.
Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesJoJo showed off her signature style at the 2018 Teen Choice Awards.
InstagramKim Kardashian and North West hung out with JoJo in March 2019.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagicJoJo’s star-studded Sweet Sixteen bash included a special visit from the Kardashian-Jenner family, with North West and Penelope Disick fan-girling over the b-day girl.
Ralph Arvesen/ShutterstockJoJo belted her heart out on tour in Sept. 2019.
InstagramJoJo spent her Thanksgiving giving back in 2019.
Allen Berezovsky/Getty ImagesThe Dance Moms alum was all smiles at the Lakers game in Feb. 2020.
InstagramJoJo hung out with icon Miley Cyrus in March 2020.
Scott Kirkland/Shutterstock; Michael Becker/FOXWho’s under that T-Rex? JoJo showed off her singing chops on The Masked Singer in 2020.
TwitterJoJo came out on Instagram in 2020, wearing a shirt reading, “Best. Gay. Cousin. Ever.”
InstagramJojo and Kylie Prew celebrated Pride Month in June 2021.
Leon Bennett/Getty ImagesJoJo performed onstage during a screening for her Paramount+ original movie The J Team on Sept. 3 in Pasadena, California.
Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty ImagesJoJo competed with partner Jenna Johnson on season 30 of Dancing With the Stars, making history as the first same-sex pair.
Instagram / JoJo SiwaBye bye signature ponytail!
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Kershaw’s ChallengeJuly 2023: First Tattoo
JoJo got inked during an outing with outing with Raven-Symoné and her wife Miranda Pearman-Maday. She got the number 1031 tattooed behind her right ear in reference to her 2019-2022 D.R.E.A.M. The Tour concert series.
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for GLAADMarch 2024: New Chapter
The singer teased that her next project might not be suitable for all ages.
“The following content is not made for children,” she shared in a series of cryptic Instagram posts, “and may be disturbing or offensive to some viewers.”
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesApril 2024: Adult Era
JoJo debuted her more mature look at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards, rocking dark makeup and an edgy costume from her “Karma” music video.
