As JoJo Siwa puts it, her 14th birthday started off with a bang.
It was definitely a way to start [being 14], thats for sure.
Natural disaster aside, Siwa was still able to make the most of her big day.
No matter what went on, I was able to just always see the bright side in things.
And while shes since traded in her neon aesthetic, she hasnt abandoned her demeanor.
I was definitely the jokester, she concedes of her time on the show.
The only thing I want to do in life is keep the people around me happy.
That really did start when I was little.
[Then when it came to] making videos for the internet, I realized I could makemillionshappy.
Below, Siwa reflects on her Zendaya crush,Greys Anatomyobsession, and cupcake habit.
Take me back to 2017, when you were 14.
How were you feeling about life?
But what did you actually do for fun?
Just typical kid stuff.
I went through a phase where I went to the pool all the time.
I was definitely in myGrey’s Anatomyera.
But I never felt sorry for myself.
Did you have friends your own age?
I had friends, but they were all adults.
I had my dancers who were my best friends.
My mom, obviously, was my best friend.
I had a chance to be friends with people my own age but it never worked.
We would hang out, but it was never like, “Oh, these are my people.”
You were known for having a very defined aesthetic.
I think it felt the most authentic when I was 14-17.
Eighteen is when I was kind of like, “Oh, this feels weird.”
Other thanGreys, what did you like to watch?
On TV or YouTube.
Back then, on YouTube, I liked Jake and Logan Paul.
I was obsessed withBaby ArielandJacob Sartorius.
I just thought they were the coolest people ever, which theyarethe coolest people ever.
I liked Hannah Montana music and I also really liked normal Miley Cyrus.
AndDance MomsI watched every day of my life.
How were you feeling in your body at that point?
I went through puberty super late in life, [because I was] super active and stressed.
I remember I didn’t get my lady week until I was almost 16.
Then it didn’t become consistent [until] I was 17.
Now Im like, “You lucky rat.
You didn’t have to deal with that.
Did you have any celebrity crushes at the time?
I came out when I was 17.
But my women’s standards are a lot harder.
I think all women are beautiful, but for me to actually have a crush on them takeswaymore.
What advice would you give to 14-year-old JoJo?
And I would tell 14-year-old JoJo to do exactly what she’s doing.
I wouldn’t change a thing.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
This article was originally published onNovember 8, 2023