JoJo Siwa's 'awful but addictive' show that launched her into fame before CBB (2025)

JoJo Siwa has become a firm favourite with Celebrity Big Brother viewers but the American star is best known for her time on a huge US show.

In early April, ITV audiences saw 21-year-old JoJo Siwa step into the Celebrity Big Brother house. The entertainer has since won over fans with her open discussions about her gender and sexuality.

However, the American housemate hasn't had an easy ride, facing homophobic remarks from Mickey Rourke and scrutiny over her friendship with Love Island's Chris Hughes.

While she's currently entertaining viewers 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 a top-tier academy.

But what became of the contentious show that was eventually axed?

Let's revisit JoJo's Dance Moms journey, the scandals that shook the series, and where it stands now.

The programme first aired in 2011, although JoJo didn't join until a few years later in 2014. Her mum, Jessalynn Siwa, a professional dance instructor from Iowa, also joined JoJo, reports OK!.

The programme charted the training and careers of the young dancers under the tutelage of renowned instructor Abby Lee Miller, owner of the Abby Lee Dance Company.

However, viewers also got a glimpse into the intricate relationships between the dancers, their parents, and Abby herself.

There were usually significant conflicts within the show as the parents were unhappy with where their daughters ended up on the dreaded pyramid.

The ranking system used by Abby to assess the young dancers was based on their performance, feedback, attitude, effort, and behavior, which sparked criticism from viewers.

In 2016, JoJo temporarily left the show to pursue a deal with Nickelodeon, although she did make a guest appearance in 2019.

Over the years, Dance Moms has faced numerous controversies, including accusations that Abby and some parents were exploiting the children for fame.

A review in The Guardian in 2013 described Dance Moms as "awful but addictive," saying: "It makes Keeping Up With The Kardashians look like Keeping Bees With The Dimblebys."

Additionally, there was backlash over the costumes and routines performed by the young dancers.

Abby's teaching methods have also been criticized, with some labeling her toxic and abusive.

One of the show's biggest stars, Maddie Ziegler, criticized Abby's teaching style on the High Low with Emrata podcast, stating it had a terrible 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 ultimately ended in 2019 due to declining viewership and a shift in the target demographic. Abby's subsequent endeavour, Abby's Virtual Dance-Off, was scrapped prior to its 2020 debut due to her involvement in a racism scandal.

The spin-off show Dance Moms: A New Era aired in 2024, with coach Glo Hampton taking the helm at Studio Bleu for national weekly competitions.

JoJo Siwa, despite varied opinions about Dance Moms, has frequently voiced her positive stance on her time in the show, often defending Abby's actions.

The celebrity acknowledged that she knew what she was signing up for, commenting: "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, JoJo elaborated: "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."

Dance Moms is available to watch on Channel 4. Celebrity Big Brother is available to watch on ITVX.