Honestly, if you haven’t seen a clip of a girl in Gene Simmons-style face paint aggressively dancing on a yacht lately, you’ve probably been living under a very large rock.
That girl is JoJo Siwa. And she’s definitely not wearing the side ponytail anymore.
Watching JoJo Siwa now 2024 is like witnessing a total system reboot in real-time. For years, she was the human equivalent of a glitter bomb—all neon, high-energy positivity, and bows that could probably be seen from space. But the transition from Nickelodeon royalty to an adult pop star hasn't been a quiet walk in the park. It’s been more like a demolition derby.
The Karma Era and the "Bad Girl" Pivot
The shift really hit the fan with the release of her single "Karma" in April 2024. Most people expected a slightly more mature version of her kid-pop, but what we got was... something else. The music video featured Siwa in a black mesh bodysuit, showcasing a "bad girl" persona that felt jarring to anyone who grew up watching her bake slime on YouTube.
Basically, she wanted a Miley Cyrus "Bangerz" moment. She even said as much.
But here’s the thing: it didn't land with the same universal praise. Instead, "Karma" became the most disliked music video by a female artist on YouTube in 2024. Critics panned the early-2010s EDM production, and the internet had a field day with her claim that she was "inventing" a new genre called "gay pop."
- The Song Backstory: It turns out "Karma" wasn't actually a JoJo original. It was a 2012 demo originally recorded by Brit Smith (and briefly considered by Miley). When fans found Brit’s version, it actually charted higher on iTunes than JoJo’s for a minute.
- The Rebrand: She traded pastels for chrome and leather. The "Karma" era is built on being unapologetic, which involves a lot of swearing and choreography that is—honestly—pretty intense.
Why JoJo Siwa Now 2024 is More Than Just a Costume Change
It’s easy to look at the face paint and the "I was a bad girl" lyrics and roll your eyes. But if you look closer, there’s a massive business pivot happening. JoJo isn't just a singer; she's a mogul with a net worth hovering around $20 million.
Maintaining that kind of wealth when your primary audience is outgrowing bows is a nightmare for any brand. She had to break the old JoJo to build the new one. Even if the music is polarizing, it’s keeping her name in every single headline.
She's still working like a machine. In 2024, she returned as a judge for the 18th season of So You Think You Can Dance, proving that while the music might be experimental, her technical dance roots are still her strongest asset. She also dropped the Guilty Pleasure EP in July, which leaned even harder into the edgy, "adult" sound she’s craving.
The Controversy Nobody Talks About
While everyone was busy making memes about her "gay pop" comments, there was some heavier stuff happening behind the scenes. In early 2024, allegations surfaced regarding the treatment of members in XOMG! Pop, the girl group JoJo and her mom, Jessalynn, created. Rolling Stone published a report involving allegations of grueling schedules and a "toxic" environment.
It’s a complicated layer to the JoJo Siwa now 2024 narrative. It shows the friction between her public-facing "positivity" brand and the high-pressure reality of the entertainment industry she was raised in.
Looking Toward 2025 and 2026
So, where is this all going? If you think the "Karma" era was just a phase, think again.
She's already planned a massive headlining tour for 2025—the "JoJo Siwa Live" tour (also referred to as the "Infinity Heart Tour" in the UK). She's playing mid-sized venues like Webster Hall in NYC and The Belasco in LA. It’s a gamble. She’s trying to see if the TikTok virality can actually sell tickets to adults, not just parents taking their toddlers to a show.
Interestingly, as of early 2026, her personal life has taken a sharp turn toward the "settled" side. After a stint on Celebrity Big Brother UK, she’s been heavily teasing an engagement to Chris Hughes. She even posted a Snapchat photo in a wedding dress with the caption "Call me a wife."
Actionable Takeaways for Following the Rebrand
If you’re trying to keep up with the chaos, here’s how to actually track what’s real versus what’s just for the ‘gram:
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- Watch the Tour Sales: The 2025 tour will be the ultimate proof of whether her "adult" fanbase exists. If she sells out, the rebrand worked.
- Follow the Credits: Look at who she’s collaborating with. Getting dropped by Columbia Records in mid-2025 was a hit, but she’s already pivoting to more independent-style releases like "Choose Ur Fighter."
- Ignore the "First Ever" Claims: JoJo has a habit of claiming she's the "first" to do things (like "gay pop" or the "extreme rebrand"). She's a performer who loves a headline. Take the superlatives with a grain of salt and just enjoy the show.
JoJo Siwa is currently in the "messy middle" of her career. She’s too old for the bows and arguably still finding her voice as an adult artist. Whether you love her or find the new era "cringe," one thing is for sure: she’s not going back to the glitter.