Former Dance Moms star Jojo Siwa has sent her fanbase into a spin after unexpectedly changing her name on social media as she enters the new year with boyfriend Chris Hughes.
From Jojo to Joelle: A Social Media Frenzy
The 22-year-old dancer and television personality sparked immediate speculation and surprise among her millions of followers when she altered her TikTok handle from the familiar 'Jojo' to 'Joelle'. The change was accompanied by a brief video where Siwa, seated on a sofa, sang a snippet of her song Boomerang.
She cryptically teased in the caption, "What a year it is ahead", prompting a flood of comments from bewildered fans. One user exclaimed, "ummm joelle siwa? i missed a few chapters", while another wrote in shock, "YOUR NAME IS JOELLE?!??". Other supporters embraced the change, with one commenting, "Ahh the username change to Joelle Siwa yessss".
Reflecting on a Transformative 2025
The name switch follows a period of significant personal reflection for Siwa, who recently looked back on what she called a "beautiful year" in 2025. This period was profoundly shaped by her new romance with Love Island star Chris Hughes, 33.
The couple first met while contestants on Celebrity Big Brother. At the time, Siwa was in a relationship with Kath Ebbs, which ended after she left the famous house. Siwa has since reflected on the eight months she and Hughes have been together as a couple, a relationship that blossomed after they initially insisted they were just friends.
To illustrate her year of transformation, Siwa shared a striking comparison on TikTok. The first image, captioned "The girl who entered 2025", showed her at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in March 2025 wearing an eye-catching ensemble. This included her hair in two large loops with a bejewelled headpiece and a hanging ball, paired with a double denim outfit and a pink Versace underwear set.
This was contrasted with a final photo captioned "The girl who is exiting 2025". It depicted a more natural-looking Siwa, with her long blonde hair in gentle waves and a beaming smile, wearing a cosy Christmas-themed top.
Celebrating New Beginnings in the UK
Siwa rounded off her whirlwind year by celebrating Christmas in the United Kingdom with Hughes and his family. She shared intimate glimpses of the holiday with her followers online, including snaps of presents under the tree, moments of laughter with Chris, and cosy scenes on the sofa.
This festive period in the UK, coupled with her social media rebranding as Joelle, signals a fresh start for the star as she steps into 2026. The name change, while sudden to fans, appears to be part of a broader personal and professional evolution for the 22-year-old, who has been in the public eye since childhood.
