Former Dance Moms sensation 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 professional dancer sparked widespread speculation and surprise among her 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, teasing her plans for the coming months.
Her caption, "What a year it is ahead", further fuelled curiosity. Fans quickly flooded the comments section, expressing their shock at the sudden rebrand. One user wrote, "ummm joelle siwa? i missed a few chapters", while another exclaimed, "YOUR NAME IS JOELLE?!??".
Reflecting on a Whirlwind Year of Love and Change
This digital name change comes after Siwa took time to reflect on what she called a "beautiful year" in 2025, a period defined by her blossoming romance with Love Island star Chris Hughes, 33. The couple first connected while appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, though at the time Siwa was in a relationship with Kath Ebbs.
After leaving the show, Siwa ended her previous relationship and she and Hughes have now been together for eight months, appearing inseparable since their meeting in the famous house.
A Visual Journey from Extravagance to Comfort
In a reflective TikTok post, Siwa contrasted her style at the start and end of 2025. The first image showed her at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in March 2025, wearing an eye-catching ensemble featuring a bejewelled headpiece, her hair in large loops, and a daring double-denim and Versace underwear combo.
This was captioned "The girl who entered 2025". It was starkly contrasted by a final, more natural photo of Siwa exiting the year, where she beamed in a cosy Christmas jumper, her blonde hair in soft waves. The dancer spent the festive season in the UK with Hughes and his family, sharing snaps of presents, laughter, and sofa snuggles with her online audience.
The name change to Joelle marks a new chapter for the star, symbolising both personal evolution and the start of what she hopes will be another significant year.
