Jojo Siwa's Mirror Transformation Has Suddenly Made Her Palatable to (Some) Adults

Jojo Siwa is 17 today, and we've got good news for the YouTube star on her birthday: All of a sudden, it seems like everyone loves her.

That wasn't the case, even recently. The teen sensation has received a boatload of criticism in the past, usually because of her loud public persona and color-splattered style. But while Siwa has been labeled as immature or too childlike by her detractors, some adults online are starting to recognize—and adore—another side of the multi-hyphenate.

Siwa's TikTok presence has made her seem, to some, like more of a real person—one worth stanning.

The singer/dancer/YouTuber started her career on the reality show Dance Moms when she was just a kid, and she parlayed that into a solo music career. Now, Siwa has a handful of songs on streaming platforms and has even toured internationally, which gave her the space to become the youngest performer to ever headline at London's O2 Arena, according to her website. Oh, and she just appeared on The Masked Singer.

But Siwa isn't all bows and glitter. Lately, she's literally let her hair down from her signature high-ponytail, and it's all netizens can talk about. On Monday night, Siwa posted a video of herself doing the TikTok wiping challenge, and it's already gone viral.

The challenge has TikTokers clean a mirror and as their hand wipes the glass, a new persona emerges. Siwa's clip starts with her in her typical more-is-more get-up, and ends with her looking like a casual teen, wearing a t-shirt and her hair down. In less than 24 hours, the video had nearly 20 million views.

Twitter users started a conversation on Tuesday, Siwa's 17th birthday, about her apparent contract (she signed with Nickelodeon in 2017). Many were under the impression that the teen may evolve entirely when the contract ends, in the likes of Miley Cyrus or Selena Gomez breaking free of Disney Channel. Siwa addressed her contract recently, in a TikTok posted on May 6; she confirmed that yes, she is under contract, but said she is in full control of her own life.

While some people online expect Siwa to switch to another style or look entirely in the future, others just seem excited for the superstar to have control over her image, assuming she doesn't now.

Whatever happens to Siwa's image, it's fair to say that some people are already coming around to her—a pleasant birthday surprise.