Why JoJo Siwa's Photo Shoot With Ladygunn Magazine Is Getting ...

JoJo Siwa knows how to get people talking, and her latest photo shoot is sparking a wide range of comments.

The 21-year-old dancer and singer posed for the cover of Ladygunn Magazine wearing a variety of looks, including one in particular that's made headlines. In one photo, Siwa wears a bedazzled chest plate, abs and all, as well as a matching rhinestoned bulge.

“I learned at a very young age that in the public eye, any attention is attention … whether it be good attention or just attention,” Siwa says in the interview, addressing her career and actions.

And the former “Dance Moms” star is certainly garnering attention, with some people shocked and others impressed.

“OMG JOJO SIWA????” @mazzypopstar tweeted alongside the photos.

"The internet isn’t on the bad b----- level to know that this is a bad b---- and I will stand by my word that I Stan jojo siwa for the rest of my life," another person wrote on X.

@StOnge_Kim, on the other hand, wasn't as impressed, saying that while "kids love" Siwa, "this is NOT who you want your kids looking up to."

On the magazine’s Instagram post, comments varied from “I don’t like this at all actually” to “If this was gaga y'all would eat it up.”

One person knew people would be sharing their thoughts, writing, “Who else came running to the comments? I almost fell over myself getting to them.”

“Omg, this is soooo camp i’m loving it,” another added, while one person commented, “I don’t know who is managing her but they are ruining her career.”

Coincidently, Siwa did touch on her management in the accompanying interview.

“I just signed with new management, and they’re great, amazing people. They were like, ‘Alright, we got to get people to rally around you and really start to like you.’ And I was like, ‘Oh no, that’s not the point,’” she tells the magazine.

In the last few years, Siwa has stepped away from her former cheery Nickelodeon self and undergone an edgy rebrand. One could say her major makeover kicked off with the release of her song and music video for “Karma” in April. In it, she swaps her signature rainbow colored looks for a rocker-esque Kiss-style eye makeup and outfit.

Of her new music and look, she told Billboard, “I wanted it to be as bold and as ballsy as possible. There is nothing more ballsy than this song.” 

“The genre is — I said it back in the day when I first signed with Columbia. I said, ‘I want to start a new genre of music.’ And they said, ‘What do you mean?’ And I said well, ‘It’s called gay pop,’” Siwa, who came out in 2021, added. The comment caused controversy as many thought Siwa was ignoring the influence of other gay pop artists.

Since the release of "Karma," Siwa has continued to make bold statements that has people talking — and it's exactly what she wants.

“My favorite thing to do on this earth is to entertain and to make people smile and laugh, whether or not they are laughing with me or laughing at me,” Siwa tells LadyGunn. “Obviously, no one likes being hated, but I enjoy being entertaining, and that is how people are entertained.”

Liz Calvario

Liz Calvario is a Los Angeles-based reporter and editor for TODAY.com who covers entertainment, pop culture and trending news.