Jojo Siwa danced, sung, and even joked with a crowd of thousands right here inPensacola on Thursday, March 10th, just 3 weeks ago. The teen and childrenfriendly event was just one stop on Jojo Siwa’s D.R.E.A.M tour which willcontinue until October of this year. This nearly year long endeavor is incommemoration of Siwa’s newest multi-platform deal with nickelodeon.

   The show itself can only be described as Jojo Siwa being as Jojo Siwa as she canbe. Each show started with one of Jojo Siwa’s music videos playing on amegatron before dancers illuminated by purple and pink gels took the stage. Siwa then entered the stage high above on a set of prop stairs dressed in a glitteringneon suit continuing the song. Throughout the concert her and her backupdancer’s outfits would change in turn with the tone and narrative of each part of the show.

   Siwa has been known as a musician since 2016 when her single “Boomerang”went viral on youtube. She then released 2 more songs before releasing her first EP DREAM in 2018. Before then she was known for her energetic personalityand her prodigious skill on the hit show Dance Moms. This reality TV experience plus Siwa’s own youtube channel, which has garnered nearly 12.2 millionsubscribers, set the stage for the mainstream success and acclaim that she hasbegun to accumulate.

   Reception of the concert was mostly complimentary of the child star. Many parents enjoyed the positivity of her message and the excitement of their child or teen when the 18 year old sensation hit the stage. At the same time, many parents were bothered by Siwa’s inclusion of gay pride imagery and subject in her shows. She herself had openly supported the LGBTQ+ community since coming out on social media in January 2021. Many will point out that this is Jojo Siwa stayingtrue to herself. While many child artists seem to be destined for a period of drugfilled and promiscuous delinquency Siwa seems to have bypassed this stereotypeas she is now 18 and just as bubbly and positive as when she started. Maybe it isthe positivity of her art or maybe it is the refusal to be anyone other than who she is.