JoJo Siwa is in Sydney and she’s not being subtle about it

A famous celeb has landed in Sydney and her approach to Australia is something you need to see.

OPINION

JoJo Siwa is in Sydney. Have you seen her? She’s hard to miss. Unlike most celebrities who try to keep a low profile, she’s been playing actual leapfrog in Bondi.

I am not using leapfrogging as a metaphor, either. She’s legit crouching down, jumping up into the air and over poles.

That kind of behaviour is usually reserved for high school students while they wait for their buses in the afternoons, and now, I guess international celebrities that are used to Vlogging 24/7.

The 21-year-old who has been desperately trying to shed her child star image with the subtle gestures like wandering around with a giant dildo has started dating Aussie Kath Ebbs and now we’re all going to have to get used to her.

JoJo is having fun in Bondi. Picture: MediaMode

There’s nothing wrong with JoJo. She’s a former Dance Moms star who became a YouTuber, TikTok, and Nickelodeon sensation.

Her entire career is built on her showing off online in some capacity. Of course, she should show off, she’s in show business, but it is just a little more jarring in the wilds of Australia, where we are more subtle than “look at me!”

So they're now dating. Picture: Instagram/KathyEbbs

The pair are very in love! Picture: Instagram/KathyEbbs

It is no secret that the 21-year-old has been trying to find herself as an adult and she wants to let everyone know she’s grown-up now.

For instance, she joined G-flip onstage and went viral because (and there’s no great way to say this) she started humping the air.

She then went on the popular podcast Call Her Daddy and admitted she had some regrets. It is pretty hard to stand by obscenely gesturing while on stage.

“I’d do things differently for sure, I f**ked the air essentially, and I don’t know what I did,” she said solemnly but added people online didn’t have the full context and she wasn’t doing the dance moves seriously.

She’s a Sydney girl now. Picture: Media Mode

So that is where JoJo is in life, she’s doing silly things and then going on podcasts to admit she doesn’t know why she did it.

It is a relatable stage of life. Most of us were the same at that age; instead of podcasts, we’d have to justify our actions to our parents in the family lounge room.

Anyway, JoJo has brought her brand of “I’m figuring things out” to Australia with gusto, and it is hard to ignore.

JoJo has tried to embrace an adult rebrand. Picture: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

She’s finding her way. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

To be entirely fair, though, I don’t think JoJo is looking to be ignored. You don’t pretend to be a dog in public because you’re desperate to keep your private life private.

Celebrity or not, you’d turn and look if someone started leapfrogging around Bondi in a sea of people wearing active wear.

Part of JoJo’s problem is she’s come into a country where our celebrity culture is more “she’ll be right” than “Oh my god, look at them!”

When Aussie celebrities come back to Australia, they take pride in just getting on with it, and you’ll see paparazzi photos of them doing mundane things like Hugh Jackman taking himself for a dip down at Bondi.

Hugh comes home and acts like a local. Picture: MediaMode

In fairness to JoJo she’s not used to subtle. Picture: Image/David Swift.

Even when international celebrities fly in, they quickly grasp that Aussies aren’t really into famous people like Americans are. The most they tend to do is get photographed at a swanky restaurant, but the vibe is very much that everyone embraces the low-key vibes of our sunburnt country.

JoJo’s more abrasive approach to hanging out in Australia stands out. Yesterday, she was seen impersonating a dog near some bins in the eastern suburbs, and today, she’s been seen actually leaping in the air while she walks across the road; she’s fortunate someone didn’t honk at her and yell out, “Can you just get on with it?”

She’s bringing her wacky brand to Down Under, and I don’t think any of us are prepared for it, but I guess we can’t fault her for seizing the day, or in JoJo’s world, that might mean humping the air.

Originally published as JoJo Siwa is in Sydney and she’s not being subtle about it