JoJo Siwa has shifted her bow-wearing child star image to a full-blown, unapologetic bashful queer persona as she ushered in her new era in music.
Psychotherapist Dr. Marni Feuerman spoke to The US Sun about Siwa's recent changes.
According to Feuerman, Siwa is exhibiting new behavior to make people stop seeing her as a "little kid" anymore.
"She is trying to show herself as a woman making a statement and showing up differently," Feuerman added. "JoJo does not want people to see her through the lens of being a child - or that child - anymore. She is trying to say she is cool, stay noticed, and be memorable."
Very recently, Siwa has been seen performing onstage, chugging an entire bottle of vodka, and even groping herself on stage in front of younger audiences.
"The drinking on the stage and all the other bits and pieces was too much," Feuerman described. "This was about shock value and dramatics, but many celebrities have shocked like this. This was not new. The shock here came from seeing this abrupt transformation. The dramatic shift so publicly and quickly feels more shocking."
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Feuerman also echoed Siwa's pronouncement that she does not want people to forget about her and that she is entering a new phase of her life, stripping off the constructed image that was formed when she was still a child.
"She is a full-blown adult now and wants to ensure everyone is happy with it. Maybe it is possible that she was not happy before. It could just be her looking at that saying, 'That was me being a child, and this is now.'" Feuerman concluded.
Siwa has recently established herself as a queer icon, embracing her sexuality and queerness more upfront than ever. Per Feuerman, the "Karma" singer might have to be "mindful" of what she does in front of her younger audiences.
"Some of the fans, followers, and people who love her are probably pretty young," Feuerman said. They can be influenced, so JoJo should be mindful of that and strive to be a role model. Some of what she is about and wants to promote, like LGTBQ, are wonderful causes."
Siwa recently unveiled the tracklist and album art of her upcoming new EP, Guilty Pleasure, which contained her recent single, "Karma."
READ MORE: JoJo Siwa 'Punched in the Eye' While 'Drunk as F--' On Her 21st Birthday
