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JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes are hard launching their relationship!
“It’s not platonic anymore, and it’s been a beautiful development, a beautiful connection, and I’m absolutely head over heels for him and he’s the same way,” the Dance Moms alum, 22, told U.K. newspaper The Guardian on Monday, June 2, confirming their romance.
Siwa and Hughes, 32, have had their chemistry repeatedly quizzed since they first met as contestants on Celebrity Big Brother UK.
When the reality series began back in April, Siwa was identifying as a lesbian and was in a relationship with Australian actor Kath Ebbs, who identifies as non-binary. The pair announced they were going their separate ways shortly after CBB UK wrapped.
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JoJo Siwa/Instagram
Amid growing speculation, Siwa and Hughes denied her breakup from Ebbs, 27, was linked to their connection. They went on to openly share PDA-filled photos and videos on social media while maintaining in interviews at the time that they were just friends.
Siwa acknowledged in her interview with The Guardian that there have been rumors suggesting that her closeness with the former Love Island star is a “PR Stunt,” and they’ve been accused of playing to the cameras even before CBB UK ended.
She hit back that she and Hughes have “a very genuine connection” before adding that “we’re not faking a thing,” and said that even her family has noticed how much happier she is now than she has been in years, per The Guardian.
“Clearly, you’ve never been around us. I won’t ever speak for him, but for me personally, the happiness in my life just radiates off of me right now,” Siwa told the outlet. “Literally yesterday, I was massaging my cheeks; I’ve never [before] been in pain from smiling so much.”
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Chris Hughes/Snapchat
The comment comes after Hughes recently shared photos on his Instagram Stories showing himself with Siwa’s parents, Jessalynn and Tom.
On Sunday, June 1, he also posted a photo on his Snapchat of himself lying shirtless in bed while kissing the “Boomerang” singer on her forehead.
“Sleeepinnn beauty,” he wrote alongside the dimly lit snap.
Reflecting on a morning spent in bed scrolling on her phone alongside Hughes singing one of her songs, Siwa told The Guardian, “You know when you’re alone, how you feel? You are your true, raw self. I’ve obviously felt like that before, but never around one single person.”
