A preternatural young talent.
A sudden rise to early fame on the back of an iconic pop hit at age 13.
Nothing in our conversation feels choreographed or curated.
Dress: Red Valentino; Coat: Jason Wu; Jewelry: Young In the Mountains; Felisha Tolentino.
Her openness about her mental health struggles is, in a word, real.
Right down to her willingness to admit to vulnerability, especially during the pandemic.
“I’ve just been trying to deal day by day,” she says.
Top: Alexander Wang; Jewelry: Young In the Mountains; Felisha Tolentino.
But I needed a little lift.
I needed a little help.
And I’m not ashamed that I did that.
Top: Alexander Wang; Shorts: Red Valentino; Jewelry: Bonheur Jewelry, Young In the Mountains; Felisha Tolentino.
It was an important turning point for me."
And I think that I was very in tune with conversations around depression.
It felt more burdensome to hold something like that back than to share it.
Jacket, Skirt: Alexander McQueen; Felisha Tolentino.
It felt more burdensome to hold something like that back than to share it.
The rising demand for mental health services has led totherapist shortages.
Workplaces are supporting flexible schedules to support a better work-life balance.
Top: Alexander Wang; Jewelry: Bonheur Jewelry, Young In the Mountains; Felisha Tolentino.
For JoJo, its a blessing to have such vocal and voluminous support.
Knowing that I’msonot alone is encouraging for sure.
In essence, JoJo uses social mediaunder the proud handle iamjojofor its original intended purpose: human connection.
There may be no better distillation of this idea than in music.
With her new EP, JoJo seeks to provide that kind of outlet for listeners.
I was so confused, and thats where the thought of writing through it came from.
And there are plenty of recent stressors wed all like to forget.
All these things, JoJo says, I try not to think about them.
But I realized that was probably making it worse.
So then, through writing, not only for the albums butjournalingandstarting to talk to my therapistagain.
Thats where all these songs came from.
Its not always easy to get out of your own way.
I know youre trying.
We champion the idea of small steps andsetting attainable and measurable goalsfor self-improvement.
Sostart small, even if it means setting a goal that feels insignificant.
It doesnt have to be your norm.
There are people who have been through it, and youcanfeel better.
Thats what I want to remind people of because thats what I need to be reminded of.
And no, nothing in her self-care repertoire is unattainable or comes with a hefty price tag attached.
There are people who have been through it, and youcanfeel better.
Thats what I want to remind people of because thats what I need to be reminded of.
JoJo loves exerciseespeciallyyogaand having that breath linked to movement and the mind-body connection, she says.
As long as you might breathe, and you have a body, yoga can be for you.
She also journals, meditates, and lights scented candles.
Now I need thosefree drugs that my brain releases.
No, but thats why you dont take a stab at do it all at once.
JoJo has a great starter tip to give to your future self every morningmake your bed.
It makes me feel like I checked off a little thing and followed through, she says.
Oftentimes, were self-medicatingIve done that.
I didnt grow up having habits or routines instilled in me, JoJo says.
We dont usually think of self-determination in these terms.
We dont define ourselves by our mental self-care routines, but maybe we should.
Those things set us up for success and for stability, she says.
All those little things that you dont think matter as much, I do think they really contribute.
I dont think theres any way to prepare for what fame and access do to you.
I dont think Ive fully unpacked it, to be honest with you, she says.
You believe that your self-worth is directly related to what you produce and how that performs.
I dont think thats healthy, particularly to be instilled in a 13-year-old.
I have a much better life-work balance than I ever have.
Im making time for things that enrich my life outside of just pursuing my career.
I like to see potentialthat just feels better, she says.
Adoring fans, intense media pressure, unhealthy standards of beauty and appearance.
Like the rest of us, she has watched the developments of the Free Britney movement with interest.
Britneys an incredibly talented and intelligent woman, and shes an iconI love her.
Its encouraging to see the way shes reclaiming her narrative.
As for her own story, JoJo self-reckoning didnt happen overnight either.
It takes time, she says, and its gradual.
She says her growth and valuation of herself would not have been possible without belief.
Trust that you know what it is you need, she says.
Another small step that has changed JoJos perspective on wellness?
Stepping off the scale.
I actually dont weigh myself.
In many cases, you may already possess the tools to improve your mental self-care routine.
It sounds like a letter to an ex-partner, an epilogue to a toxic relationship.
A few years ago, I began to realize how powerful the words I am are.
Instead, she may say shes feeling or experiencing those things.
A few years ago, I began to realize how powerful the words I am are.
Not everyone shares JoJos comfort with talking about these things.
And whats next for JoJo?
