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US Dancing with the Stars to feature first same-sex pairing

Jojo Siwa is to be part of first same-sex pairing on Dancing with the Stars
Jojo Siwa is to be part of first same-sex pairing on Dancing with the Stars

The US version of Dancing with the Stars will feature its first contestant competing as part of a same-sex pairing.

Eighteen-year-old YouTube personality Jojo Siwa who came out as gay in January, will find out who she is teamed up with when the show premieres next month.

Dancing with the Stars, the US version of Strictly Come Dancing, will also feature Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Suni Lee, network ABC said.

Siwa's same-sex pairing will be the first since the show began in 2005.

She said: "I think it breaks a wall that's never been broken down before.

"It's normal for a girl to dance with a guy, and I think that's really cool. But it's really special that now not only do I get to share with the world that you get to love who you love, but also you get to dance with who you want to dance with."

Dancing with the Stars's same-sex couple decision comes a year after the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing featured Olympic champion boxer Nicola Adams and dancer Katya Jones paired together.

They were widely tipped to go far on the show before being forced to pull out due to Jones testing positive for Covid-19.

The next season of Strictly will include two men paired together for the first time.

Former Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite will dance with a male professional when the series airs in September.

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