Jenna Johnson reflects on historic 'Dancing With the Stars' journey with JoJo Siwa
Johnson said winning season 30 "would have so much meaning behind it."
Jenna Johnson has already won "Dancing With the Stars" once before in her seven seasons on the show, but she told "Good Morning America" that winning season 30 "would have so much meaning behind it."
That's because Johnson, 27, made history in season 30 by partnering with "Dance Moms" alum JoJo Siwa in the reality dance competition series' first same-sex pairing.
Siwa, 18, came out as LGBTQ in January and said she identifies as pansexual in April.
The duo have battled their way to the finals and are competing against three other teams for the coveted Mirror Ball trophy: "The Talk" co-host Amanda Kloots and Alan Bersten, Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby and Cheryl Burke, and NBA star Iman Shumpert and Daniella Karagach.
"Obviously, I would love to walk away with the trophy for myself and JoJo, but it would mean so much more because it would be a trophy for so many people," Johnson told "GMA" over email. "It would represent that being different is scary, but oh so worth it."
She continued, "Just because you're not doing something the way other people do it doesn't mean it's not beautiful, worthy or extraordinary!"
Partnering with another woman was a choice Johnson said she initially had "doubts" about being able to do the justice it deserved, but it became a "life-changing moment" for her.
"I had so many doubts in my head before the season started. I didn’t know if I was capable of doing this, living up to everybody’s expectations, being confident while doing it," she recalled.
"And now looking back, this has been one of the most fulfilling, scary and life-changing moments I’ve ever had on the show," Johnson continued. "I’m so grateful I said yes to dancing with a female, and I’m so grateful it was JoJo. She has made this experience absolutely magical."
Looking back at her and Siwa's journey on "DWTS," Johnson said a routine that will stick with her "forever" would be their foxtrot during the "Grease"-themed episode when they played Sandy and Frenchy from the iconic musical.
"It was a tribute to our friendship and one of the most raw and real performances we did this season," she noted.
As for a routine that was a turning point for Siwa personally, Johnson pointed to their rumba during the Janet Jackson-themed episode as "a moment where everyone got to see JoJo as a woman and not a teenager anymore."
Johnson, who has been married to fellow "DWTS" pro Val Chmerkovskiy since 2019, said one of the "life lessons" she has learned from her time with the Nickelodeon star and YouTube personality is centered around "joy."
"It's crazy that someone so much younger than you can teach you more than you can teach them," she joked. "I think the most powerful thing I have learned from her is to have joy every day. She treats every moment like it's the best one yet, and she's present and doesn't take one second for granted. That has been something I needed to learn and grow at."
Scroll down to see a scrapbook of behind-the-scenes photos Johnson shared exclusively with "GMA" of her and Siwa's journey on "DWTS" season 30:
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