Chris Hughes’s family say they approve of his relationship with American performer JoJo Siwa and would not be surprised if the couple married before Christmas, the Daily Mail reported on Friday.
Paul and Valerie Hughes, who live in Temple Guiting, Gloucestershire, told the newspaper that Siwa, 22, and their 32-year-old son have grown close since meeting on Celebrity Big Brother in April and have spent time at the family home near St Mary’s Church. "JoJo is a lovely down to earth girl and she and Chris just hit it off from the moment they met," Paul, 68, said. "It wouldn't surprise us if they got married before Christmas. We've got St Mary's Church just over the lane from us which would be perfect."
The couple's relationship became public during their time on the Channel 5 reality show in April, which also featured Siwa alongside other high-profile contestants. Siwa, who rose to fame on the US reality series Dance Moms and later on Nickelodeon, had been in a relationship with 27-year-old non-binary Australian influencer Kath Ebbs before entering the house. The split and Siwa's new relationship with Hughes prompted criticism from some members of the LGBTQ community and debate in media coverage about her public identification. Siwa has said she felt pressured into labelling her sexuality earlier in her career and has described herself as unconcerned with gender when it comes to relationships.
Both Siwa and Hughes have spoken publicly about wanting a future together. In recent interviews and on a podcast, Siwa said she was "happy" and described wanting marriage, a traditional ceremony and children. Hughes told a magazine in July that he would "love to marry her" and that he imagines a "proper English wedding," adding that his mother "loves her." Siwa posted a photograph of that magazine cover on social media with the caption, "I do too."
Paul and Valerie Hughes described Siwa as taking to village life and family routines, including making tea and joining family gatherings. The couple, who reportedly live together on the outskirts of London, have visited the Gloucestershire home at weekends and shared videos of Siwa sitting with Paul on the family sofa. Paul said he welcomed the attention a wedding in the village might bring and that locals "would love it." He added he was accustomed to some public attention from his younger days as a professional wrestler.
Siwa, born Joelle Joanie Siwa in Omaha, Nebraska, became a public figure as a child performer and has since built a global brand. By her mid-teens she was signed to Nickelodeon, sold millions of branded hair bows and headlined the O2 arena in London at 16. Media reporting has estimated her commercial earnings in recent years at around £14.9 million. Siwa owned a six-bedroom house in the Los Angeles area that she bought at 16 and later put on the market before relocating to a rental apartment.
Hughes, who first came to national attention as a contestant on Love Island, has had high-profile relationships in the past. His family said he was single when he entered the Big Brother house following a split from professional golfer Annabel Dimmock in 2022. Paul said Hughes had not had many long-term girlfriends prior to his television appearances and that the family had welcomed Siwa soon after the show's conclusion.
The relationship’s early days on Celebrity Big Brother included several contentious moments. On the show, actor Mickey Rourke had a heated exchange with Siwa about her sexual identity and was later removed from the programme for his conduct after warning he would try to force her off the show. Siwa shifted how she described herself during the series, saying at one point that she felt "queer" rather than lesbian. The break-up with Ebbs at the programme's wrap party elicited public reaction and criticism from some observers.
Despite the controversy, members of both families have reported cordial relations. Hughes has spent time with Siwa's parents, Tom and Jessalynn Siwa, and with her brother, Jayden, who is planning a wedding next year. According to interviews, the families have socialised together in Florida and London; Hughes said he enjoyed spending time with Siwa's relatives and was asked to be a groomsman at Jayden's upcoming wedding, with Siwa to be a bridesmaid.
Locals in Temple Guiting have noted the village's medieval St Mary’s Church as a picturesque wedding venue. Founded around AD 1170 and rebuilt in part in later centuries, the church is listed on bridal sites for its historic architecture and an "open-minded" welcome, according to venue descriptions. Paul and Valerie Hughes live a short distance from the church, and local residents said they would not be surprised to see widespread media interest if a high-profile wedding were to take place there.
Representatives for Siwa and Hughes did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The couple have continued to post about their relationship on social media and in interviews, and their proponents and critics have followed developments since their appearances on Celebrity Big Brother in April.