Early arrival
Twins Ava Marie and Leah Rose Clements were born in July 2010, four and a half weeks premature. Their mom Jaqi says it actually makes perfect sense given who they turned out to be: “They arrived four and a half weeks early, but knowing their personalities now, it makes total sense for them to show up early, unannounced, and ready to face anything.”
They arrived shining
From the moment they were born, the girls were turning heads. Family, friends, nurses, even strangers were amazed by how they looked. The compliments never stopped coming, and honestly, it’s easy to see why.
They must be models – everyone thought so
People constantly came up to Jaqi telling her how beautiful her girls were and that she should get them into modeling. It happened so much that she started to take it seriously, seeing it as more than just a compliment since people treated the twins’ looks almost like a sign of good luck.
Difficult at first for a mother of three
Jaqi already had a two-year-old son when she started pursuing modeling for her girls, which made the whole thing pretty overwhelming. She gave it a shot for three months but had to put it on hold. “It was hard enough getting out of the door almost every day, so my attempt at that time was short-lived and I decided it wasn’t time yet,” she said. The twins were only 6 months old when they signed with an agency in Los Angeles.
A normal life
When the girls got older, Jaqi started to come around. Looking back, she felt good about her decision to pause their modeling careers and let them just be kids, growing up around other children their own age.
The desire of girls
When Jaqi saw how overstimulated her daughters were getting from the modeling world, she felt guilty and decided to back off and respect what they wanted. The last thing she wanted was to push them into something they weren’t happy doing. The funny part though? Even after she made that call, the twins themselves weren’t ready to quit.
Waiting for the right moment
Whenever Jaqi said no to modeling, the girls would burst into tears. But they were still too young to fully understand what they were asking for or what it actually meant. Jaqi and her husband knew they needed to slow down and think it through carefully. Sure, maybe it was time to let Ava and Leah have a say, but at the end of the day, they were still just kids.
Seven, Lucky Number
Jaqi was a bit superstitious and always considered 7 her lucky number, so it felt meaningful that the twins were born on 7/7. When they were about to turn 7 on July 7, 2017, she felt like the universe was trying to tell her something.
Stimulating the girls
When Ava and Leah were 7, their personalities and interests were already fully formed. Both girls loved dancing and swimming, and on her birthday, Jaqi pitched them a new idea. She told them that on top of their weekly dance classes and swim team activities, they could give modeling a shot if they wanted to.
Taking action
People couldn’t get enough of Ava and Leah, whether it was friends, neighbors, or total strangers wanting to come see them. It was pretty obvious early on that the spotlight wouldn’t bother them one bit, especially since they already loved putting on a show, singing and dancing for anyone who’d watch.
Model career, second attempt
The girls tried out again and actually got the job this time. It also worked out that one of Jaqi’s neighbors had just opened a children’s boutique and needed models, so Jaqi jumped at the chance. “Besides, I needed some new photos to get an agent for them, so I thought it would be a great opportunity for all of us,” she said. By that age the girls were definitely old enough to speak their minds.
Starting slowly
Jaqi wanted to take things slow since the girls were so young, so she made sure she was in control from the beginning, doing things her way with a mother’s instinct. She grabbed her 10-year-old Nikon camera from the garage, put some waves in the girls’ hair, added a little blush, and they headed out to take some pictures. She didn’t want them constantly wearing heavy makeup and designer clothes, worried it could end up hurting their development.
Getting the hang of it
Ava and Leah gave it a shot, but could they actually model? During those first attempts, Jaqi noticed that Ava was focused on the camera while Leah kept zoning out. At one point Leah accidentally bumped into Ava, who assumed it was intentional and pushed her back. Jaqi knew they were still really young and figured it would just take some time and patience before they got the hang of it.
Contacting a new agency
After six years away from modeling, Jaqi was worried it would be a tough comeback. But she was pleasantly surprised, saying “I heard almost everyone asking to make an appointment to meet the girls.” The twins ended up signing with two modeling agencies really quickly, and with the whole family on board, they were ready to go.
Two Agencies, Two Dilemmas
Jaqi thought having two agencies represent her daughters was great and figured it would mean more opportunities for the girls. Things got complicated pretty fast though when one agency called about a Barbie brand audition callback, right as the other agency had also called about something. She had to come clean about the situation, but luckily it all got sorted out within a few hours.
Exploding on social media
Jaqi made a smart call in July 2017 when she set up an Instagram account for the girls called @clementstwins, though she admitted she had no idea what she was doing at the time. The idea was simple: build a portfolio that agencies could look at and help the girls grow a fan base, but the page took off way beyond what she expected.
Jaqi learning on Instagram
Jaqi opened up about what really works in an interview. Her big piece of advice? Don’t cheap out on a photographer just to save money, because the photos are everything. Good photography was clearly a huge part of why her Instagram took off, and the twins’ looks were only one piece of the puzzle.
Engaging with Followers
Jaqi made it a priority to actually talk to people who followed the twins, responding to comments and messages so fans felt genuinely noticed. She’d ask for feedback on posts to keep the content interesting, and that whole approach of staying connected helped build a loyal fanbase that really cared about Ava and Leah.
Leveraging Hashtags
Jaqi was smart about using hashtags to get the twins’ posts in front of more people. She didn’t just throw random ones on there either, she actually researched and matched the hashtags to each specific post, which helped the photos show up in more feeds and brought in followers who were actually interested in their modeling journey.
Collaborating with Brands
Jaqi worked with different brands to get Ava and Leah featured in promotional content, which helped grow their Instagram following and gave their profile more credibility. Their page ended up becoming a popular spot for kids’ fashion and lifestyle inspiration.
Consistency in Posting
Jaqi made sure to post regularly, which kept people coming back for more. Sticking to a schedule meant followers always had something to look forward to, and that steady stream of quality photos helped her grow the audience and keep them hooked on the twins’ story.
Positive Feedback
The response from Instagram was really positive. People were constantly commenting about how beautiful Ava and Leah were, saying things like “These girls are simply stunning!” and “Their smiles light up my day.” Followers also had a lot of good things to say about Jaqi herself, praising her for supporting her daughters’ careers while keeping them grounded. That kind of encouragement from the community kept Jaqi motivated to keep sharing the twins’ journey with her followers.
Family of models
Chase, the girls’ older brother, turned out to have some talent of his own. He’s now a model and actor, and he signed with the same agency as his sisters Ava and Leah, who were also continuing to grow their success.
Lots of job offers
It didn’t take long for the girls to make a name for themselves in the fashion world. Not long after they started modeling again, they were already booking several jobs a week.
Learning by doing
She picked everything up as she went, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing. On her personal blog, she opens up about the rough sides of the modeling world and the lessons she’s picked up along the way. Her biggest piece of advice is that “before you trust someone to guide you, make sure you know who you’re getting involved with.” Jaqi was completely new to the fashion industry and had very limited knowledge until she actually jumped in and got started.
A difficult challenge
Getting the girls to and from downtown Los Angeles several times a week was honestly the hardest part for Jaqi. The LA traffic was brutal, and sometimes just making the round trip would eat up five or six hours of their day.
Finding the best orientation
Jaqi learned the hard way not to trust everyone in the fashion industry. If something feels off, she says go with your gut. It’s better to play it safe than end up scrambling from a bad position. She knew she needed help and advice, just only from the right people with the long game in mind.
Ignoring negativity
Jaqi tries to brush off the negativity, but it’s not always easy. She feels a lot of pressure to protect her family and lives by the idea that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. It comes with the territory of being in the public eye, and she openly talks about how tough it can be to deal with negative comments directed at her daughters and family.
“The Twins Look Sad”
The twins actually love what they do, so the idea that they were being forced to model wasn’t true at all. At one point, someone going through the thousands of comments on the girls’ profile pointed out that the girls always looked sad.
Controversies
Jaqi Clements, who lives in Orange County, posted a photo to her 1.2 million Instagram followers on Tuesday showing her twins Ava Marie and Leah Rose spending spring break by the pool. The two girls are smiling at the camera wearing their Hope and Henry swimsuits.
Trouble with marks
Jaqi posted a photo captioned “Spring Break = Vacation for us this week!!!” that got nearly 80,000 likes and tons of comments. The post wasn’t labeled as an ad, but people think it was sponsored by a children’s clothing brand, which came just weeks after other parents called her out for profiting off her daughters. In the post she also said she was “Obsessed with these @hopeandhenrykids swimsuits!!!” and had packed them along with comfy clothes for a 4-day family trip.
Addressing Public Scrutiny
Jaqi and the twins have dealt with plenty of public scrutiny over the years. Jaqi has always put her daughters’ happiness and well-being first, and when the controversies come up, she’s clear that the twins only do things they actually enjoy and care about. With over a million followers on social media, not everyone is going to agree, and negative comments are pretty much unavoidable at that level.
Open Communication
When controversies come up, Jaqi makes a point of sitting down with Ava and Leah to talk through what they’re seeing online. She keeps things open and honest, helping the twins understand how social media works and why staying true to themselves matters. That approach keeps the girls feeling supported and gives them the tools to handle negativity without letting it get to them.
Building a Supportive Community
Jaqi puts a lot of effort into keeping the community around her family positive on social media. She shares uplifting posts and real stories that have built a space where support outweighs the negativity, which helps Ava and Leah feel confident enough to keep doing what they love.
Using Criticism as Motivation
For Ava and Leah, negative comments have basically become fuel. Rather than letting harsh words get to them, they use the criticism to push harder and prove people wrong. Every negative remark just makes them more determined to show how serious they are about their modeling careers.
Fostering Resilience
Dealing with unsupportive people is a hard lesson, but Jaqi believes it’s made Ava and Leah stronger. Those experiences have taught the girls to stay focused and not let negativity control what they do. Going through that kind of public scrutiny has built real resilience in all three of them, and it keeps them moving forward doing what they love.
Early models
They signed with agencies like LA Models, Eris Talent Agency, and God & Beauty, and the twins, known as @clementstwins on Instagram, have been featured in several magazines including La Petite Magazine, Petite Adele clothing, VÉG-A-PORTÉR, and Airfish, building a real presence in children’s fashion. Their mom actually got them into modeling when they were just six months old, but it took years to gain traction until they started their Instagram account and the brand deals began coming in.
Showing Lots of Fun
“The past year has been a lot of fun and excitement for Ava and Leah,” Jaqi told BuzzFeed. While the girls have gained a huge following and been called “the most beautiful girls in the world” by some fans, others have criticized Jaqi for “taking away their childhood.” Jaqi says the girls chose modeling themselves, and between private shopping experiences, brand merchandise, and meeting fans, they’ve had an amazing journey so far.
Accusations From Followers
People online were not happy about it. One commenter asked, “Why do people do this? Is social media everything? Why take away their childhood?” Others called it “casual child abuse,” and one person said, “This is so disgusting. I have an eight-year-old child. I couldn’t imagine exploiting her like this for money or Instagram likes.” It wasn’t just one platform either. Reddit users also called Jaqi out in a thread, with several accusing her of using the girls to make money.
Public criticism
The audience doesn’t stop there either, also taking issue with the make-up and Photoshop. Jaqi wrote in 2017 that she pitched the idea to the girls herself, saying that on top of their weekly dance classes and swim team practices, they could give modeling a shot if they wanted to. So modeling is just one more thing in their regular routine. Jaqi says the girls genuinely love it despite the criticism, though she does find it frustrating when people assume she’s cashing in on the whole thing.
Making money
“I wasn’t surprised when they started jumping and couldn’t wait to get started,” she says. Most people assume parents are making money off their kids working, but in reality, parents are usually putting more money in than they’re getting out. She’s clear that the profits people assume are there just aren’t what everyone thinks. And on top of that, she pointed out that one thing that wasn’t surprising at all was just how many expenses come with this kind of life.
Investing money
“If you think about it, it’s really not so bad,” she says. “They’re happy and they have an amazing childhood with tons of friends to play with every day.” The girls manage to balance a pretty normal life alongside all the fame they’ve built on Instagram. “If you put everything into perspective, the money we invest as parents to support something our kids love doing will let them earn their own money down the road for things like college, a car, or a house.”
Dealing with judgments
Jaqi also responded to parents who think her daughters look “sad,” saying the girls are “fine and happy.” She pointed out that making that kind of comment implies you actually know the girls, their family, their friends, their hobbies, and what makes them happy. She made it clear that the girls chose to model because they wanted to, and that it genuinely makes them happy. “Did you ever stop to think that maybe modeling really did make them happy? If not, let me be the first to tell you … IT DOES!”
Taking Care of Dad
Ava and Leah Clements were voted the most beautiful twins in the world at just nine years old, and with over 1.7 million Instagram followers, their fans clearly agree. But their platform is about more than looks. When their dad Kevin was diagnosed with leukemia and lymphoma, the girls used their account to urge followers to get tested as a bone marrow match for him, and the campaign ended up going global.
Social Media Health
Back in 2017, a family friend talked their mom Jaqi into making an Instagram account for the girls, and the very first photos she posted pulled in tens of thousands of followers almost overnight. Now Ava and Leah Clements, the 9-year-old twins that various media outlets have called the “world’s most beautiful twins,” are putting that same Instagram following to work trying to save their father’s life.
Engagement for Health
The public response to the girls’ request has been really positive. Kevin said, “We’ve partnered with DKMS, and it’s a really important thing to do a collection and find out if you’re a donor and get on the register. A lot of people think being a bone marrow donor is difficult and painful, but it’s really not. The response has been incredible. I love that they can use their platform to help other people too.”
Dealing with the shock
Kevin started feeling a little under the weather in October, just what he thought was a minor cold. But the diagnosis that followed was a shock to the whole family. Kevin, a father of three and swimming coach at JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, California, never imagined it would turn out to be something serious. It’s always a tough situation when something like this hits, and even harder when kids are involved, especially siblings.
The Symptoms
“That’s when everything changed,” says Clements, 39. Kevin is currently in his second of twelve rounds of chemotherapy, and he and his family are urgently searching for a life-saving bone marrow transplant, though they’re holding onto hope. What they never expected was that help might be closer than they thought. His symptoms had been getting worse over the weeks leading up to October 30, when doctors delivered the terrifying news: Kevin had T-cell leukemia/acute lymphoblastic lymphoma, a rare and aggressive cancer.
Father tells
Sometimes the energy just hits and he gets excited, and being home with his family means everything to him. On top of their lemonade stand, the girls also sell nail polish to raise money for their cousin Shane, who was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) at 10 months old. Kevin said it always puts a smile on his face and gives him the energy to keep going and look for the light at the end of the tunnel.
Asking for help
Ava and Leah turned to their 5 million followers to help find a bone marrow match for their father, which is a long shot but their best hope for a cure. The twins are working with DKMS, the world’s largest bone marrow donor center, on their campaigns. “We can spread the word to so many people about how easy it is to see if you’re a match and how you can help,” says Kevin. They’re just glad that they and their fans can do their part.
The Speed of a Transplant
“If he has a transplant, the cancer will go away faster,” Ava says. The family knows that even if no match is found for Kevin, getting people tested could still help some of the other 12,000 people who urgently need bone marrow transplants. Finding out if you’re a match is as simple as a cheek swab, and the actual procedure, if you do match, is painless. Leah puts it simply: “People are so kind to want to help my dad. The more people who get tested, the better. Let’s raise awareness and get tested!”
Helping
“There’s so much you can do with this platform. That’s our new focus now. And it took about two years to build, but I think we can really help a lot of people.” Out of a complicated and even traumatic situation, they found a way forward by using this powerful tool for change and social action. “We can help spread awareness so that more people decide to become donors,” said Jaqi, who spent every night in the hospital with Kevin.
Receiving Support
Kevin put it simply: “At the end of the day, life has to move on. There’s a lot of love out there.” By sharing their story publicly, Jaqi, Kevin, and their 3 kids got an huge amount of support while also helping organizations focused on fighting cancer and helping people in recovery. Kevin mentioned getting texts, emails, and calls from people he hadn’t heard from since college, saying it really helped the family get through it in a positive way.
Thousands Respond
It turned out the perfect match was right in Kevin’s own family. Kevin Clements, 39, is the father of the famous nine-year-old twins Ava Marie and Leah Rose, who had put out an appeal asking thousands of people across the country to help find a bone marrow donor after he was diagnosed with leukemia and lymphoma. In the end, his own brother was the perfect match they had been searching for.
Ways to Help
Shane’s parents, who are his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, ran a campaign to promote newborn screening, and the family has found ways to use their large social media following to support causes like that and get the word out. The girls also partnered with Nail and Bone, a nail polish line, where a lot of the proceeds go toward SMA research to help find a cure.
Finding a match
Thousands of people responded, but the match turned out to be his brother Chris all along. Back in December, they posted to their huge Instagram following, reaching well beyond their home in Orange County, California, asking people to sign up as potential donors with DKMS, an international organization that fights blood cancer and blood diseases. “All I have to do is lie in bed for four hours and save his life,” Chris said. “I’ll do anything for him.”
Successful transplant
The family has been rallying around Kevin’s recovery, giving him everything they’ve got. “It’s a long, long road,” he said. He found a bone marrow match in his brother and the transplant went well, with his daughters helping him through recovery. “I’m about 39 days away from the transplant, and sometimes it’s hard,” Kevin said. “To have them have the chance to do this and help me, but also to help so many other people, is incredible.”
Enjoying the family
Three weeks after the transplant, Kevin was released from the hospital and has been spending time with his family. He’ll have tests next month to find out if it worked. The thousands of people who signed up through the twins’ campaign weren’t just helping Kevin though. DKMS adds everyone from donor drives to a national registry, so any patient searching for a match can find one. The transplant happened at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, just outside Los Angeles, and Inside Edition was there to cover it.
Good news
We spent the day with our cousin Shane and got some amazing news. He’s in complete remission! He still has to go through with the bone marrow transplant this Friday though, because his cancer is very aggressive and likely to come back without it. We’re staying hopeful that it works and that he’ll be back home before his 40th birthday on February 27nd. On top of that, our dad just got his PET scan results back and his lymphoma is completely clear. His bone marrow biopsy from last week also showed his leukemia is gone too!
Wearing make-up
One of the biggest questions people ask the family is whether the girls wear makeup. That’s just how the industry works. Not everyone sees it as a big deal, but some people do feel the girls might be a little too young to be exposed to it. Jaqi has said, “In most of the jobs the girls do at the agency or any professional photo shoot, there is a makeup artist and a hairdresser hired to produce the models.”
Family life
Life as a model means a lot of traveling and packed schedules, but honestly it’s brought the family closer together. Every trip feels like a new experience they get to share, and it means they actually spend more time together than most families do, constantly meeting new people and making friends along the way.
Inspiring Others
The perks go further than just family time and making friends their own age with similar interests. The twins regularly get sent new products and clothes from companies to test out, and they love showing them off in photo shoots. They also help those companies out by tagging their photos or giving them content to post on their own accounts.
Engagement Strategies
Jaqi says the sweet spot is posting regularly but not overdoing it. If you flood people’s timelines, they’ll unfollow you fast, so keeping it sparse but consistent is what actually grows and keeps your following.
Instagram tips
Jaqi figured out a sweet spot with hashtags that gets the girls noticed without going overboard. She mirrors the hashtags used by other models their age, so people browsing those accounts can stumble across the twins too.
Gaining followers
Jaqi figured out pretty quickly that following other child models, photographers, and kids’ stores gave her a better shot at getting follow-backs. Once she built up a solid following though, she dropped that strategy and just followed pages she actually cared about.
At the beginning
When the girls were first starting out, their clothes got just as much attention as they did. To make sure they always had the right outfits, they borrowed pieces from their neighbor, who owned a children’s boutique and used her Instagram account to promote the store in return.
Honesty is a virtue
The Clements family are still finding their feet in the modeling world, but one thing they’ve already picked up is that honesty goes a long way. Whether you’re dealing with an agency, a photographer, or other models, speaking your mind keeps things straightforward and makes you someone people actually enjoy working with.
Family decision
For the girls and their older brother, the family has a simple rule: they only stay in modeling as long as everyone’s happy. Their parents are fully supportive, but the moment any of the kids want out, that’s that. Happiness comes first, no questions asked.
Good genetics!
Jaqi and Kevin clearly have great genes because their kids are stunning. Jaqi has been photographed with the twins plenty of times, and honestly, their dad Kevin looks like he could step in front of a camera too.
Long career ahead
Ava and Leah Clements are nowhere near slowing down, even though they’re still in elementary school. Their modeling careers are going strong, they have their own YouTube channel where they post vlogs, and who knows, we might even see them acting someday.
Powerful Mom
Jaqi has been getting just as much attention as her twin daughters Ava and Leah, with fans saying she looks so young she could pass for their older sister rather than their mom.
Matching photo
Ava and Leah recently showed up in a photo on their mom’s social media, wearing matching custom pink robes right next to her. To anyone saying her daughters look “sad” in their poses, she had a simple response: “Have you met my girls? Obviously not, if that’s any of you making this comment.”
Mother of 3
Jaqi, a mother of three whose older son is also an aspiring model, has already had to deal with people criticizing her kids and her parenting choices.
On criticism
Even though I appreciate your concern, know that my girls are fine! They are happy! They have an amazing childhood with lots of friends they can play with every day! She said in response to criticism about her twin daughters being unhappy.
The difficulties
Jaqi signed the twins up to model when they were just six months old, but nothing really came of it back then. She was already dealing with a two-year-old son and just couldn’t keep up with it all at that age.
School
The girls still go to school, and any work they book gets scheduled for afternoons or weekends so they never have to miss class.
Education first
If the girls ever have to miss school for a modeling job, booked through one of their agencies like LA Models, Eris Talent Agency, or God & Beauty, Jaqi said there’s always a teacher on set to keep up with their education.
Work and more work
Just a few months after launching their Instagram, the twin sisters already have over a million followers and have landed deals with huge brands like Nike, Disney, Mattel, and Target.
Future
Jaqi said in an interview that when you look at the big picture, the money she and her husband put in now to support their daughters in something they love could set them up to earn their own money later for things like college, a car, or even a house someday.
Teenage Success
Now that Ava and Leah Clements are teenagers, their modeling careers are still going strong. They’ve built up years of experience and have really grown into pros, consistently winning people over with their charm and natural talent.
Versatility in Modeling
As teenagers, Clements twins have branched out and are landing a much wider range of modeling jobs. Whether it’s high fashion or commercial ads, they’ve shown they can handle pretty much anything, and their careers are stronger for it.
Social Media Influence
Ava and Leah have built a serious personal brand on social media alongside their modeling work. They have millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok, which has helped them land brand deals and endorsements with some big names.
Academic Balance
The twins manage to keep up with school even with everything going on. They’re in high school and somehow juggle their studies alongside their modeling work, doing well in both.
Family Support
Jaqi and Kevin have stayed really involved in their daughters’ lives, handling their schedules and making sure the girls are happy and balanced, which has clearly made a big difference in keeping the twins successful.
Sibling Bond
Chase, the twins’ older brother, has been a big source of support for Ava and Leah. That tight family bond has really given them a strong foundation to fall back on as they deal with the highs and lows of the modeling world.
Brand Collaborations
The twins have built up a seriously impressive resume over the years, working with some of the biggest names in the industry. They’ve walked New York Fashion Week runways and starred in campaigns for major global brands.
Acting Endeavours
Ava and Leah haven’t just stuck to modeling. They’ve started picking up cameo roles in movies and TV shows, showing they’ve got more to offer than just runway and photo work.
Charitable Activities
The twins have used their fame to give back, taking part in a bunch of charitable work alongside their family to help people in need.
Continued Popularity
As Ava and Leah get older, their popularity just keeps going strong. Their look holds up over time and they’re known for being easy to work with, which keeps the modeling jobs coming.
Personal Growth
Modeling has helped both Ava and Leah grow as people along the way.
Future Aspirations
Ava and Leah have said they want to branch out into other parts of the entertainment industry, and given how driven they are, it’s pretty safe to say they’ll keep pushing forward and finding new ways to succeed.
Influential Role Models
Ava and Alexis are still really young, but they’ve already become role models for a lot of people. They manage to keep their personal and professional lives balanced while staying grounded, which is genuinely inspiring for young people and anyone looking to break into modeling.
Collaborative Projects
Mary-Kate and Ashley have gotten to work with a lot of talented people over the years, and those collaborations have really helped them build their reputation and develop as professionals in the industry.
Aspirations Beyond Modeling
Modeling has been a big part of Ava and Leah’s lives, but it’s not the only thing they care about. They’re also interested in fashion design, photography, and entrepreneurship, so they clearly have a lot more going on than just posing for cameras.