They Gave Birth To Beautiful Twins, Never Expecting Them To Turn Out Like This
Jaqi and Kevin Clements' lives changed in 2010, with the birth of their identical twin daughters, Ava Marie and Leah Rose. While all parents think of their baby as "the most beautiful child in the world," Jaqi and Kevin were about to learn that phrase held actual merit when it came to their twins.
Even with a striking beauty not typically seen, the twins' parents never dreamed their daughters' looks would make them internet sensations or that their lives would be anything but ordinary.
The Twins Were Born On July 7, 2010
Jaqi Clements and her husband had one huge surprise on July 7, 2010. Their identical twin daughters, Ava Marie and Leah Rose, were born four and a half weeks early! But, as time went on and the new parents had time to get to know their daughters, the early birth began to make a lot of sense.
According to Jaqi, there's nothing that stands in the way of her daughters and what they want!
The Early Birth Made Sense To Jaqi
Ava Marie and Leah Rose wanted out in the world, so that's exactly what they did! During an interview, Jaqi spoke of her daughters, saying, "They came four and a half weeks early but knowing their personalities now it makes total sense that they would show up early, unannounced, and ready to take on anything."
Apparently, even at such a young age, the twins were forces of nature who knew exactly what they wanted.
Their Startling Beauty Didn't Go Unnoticed
Before long, people began to notice the twins' uncanny beauty, stopping Jaqi and her husband to compliment their little girls. And it's not surprising, either, with their smooth and olive-toned skin and hypnotizing green eyes. With perfectly symmetrical features that look straight out of a magazine, Ava Marie and Leah Rose were born to be stars.
But there were some strangers who spoke to the parents about more than just their children's beauty.
"They Should Model"
Ava Marie and Leah Rose were very young, so it's not surprising that people took notice of their adorable nature. But the fact that they were so pretty made them actually speak out to Jaqi.
According to mama Clements, strangers would approach her and say, "Wow, they are so beautiful, you should really think about getting them into modeling." But the girls were so young and the industry so competitive, was it going to be worth it?
Jaqi Signed The Girls Up With A Modeling Agency
The thing is, Ava Marie and Leah Rose weren't Jaqi and Kevin's only kids. They had an older son, who was two at the time, to take care of, as well. But with the push of a few people, Jaqi decided to sign the girls up with a modeling agency in Los Angeles when they turned six months.
Now, it was just a matter of figuring out how to navigate the competitive industry while juggling three very young kids!
Three Months Later And Jaqi Was Done
After trying the modeling gig out for three months, Jaqi decided it wasn't the time. The kids were just too young, and it was difficult to get everything together for all of the kids to leave the house, let alone prepare for the girls to technically going to work.
During an interview, Jaqi said, "It was hard enough to get out of the door most days, so my attempt back then was short-lived, and I decided it just wasn't the time."
Leading A Normal Life Outside Of The Industry
Jaqi tried getting the girls into modeling, but after three months decided they were too young. Instead, she wanted them to lead normal lives, playing with their peers, and growing up like typical kids.
She thought it was the right thing to do at the time. But as Ava Marie and Leah Rose grew older, things began to change, and Jaqi and her husband did all they could to keep up.
It's The Girls Decision
Three months into modeling, and Jaqi decided it was too much for her. She had three kids to juggle at shoots, after all! It was just too big of a load for the young mother. But at the end of the day, is it really her choice?
The last thing she wanted was to crush her daughters' dreams. So, she had to ask herself if she was calling it quits for herself or for her daughters.
Jaqi Didn't Want To Take Their Choice Away
The last thing Jaqi wanted to do was to take the choice away from Ava Marie and Leah Rose. So, Jaqi decided she would wait until the time was right and then ask her young daughters what they wanted to do -- model or not.
But, there was a flaw in her plan that not everyone agreed with. Both Ava Marie and Leah Rose were toddlers and probably weren't equipped with making a sound decision.
When Was The Right Time To Ask?
Because the kids were so young and the only form of communication they had revolved around crying, burping, and screaming, Jaqi and Kevin had to think long and hard when the "right time" would be to ask their girls about their future.
It wasn't an easy decision. But the two parents settled on a year they thought the girls could decide for themselves. And their choice amazed Jaqi and Kevin.
Jaqi And The Lucky Number Seven
If there is one thing Jaqi is certain of, it's the power of the number seven. Not only is it her favorite number, but it's also the month, and date Ava Marie and Leah Rose were born on.
So, the fact that the girls were going to turn seven on July 7, 2017, was enough to blow Jaqi's mind. If the date wasn't a sign from the universe, then she wasn't sure what was!
Seven, Seven, Seven
So, it was settled, Jaqi and Kevin were going to ask Ava Marie and Leah Rose if they wanted to get back into modeling on their seventh birthday, July 7, 2017. By that time, the girls would have personalities of their own and be able to decide whether or not they want to be in front of a camera.
Now, it was just a matter of waiting for the girls' answers.
On Their Birthday, Jaqi Gave The Girls A Choice
When July seventh hit, it was time for Jaqi and Kevin to present the modeling idea to the girls. With dance classes and swimming, the parents had no idea what their children's answers were going to be.
But they wanted Ava Marie and Leah Rose to make the decision for themselves. So, Jaqi presented them with a choice. She said, "if they were up for it, in addition to their dance classes and swim team practices they had every week, they could give modeling a try.
Ava And Leah Love To Perform
From the time they could stand, Ava Marie and Leah Rose were all about performing for others. Whether it was strangers, neighbors, or just their family, the twins were all about being in front of a crowd.
So, Jaqi would be lying if she said she wasn't surprised to see her daughters jumping for joy at the idea of modeling. They were beyond excited and ready to get straight to work.
The Girls Landed A Job Very Quickly
The twins were eager to get straight to work. But the modeling industry is difficult to break into, and the girls needed an agent. So, when the Clements neighbor offered Ava Marie and Leah Rose a job to model the clothing for her new boutique, they jumped at the opportunity.
It was a win-win for everyone. The girls would get professional photographs taken for their portfolio, and their neighbor would have great pictures to promote her store.
Modeling For The Boutique Was An All-Around Win
Jaqi hoped that the modeling would go a bit smoother now that the girls were older. But she still couldn't do it by herself. The girls needed an agent. But that required mama Clements to get some new and professional photos of her girls.
So when her neighbor offered the twins the boutique job, she was thrilled. Jaqi said, "I needed some new photos if I was going to get them an agent, so I figured this would be a great opportunity for all of us."
Couture Could Wait!
The last thing Jaqi wanted was for the girls to grow up in an industry that had a very particular definition of beauty. She wanted to take things slow. That meant light makeup, minimalistic hairstyles, and normal clothing -- couture could wait!
Ava Marie and Leah Rose were just seven years old, after all. There was no reason to make them look older than they actually were. So, Jaqi took matters into her own hands.
Jaqi Took Things Slow
Instead of layering makeup onto the twins' faces, Jaqi took things slow. She said, "I dug out my 10-year-old Nikon camera from a bin in the garage, put a few waves in the girls' hair, dabbed on a little blush, and out we went to take some pictures."
If they wanted to model, then the girls needed to get used to being in front of the camera with people telling them what to do. But it wasn't that easy.
They Learned Modeling Is More Than Standing In Front Of A Camera
Considering the girls were only seven at the time, Jaqi had to be very patient with them. Because, contrary to popular belief, modeling is more than having a pretty face. So, the girls had to learn that being in front of the camera wasn't going to be enough; they had to work it!
Of course, it took some time and a lot of instruction. But the beautiful twins were meant to model.
The Girls Weren't Sure What They Were Doing
While Ava Marie and Leah Rose are stunning, they had to learn how to act for the camera. And, according to their mom, it took some time. Jaqi said, "Ava would look at the camera while Leah would stare off into space… Leah would accidentally bump into Ava, who, of course, thought it was on purpose and would shove her back."
Needless to say, the twins had a long way to go.
Getting Back In With An Agency
Jaqi was concerned because Ava Marie and Leah Rose had been out of the modeling industry for a few years, and they needed an agent. She was afraid no one would want to work with them.
Thankfully, she still had a few contacts from their first go around. So, Jaqi got to work, calling various agencies and seeing if they were interested in signing the twins. She never expected what happened next.
It Was A Waiting Game
A few years had gone by since Ava Marie and Leah Rose were represented by an agency. So, Jaqi wasn't sure what the odds were that they'd be picked up again. Even so, she made some calls.
"I still had a handful of contacts, so I decided to start there," Jaqi recalled. It was just a matter of waiting to see if someone got back to them and was interested in working with the girls.
Every Single Agency Called Back
To her surprise, Jaqi heard back! "To my surprise, I heard back from almost every single one asking to set up a time to meet the girls," she recalled. Apparently, Ava Marie and Leah Rose made a lasting impression on a few agencies.
Not that it's overly surprising. They were adorable as babies, so the agents were probably excited to see how they grew up and if they were just as beautiful. Answer: more so.
Double Agent = Double Trouble
With the help of their mom, Ava Marie and Leah Rose ended up signing with two agencies. And while that sounds amazing, trouble brewed behind the scenes. To Jaqi, signing with two agencies meant more potential exposure for her daughters.
What she didn't expect was to have both agents calling her about the same audition. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened, and Jaqi had to think quickly before her daughters' careers ended before they even started.
Both Agencies Were Discussing The Same Audition
Jaqi didn't think twice about signing the girls with two agencies. The more exposure the better, right? Well, her thinking took a turn when both agents called her about the same audition.
Jaqi recalled one of the agents calling, saying, "Hi, we wanted to let you know we were able to get the girls straight through to a callback for a Barbie Audition tomorrow." The problem was she'd just hung up with their other agent moments before, talking about the same audition!
Jaqi Wasn't Sure What To Do
Since Jaqi and the girls were new to the industry, she really had no idea what to do. Both of their agencies had called about the same Barbie audition! Were the girls going to get fired before they landed their first professional job?
Mama Clements was smart, though. She decided to call both agents and tell them what happened; they both offered the same audition. Thankfully, everything was cleared up in a few hours.
The Twins Make Their Way To Instagram
Jaqi was slowly but surely figuring out the inner workings of the modeling industry. And one of the aspects of the industry was social media. So, right after the twins decided they wanted to try their hands in modeling, Jaqi created the @clementstwins Instagram page.
The only thing was Jaqi had no clue what made a good Instagram page or how she should go about getting the girls a solid following.
Social Media Takeover
After their Instagram page was created, the twins soon found themselves as pseudo-celebrities, gaining 300,000 followers in what seemed like no time at all. While the page's main goal was to put all of the twins' photos in one place for potential employers, they were gaining a different type of following.
Their page might have been blowing up at a rapid pace, but Jaqi still had some learning curves she was working through. One being picture quality.
It's ALL About The Pictures
While Ava Marie and Leah Rose's startling beauty was a huge reason people flocked to their Instagram page, there was something else in the works. Sharing one of her secrets, Jaqi said, "Now, a little over five months later, the girls have over 380,000 followers."
"One thing I know for sure is it's ALL about the pictures… so don’t settle for an average photographer because you want to save a few dollars."
Jaqi Had A Feeling 2017 Was Going To Be Their Year
2017 was shaping up to be a great year for Ava Marie, Leah Rose, and the rest of their family. It looks like Jaqi's faith in the number seven held some merit!
"Aside from the fact that I'm a huge believer in signs and have been told by almost everyone that 7 is a lucky number, I just had a feeling that this year was going to be a fun and exciting year for them," Jaqi explained.
Talent Runs In The Family
While Ava Marie and Leah Rose were becoming successful, having a number of followers on social media and landing jobs left and right, they weren't the only ones in the family. As it turned out, their older brother Chase had a knack for the industry, too.
Not only did Chase wind up signing with the same agencies as his younger sisters, but he had a little something else to add to his resume.
Jaqi And Kevin Were Proud Parents
As it turned out, Chase had a keen interest in not only modeling but also acting. It wasn't long before the oldest of the three Clements children had a few commercials under his belt!
Jaqi and Kevin couldn't have been more proud of their children. But with the good comes the bad, as the parents were soon finding out. And, ironically, the bad had nothing to do with modeling, acting, or the industry.
The Twins Were Naturals
After a few at-home photoshoots and the boutique job with their neighbor, it wasn't long before Ava Marie, and Leah Rose caught the modeling bug. They were naturals, and Jaqi and Kevin weren't the only ones noticing.
Not long after they signed with their two agencies, the twins had six jobs lined up. Not too bad for two seven-year-old girls! And while the busy schedule would usually wear a young child out, the Clement twins were ready for more.
They Were Still Working Out The Kinks
Jaqi and Kevin were new to the industry, having no clue how to get started. But since their daughters wanted to model, they decided to dive right in. As time went on, she learned about the highs and the lows of being in the industry.
And if she had one tip for anyone, it's this: "before trusting someone to guide you, make sure you know who you are getting involved with." But trust wasn't the only issue.
Modeling, Acting, And Los Angeles Traffic
The girls and their mom were soon realizing that while modeling was fun, there were some bad aspects. For them, the bad aspect came in the form of the horrible Los Angeles, California, traffic they had to deal with every time they went to a job.
Sometimes, getting to and from downtown LA would be a three to four-hour drive roundtrip. But, they all got used to it as time went on. It's the name of the game!
Jaqi Asks Several Questions Before Trusting People
Since they were new to the industry, Jaqi had no one to turn to who she fully trusted. So, she began to ask herself a lot of questions before hiring people or taking advice. It was her daughters, after all. She wanted to be sure no one was going to do any funny business.
Jaqi began trusting her gut if anything felt off with a person. For her, it was always better to be safe than sorry.
Focus On The Positive And Not The Negative
Even though they were beginning to navigate the crazy waters of childhood modeling, there was still something Jaqi had to sort through: social media. She didn't realize how mean and negative people can be in their comments.
So, she's had to teach the girls to bypass the negativity and look only at the positive feedback. The negative people weren't worth their time, especially if what they were saying was out of jealousy.
Jaqi Wanted To Protect Her Family
Even so, the girls were young, and Jaqi wanted to protect them and the rest of her family from the negativity. Instilling the phrase "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all" became a mantra in the Clements household!
She wanted to let her kids know that just because someone is being mean, that doesn't mean they should be mean back. Of course, it's not always that easy.
"They Look Sad"
One comment that frequently found its way onto the twins' Instagram page was that Ava Marie and Leah Rose looked sad all the time. For Jaqi, the comment was heartbreaking. She didn't want people to think her daughters were sad or being pressured into modeling.
Of course, they have a response for those who think the girls aren't having fun. The Clements' response is that some of the pictures are supposed to look more serious than others.
Ava And Leah Are Having The Time Of Their Lives
And while the girls might look a bit too serious for their young age in some of their pictures, they are having the time of their lives. They absolutely love their job, modeling for various companies, and trying on pretty outfits.
But when there's clothing, there is typically hair and makeup. Both of those aspects make a lot of people uncomfortable, thinking the girls are too young to be exposed to those higher levels of beauty.
Jaqi Has Something To Say About The Makeup
Many people don't agree with young girls getting their hair and makeup done, thinking the early exposure isn't great for development. Well, Jaqi has something to say to those people!
Jaqi has made her stance on hair and makeup very clear, saying, "ln most every job the girls book through their agency, or any professional photoshoot they attend, there is a hired hair and makeup artist on set. Why!? Because that’s how the industry works."
There Is One Comment Jaqi Can't Stand
There might be a constant backlash coming from the public on the girls' Instagram page. But there is one comment in particular that Jaqi can't stand. When it comes to strangers talking about her children, Jaqi's biggest pet peeve is when they tell her to "let them be kids."
The comment doesn't just bother Jaqi, either. Both Ava Marie and Leah Rose don't like how people assume they've been forced into modeling.
Modeling Is How The Girls Enjoy Spending Their Time
There are a lot of people who assume Ava Marie and Leah Rose aren't happy with modeling. But they actually love being in front of the camera. It's how they want to spend their time. But that doesn't mean it's the only way they spend their time.
The two twins are still young girls, so they're going to do more than model in front of a camera every day of the week.
They Enjoy Other Activities
Modeling might take up a lot of their time, but Ava Marie and Leah Rose are still average girls. They enjoy picking on one another, making music playlists in their parents' cars, and goofing around during photoshoots.
Before they started modeling and traveling a lot for photo shoots, the twins were very invested in dance. They would love it when Jaqi or Kevin would take out the camera to record them.
The Benefits Of Being In The Industry
Even though the girls were young, the hours exhausting, and the schedules hectic, there were some upsides to being part of the modeling industry. For one, traveling to and from the twins' photoshoots brought the family closer together.
While a lot of other families don't travel long distances for activities, the Clements were in the car together more often than not! And they all feel as though they're better off for it, experiencing new things together.
They Were Making Friends
And they weren't only spending time together and forging close bonds within the family. Ava Marie, Leah Rose, and their mother were making friends. For the twins, it was nice meeting kids their own age who had the same interests.
Not to mention, they understood Ava and Leah's hectic lifestyle, traveling to and from jobs and not exactly leading a "normal childhood." But for the girls, that wasn't even the best part.
Companies Were Sending Them Free Products
While Ava Marie and Leah Rose were making friends and spending a lot of time with their family, there were perks of the job, too! For the girls, they loved how companies were sending them clothing and products to try.
Frequently, they were sent new products and pieces to model. In return, the girls would take photographs, post it on their social media accounts, tag the company, and speak on behalf of the product. It was a win-win.
Social Media Took Practice
Companies might be sending the twins' clothing and various products now, but it took Jaqi some time to figure out how to make the most of their social media page. Soon, she figured out just the right formula to get the girls' Instagram page a lot of followers, over one million since 2020, to be exact!
Jaqi was nice enough to share how she was able to turn her daughters' page from dreamer to superstar status.
Over-Posting Is A Hugh No No
Contrary to popular belief, over-posting pictures is not a good way to gain followers. In order to gain an audience, posting in moderation is key. But still frequently enough that people don't forget the page exists.
Over-posting makes people more prone to unfollowing someone, as their pictures are taking up a majority of their feed. No one likes spam, no matter how beautiful the content is! So, for Jaqi, over-posting is a huge no-no.
Hashtags And Tags Are Keys To Success
Another trick Jaqi learned while managing her daughters' Instagram page was the crucial use of hashtags and personal tags. For the former, Jaqi learned that there are particular age-appropriate hashtags young models use, such as #modelgirl and #childmodel.
Tags, on the other hand, are all about giving credit to their makeup artists, photographers, designers, and more. And there's the added benefit of people searching for those particular professionals and stumbling upon the twins' page! It's all about self-promotion.
Following The Right People For Extra Exposure
Jaqi learned that there are certain people you want to follow while running a very popular Instagram page. For her, Ava Marie and Leah Rose's model friends were at the forefront, followed by children's clothing stores, photographers, and companies who sent the girls swag.
Once the page gained a following, though, Jaqi and the girls went back and began following people and places they wanted, and not just the ones that helped them in their career.
Comment, Comment, And Comment Some More
The modeling industry is all about making connections. And Jaqi learned quickly that a great way to make those connections was over social media. So, she would comment on other model's posts, photographs taken by famous photographers, and anyone else who could help them in the business.
She hoped to contact people and spark up a conversation, resulting in a job or opportunity for the twins. It's all about establishing relationships.
Their Neighbor Helped Style The Twins
One thing is for sure, when it comes to the pictures on the twins' Instagram page, more than their looks are stunning. Their clothing and style are typically pointed out by a follower or two.
To make sure the girls' are styled and dressed to impress during their photoshoots, the Clements' neighbor steps in to help. Luckily for the girls, she just so happens to own a children's boutique. So while the girls get amazing clothes to model, their neighbor's shop gets exposure!
Their Future Is Up To Them
Like Jaqi said, when the girls first started their modeling journey, they'll only stay with it for as long as they want. Their future is totally and completely up to them. Jaqi and Kevin would never make them stick with modeling if it wasn't something they really wanted to do.
And right now, it's definitely something they want to do! The twins' don't seem to have any plans of slowing down anytime soon.
Unfortunately, The Industry Isn't Cheap
Jaqi and Kevin might want nothing more than their children to follow their dreams, but those dreams do come at a cost. And a pretty expensive cost at that! Unfortunately, the modeling industry isn't cheap.
Between traveling, food, and headshots, the Clements have spent a solid amount of money to support Ava, Leah, and even Chase. Apparently, just because their kids were booking job after job doesn't mean the family is automatically rich!
Cautious Tale: Be Wary Who You Trust
On her blog, Jaqi said, "This by far has been one of the most stressful, upsetting, mind-boggling, and biggest lessons I've learned in this industry so far." She's talking about the trust she put in someone, only to have it backfire.
According to the mom, people should see her as a cautionary tale. If your children want to get into the industry, don't trust anyone. Be mindful of your gut instincts, and find people to work with who have your children's best interest at heart.
Speak Up!
Another thing Jaqi has learned from her experience as a "model mom," it's not to be afraid to speak up for your kids. Having to deal with negative comments on social media pages and people critiquing her parenting style, throwing her kids into a cut-throat industry, has made her learn to speak up more.
According to Jaqi, "If I can prevent others from going through what we have been through, then it's worth the fight!"
The Opportunities Are Rolling In
As of late 2020, Ava Marie and Leah Rose's Instagram page has 1.1 million followers! Compared to other actresses, models, and entertainers on the platform, they're well on their way to becoming some of the most-followed females on Instagram.
It doesn't hurt that modeling opportunities are rolling in left and right, now that they're a bit older and experienced in the industry. With the jobs and their very popular Instagram page, the girls are building quite the portfolio!
Professional Models At The Age Of Seven
When Jaqi and Kevin learned they were expecting, they never thought their life was going to turn into daily road trips into downtown Los Angeles, an Instagram following their daughters' lives, or their twins having a profession at the age of seven.
But that's what happened, with their daughters turning into professional models on July 7, 2017, and people taking notice fast. The DailyMail even got the inside scoop when Ava and Leah first went public.
The Family Is Behind Ava And Leah 100%
"Whether it be private shopping experiences, gifted merchandise from brands all over the world, or taking pictures with fans, the girls have had an amazing ride so far," Jaqi explained in one of her blog posts.
And no matter what happens, have it be the twins quitting the industry or moving forward with elaborate modeling campaigns, their family is behind them 100 percent. It's only a matter of time before they're walking the catwalk during New York Fashion Week!
