Jaqi and her husband Kevin Clements welcomed healthy and absolutely beautiful twins in 2010. When the family had twins Ava Marie and Leah Rose Clements, they knew their lives were about to drastically change. Here are the images of the Clements twin that captured the attention of the world:
The Twins’ Early Arrival
Ava Marie and Leah Rose Clements were born in July 2010. The twins were born prematurely; four and a half weeks early to be exact. As the girls grew up, Jaqi understood why. She said, “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.”
The Twins’ Early Arrival
Stars From The Start
Not too long after they were born, their family, nurses, and strangers were taken aback by their appearance. They always got compliments for their undeniable natural beauty. They look like they belong in a magazine, right?
Stars From The Start
Everyone Said The Same Thing: They Should Be Models!
Jaqi noticed just how many people commented on their dashing good lucks. She said strangers all the time would say, “Wow they are so beautiful, you should really think about getting them into modeling.” And that is just what she did!
Everyone Said The Same Thing They Should Be Models
Modeling Was Too Much To Juggle With Three Kids
After being pushed a little, Jaqi got the twins started with modeling. At only 6 months old, they signed with an L.A. agency. Jaqi had a two-year-old son already, so this was quite a bit of pressure for her. She stated, “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.” After three months of trying, Jaqi put the twins’ modeling career on hold.
Modeling Was Too Much To Juggle With Three Kids
Leading A Normal Life
The more Jaqi thought about it, she thought it would be better if they had a normal childhood growing up around kids their own age. She had no regrets on hitting the pause button on their modeling career. But, as time went on, things started to change. You couldn’t guess what happens next!
Leading A Normal Life
What Do The Girls Want?
While Jaqi was confident in her decision, the twins weren’t ready to let their modeling career go. Jaqi felt guilty and obviously wanted Ava and Leah to have a say. The last thing she wanted to do was pressure them to do something they didn’t want to.
What Do The Girls Want@
Waiting For The Right Moment
There was a problem. Ava and Leah were only toddlers. They weren’t old enough to help make their own decisions or really understand the consequences of what they are saying. The twins cried whenever their mother said “no” to their modeling career. Jaqi and her husband needed to give everything some thought. Maybe it was time to let the twins do what they want?
Waiting For The Right Moment
Lucky Number Seven
Jaqi is a little superstitious. She says 7 is her lucky number, and it was not an accident the twins were born on 7/7. Soon it was the twins 7th birthday! They were about to turn 7 on July 7, 2017.
Lucky Number Seven
Giving The Girls The Idea
By the time Ava and Leah turned 7, they had fully developed personalities and hobbies. They loved to dance and swim. On their 7th birthday Jaqi said, “I presented my idea to the girls that, 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.”
Giving The Girls The Idea
Ready For Action
The girls loved to sing and dance for anyone that would watch them! And wow did people want to see them! Friends, neighbors, and strangers all wanted to see Ava and Leah. It was pretty clear they wouldn’t be camera shy if they did pursue modeling.
Ready For Action
And The Modeling Kicks Off Again
Now that the girls were older, and had voiced their opinion, it was time to try again. One of Jaqi’s neighbors recently opened a children’s boutique and needed some models. Guess what? The girls got the job! Jaqi said she wanted to help the local business, “Plus, 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” she explained.
And The Modeling Kicks Off Again
Starting Off Slow
Jaqi wanted to take things slow. The girls were so young, after all. Having them wear a ton of makeup and wear a collection of pretty clothes might be harmful to their development. Jaqi from the start took control of the situation. She would do things the right way, her way. “I dug out my 10-year-old Nikon camera from a bin in the garage, put a few waves in the girl’s hair, dabbed on a little blush, and out we went to take some pictures,” Jaqi explained.
Starting Off Slow
Some Wrinkles To Iron Out
Ava and Leah had the looks down, but would they be able to model? 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.” Jaqi knew the girls were young and required some time and patience for them to get the hang of it.
Some Wrinkles To Iron Out
Getting Back With An Agency
Now that the entire family was on the same page, it was time the girls found a new modeling agency to sign with. Jaqi thought it would difficult since 6 years had gone by since they modeled. Jaqi thought it would be hard, but, “To my surprise, I heard back from almost every single one asking to set up a time to meet the girls.” The twins actually ended up signing to 2 modeling agencies.
Getting Back With An Agency
The Double Agency Dilemma
Jaqi thought to have two agencies represent her daughters was awesome! She thought this meant more opportunity and exposure for them. Everything seemed to be going fine until one of the agencies called her. The agency asked the girls to go to a callback for a Barbie Audition. Jaqi started to panic because the girls actually had gotten a call back through their other agent. Jaqi was honest with the agency, and everything was sorted in just a few hours.
The Double Agency Dilemma
Social Media Explosion
Jaqi made a wise move and opened an Instagram for the girls under the name @clementstwins. She opened the account in July 2017 and really had no idea what she was doing! Nonetheless, the page started to blow up. It now would be great to serve as a portfolio for agencies and to help the girls gain a fan base.
Social Media Explosion
Jaqi’s Instagram Learning Curve
The girl’s natural beauty wasn’t the only reason their Instagram account was huge. Jaqi had some tactics up her sleeve. She shared some of her secrets in an interview. “One thing I know for sure if it’s ALL about the pictures… so don’t settle for an average photographer because you want to save a few dollars.” So, take fewer quality pictures is the recipe for success! Nice job, Jaqi!
Jaqi’s Instagram Learning Curve
Why 2017 Was Their Year
2017 turned out to be a great year for the entire Clements family! Besides the twins modeling career, Jaqi had a premonition 2017 would be a great year for the family. Jaqi explained, “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.” You know what they say: a mother’s instinct is always right!
Why 2017 Was Their Year
All In The Family
Ava and Leah were becoming more and more successful! Their older brother, Chase, also had some talent! He ended up signing with the same agency his younger sisters did. Chase is both a model and an actor. How cool!
All In The Family
Job Offers Everywhere
It didn’t take long for the girls to gain their stronghold in the modeling world. Not too soon after they decided to start modeling again, they were getting multiple jobs a week. You’d think the world would get tired of these gorgeous twins, but nope! Everyone wanted to see them more!
Job Offers Everywhere
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Jaqi was new to the modeling industry. She had limited prior knowledge before she dove in. She learned as time went on, but still faced a number of highs and lows. In her own personal blog, she discussed the ugly parts of the modeling world and shared what she learned. She said the most important thing, “is before trusting someone to guide you, make sure you know who you are getting involved with.”
The Good The Bad The Ugly
One of The Hardest Challenges
For Jaqi and her daughters, one of the most frustrating parts of the modeling world was simply the insane traffic in L.A. They had to drive to downtown Los Angeles several times a week. It would take 5 or 6 hours for the roundtrip sometimes! While this sounds brutal, it is just the name of the game.
One Of The Hardest Challenges
Finding The Right Guidance
Jaqi learned over time to not trust everyone in the modeling industry. She needed advice, but only from the right people. Jaqi took a strong stance as time went on. She believes if anything seems off, go with your gut. It will pay off for the long run. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Finding The Right Guidance
Trying To ignore The Negativity
Jaqi openly discusses the struggles of answering negative comments about her daughters and her family. While she tries her best to ignore negativity, it isn’t always so easy. She constantly faces pressure to protect her family and believes “if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all.”
Trying To Ignore The Negativity
“They Look Sad”
Someone wrote the girl’s looked sad all the time and that they were being forced to model! This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
“They Look Sad”
Stance On Makeup
The girls are always being asked if they are wearing makeup. Not everyone thought this was such a big deal, but some people commented they were too young to be wearing makeup and were being overexposed. Jaqi responded to these comments by saying, “ln most every job the girl’s book through their agency, or any professional photo shoot they attend, there is a hired hair and makeup artist on set. Why!? Because that’s how the industry works.”
Stance On Makeup
Jaqi’s Biggest Pet Peeve
While Jaqi has received a number of negative comments, the one she hates the most is “Let them be kids.” This frustrates both her and the girls because they aren’t being forced to model! It is genuinely what they like to do and how they want to spend their time.
Jaqi’s Biggest Pet Peeve
They Do Other Things Then Just Model
While modeling takes up most of their time, the two twins are still normal kids. They like to have fun during photo shoots and even play music in the car on their way. They also love to dance!
They Do Other Things Then Just Model
The Benefits of Living The Modeling Life
While a life of modeling can be exhausting, all of the stress and traveling actually served to bring the family together. They love that they get to go to new places and share unique experiences. They get to spend plenty of time together that way!
The Benefits Of Living The Modeling Life
Extra Benefits
Besides bringing the family closer together, the twins are often sent new products and free clothing. The Clements twins help out these companies by tagging them in their photos or giving them a shout out on social media.
Extra Benefits
Steps For Instagram Success
It is no accident the twins had 300,000 Instagram followers in such a short time. Jaqi is the genius behind the operation! She learned as she did it, and is willing to share some of her tips and secrets of how she turned her daughters into superstars.
Steps For Instagram Success
Don’t Overpost
Rule #1: don’t overpost. Post regularly not too frequently. If you do so, you will lose followers.
Don’t Overpost
Hashtags Are Crucial
Another great tip is to use hashtags correctly. Jaqi developed her own formula that helped the girls gain exposure without being too aggressive. She researched other model’s accounts and uses similar hashtags. Smart!
Hashtags Are Crucial
Tags Lead To More Likes
Tagging people is also part of the formula for success. Not only does it show their appreciation for the people that helped them achieve their final look, it also brings up their Instagram page when people search for those people. Jaqi always tags both in the picture and in the comments to make sure they aren’t ignored.
Tags Lead To More Likes
How To Follow The Right People
When you are running a successful Instagram account, you always want to follow people that are likely to follow you back. Jaqi followed other kid models, photographers, makeup artists, etc. Only after the account had a big following did she go back and follow only certain pages.
How To Follow The Right People
Comment, Comment, Comment
Additionally, Jaqi said she would always comment on other accounts and hope to start a conversation. She said this was to help establish relationships and hopefully create useful connections.
Comment Comment Comment
Trends That Work
Certain types of pictures get a better reaction than others. Jaqi noticed this right away. The more successful pictures are of the girls being pictured together when their eyes are touching. People are captivated by their pictures when they are like that!
Trends That Work
Where They Got All Of Their Outfits
The girls gained their big following not only due to their looks but also their wardrobe. Jaqi made sure the girls had perfect clothing. She often borrowed clothing from a local children’s boutique and would promote the store on Instagram. It was mutually beneficial on both sides!
Where They Got All Of Their Outfits
Honesty Is The Best Policy
While the Clements are still in the learning phase, they believe honesty is always the best policy. No matter who they are working with, being honest keeps things clean and make you a likable person to work within the industry.
Honesty Is The Best Policy
They Will Only Continue If They Want To
The entire family is on the same page. Only if they enjoy the modeling business will any of the children stay in it. Happiness is the most important thing, and Jaqi and her husband believe their children should only model as long as it makes everyone happy. How sweet!
They Will Only Continue If They Want To
Working With Nail And Bone
Recently, Ava and Leah partnered with Nail and Bone, a vegan and cruelty-free nail polish brand, to support the organization Cure SMA. In the photoshoot, the twin girls wore dresses from Rainey’s Closet, which is a company that rents designer dresses to kids when they need them.
Working With Nail And Bone
Their Dad
In October 2019, Ava and Leah’s dad, Kevin Clements, got unexpectedly diagnosed with Cortical T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. This is a very rare and aggressive strain of cancer which requires hospitalization and a minimum of six months of chemotherapy. He started his chemo and has been working to recover, and the girls share photos with him frequently.
Their Dad
Hudson And Hobbs
In the Fall of 2019, the twins started a new clothing collection with the brand Hudson and Hobbs. This is a kids fashion line that is available to buy from Nordstrom in both the United States and Canada. From their Instagram, they said, “We really wanted the collection to be girlie, yet sporty, comfortable and stylish.” We think they nailed it!
Hudson And Hobbs
Making Decisions
After much stress with deciding whether or not to get the girls into modeling in the first place, Jaqi vowed that she would never make big modeling decisions without consulting both Ava and Leah, because at the end of the day this was their career on the line. She didn’t want to force them into or out of anything- she wanted them to be able to make their own choices.
Making Decisions
Cali Girls
The Clements girls live in a town located between Los Angeles and Orange County, California, so the abundance of modeling agencies and opportunities is amazing for them. From such a young age they’ve been given tons of modeling gigs and have already made a name for themselves!
Cali Girls
Mother-Daughter Time
Leah and Ava Love to spend quality time with their mom Jaqi while their dad and brother are also spending time together. The three love to go shopping and paint their nails. Jaqi knows how stressful and demanding the modeling world can be, and how cut-throat it can be sometimes, so she likes to make sure her girls stay confident and grounded in the real world.
Mother-Daughter Time
Mommy And Me
This season, the girls have partnered with a company called Muk Luks to release a brand new and super stylish children’s line. This brand makes slippers, socks, and boots to keep your feet and legs warm all winter! The collection is actually a “mommy and me” collection, so their mom is in on it too. How sweet is that?
Mommy And Me
Very Own Website
To help their fans– and their potential future modeling jobs– see adorable pics of them at all times, Ava and Leah launched their very own website. They posted on Instagram, “See everything we have been up to, new collabs we have going on, shop our style, look through magazines we’ve been in, and check out our portfolio section to see more photos from some of our favorite shoots!”
Very Own Website
Fashion
The girls love taking to Instagram to post all about their current fashion favorites, and they have such a big fan base that their Instagram posts are always showered with love and positive comments. These girls are taking on the world, and they’re only just getting started.
Fashion
Their Style
They love showing off their own personal style all over the internet, and each photo is different than the last. In this photo, they spoke about how they love the sporty style and being comfortable. The girls often match in their outfits, which is super cute.
Their Style
Front Page Appearances
The girls are not shy to pose for the camera, and they even have had their photos end up on the front page of magazines! This shoot was for Katwalk magazine, which is a magazine that promotes inclusion and diversity within the children’s modeling industry so every kid has an equal chance.
Front Page Appearances
Fashion For Each Season
Of course, with every changing season comes a change in fashion choices. Ava and Leah love to stay with the trends and dress in what’s stylish for each season, and of course, post it on their Instagram for all of their fans to see and get inspiration from!
Fashion For Each Season
Different Types Of Shoots
Especially because the girls are still new and young in the modeling industry, it’s important for their portfolios that they take on different types of jobs all the time, not just the same things. They are sometimes featured in athletic wear, sometimes in everyday street wear, and sometimes in spunky and fun outfits like this one from their Junior Style London shoot.
Different Types Of Shoots
Extracurriculars
Modeling isn’t the only thing Ava and Leah love to do in their free time. They are taking skateboarding classes as well! Of course, they have to be careful and wear elbow and knee pads and helmets so they don’t get hurt! Sometimes they even bring different friends to class with them to check it out.
Extracurriculars
Shoots In New York
As the girls’ careers keep growing, so does the geographic location of their jobs! The girls may be based in Los Angeles, but the more famous and well-known they are becoming, the more traveling they are doing. They recently flew to New York to do a shoot with Crocs.
Shoots In New York
Look-Alikes
Not only are Ava and Leah identical twins, but they also choose to dress alike quite often- usually in opposite colors of the same outfits. Maybe it’s because they happen to have the same style preferences, or maybe it’s because they look super fun and fashionable in the same outfits next to each other! I bet it’s hard to tell them apart sometimes.
Look-Alikes
American Girl
Like many young kids, Ava and Leah absolutely love their American Girl Dolls. They have posted numerous photos of them with their dolls or at the American Girl Doll store, and they always have the happiest smiles on their faces. Their dolls even look like them!
American Girl
Trio
After Leah and Ava got into the modeling world, their older brother also decided to give it a shot. Just like his sisters, he loves it, and he’s doing a great job! Sometimes the trio of siblings even poses together for photoshoots, and it’s the cutest thing ever.
Trio
Toy Ads
It’s not just photoshoot modeling that the girls are up to lately; they are also posing for photos in the comfort of their own home to promote and advertise for other things kids love: toys! The toys they promote are ones that are kid-friendly and are useful and educational for kids around the same age as they are.
Toy Ads
Joking Around
The girls take their jobs as models very seriously, but they also love having time to joke around and just be kids! Though they are identical twins, one of them had to be born a few minutes earlier, and they decided to take to their t-shirt prints to tell everyone who is the older sibling! We think that’s hilarious.
Joking Around