A Couple Gave Birth To These Beautiful Twins, Here's What They're Up To Now
This article was originally published on 24/7Mirror
Jaqi and her husband, Kevin, felt
blessed when they welcomed healthy twins in 2010. And it soon became
apparent that their baby girls were far from ordinary - everywhere they
went, mom and dad got comments and questions about their newest family
members. They realized that Ava Marie and Leah Rose Clements have an
unmatched beauty about them. Fast forward to today, and they've become
professional models (with much help from their mother). So, let's see
how these lovely twins enchanted the world.
An Early Arrival
Jaqi
and her husband were preparing for the arrival of their baby twins. The
twins, Ava Marie and Leah Rose were born on July 7, 2010. Four and a
half week earlier than expected. But as time went on, Jaqi started to
understand why it happened that way.
“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,” Jaqi said.
Mesmerizing Everyone From the Start
It
wasn’t long after the birth of twins that family and even strangers
started to notice how beautiful the twins are. Since birth, the natural
beauty of twins is simply undeniable
Thanks
to their smooth skin, symmetrical faces, and silky texture of hair, the
twins looked out of this world from the very start.
"They Should be Models"
With
such beautiful kids, it is not hard to imagine how much Jaqi and her
husband heard one compliment over and over again: “they should be
models.”
According
to Jaqi, strangers would always mention one thing: "Wow they are so
beautiful, you should really think about getting them into modeling."
She decided to give it a shot.
Modeling Stint Added Pressure on Jaqi
After
being persuaded by so many people to get the twins involved in
modeling, Jaqi did it and the decision turned out to be a fruitful one
as the twins were only six months old when they were signed by an agency
in Los Angeles.
However,
it added more pressure on Jaqi as she also had to take care of her
two-year-old son. The first attempt did not last longer than 3 months.
"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," Jaqi said.
Living a Normal Life
Although
it seemed like an enticing idea to help her daughters become models at
such a young age, it wasn’t the right decision at that time.
Jaqi thought that it would be better to bring her daughters alongside their peers. With time, things slowly started to change.
Going with Children’s Wishes
As
Jaqi was busy taking care of her three children, the idea of modeling
started to fade away. However, the twins weren’t ready to let it go yet.
Jaqi
didn’t want to pressurize her daughters into doing something they
didn’t want to do. Hence, she made sure her daughter had a say in this
matter.
The Wait Game Begins
Jaqi knew that she couldn’t ask the girls about it as they were still toddlers and not old enough to make their own decisions.
So, she waited for the right time to allow her beautiful and innocent daughters to make their own decision.
Lucky Number Seven
Jaqi
believes a lot in signs. According to her, seven is her lucky number.
So, it can be considered more than a coincidence that twins came into
this world on 7/7.
As the birthday of twins was approaching, the thought of her daughters turning 7 years old set Jaqi’s brain ablaze.
Presenting Her Idea Forward
As
the girls were turning seven, they had developed their own
personalities over the years. They were already doing several
extracurricular activities like dancing and swimming.
On
their 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."
And They Said "Yes"
According
to Jaqi, the twins really love performing for almost everybody. From
their neighbors to even strangers, they didn’t mind performing for
anyone.
Jaqi
said, "I was not surprised at all when they started jumping up and down
and couldn't wait to begin!" The twins were all in for modeling.
Starting Again
Jaqi’s neighbor had recently opened a children’s boutique and she was looking for models to help market her new business.
Ava
and Leah immediately got the job. "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," Jaqi said.
Taking Things Slow
Jaqi
took things slow from the start as she knew that girls were still young
and wearing a lot of clothes and putting on loads of makeup could be
unfavorable to their development.
"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," said Jaqi.
They Needed a lot of Polishing
Although
Ava and Leah had amazing looks, it doesn’t mean that they naturally
know how to model. Jaqi learned during her first shoot with the twins
that some things take time.
Jaqi
recalled on her experience "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."
Getting Back with An Agency
Jaqi
was excited yet worried at getting her girls back with an agent. After
all, they were finding a modeling agency after six years.
"I
still had a handful of contacts, so I decided to start there," she
said. "To my surprise, I heard back from almost every single one asking
to set up a time to meet the girls." Although they signed two agencies
and were excited, trouble started to brew behind the scenes. Keep on
reading to find out more about it.
The Double Agency Problem
Jaqi
was looking for more opportunities for her twins and that’s why she
thought two agencies representing her daughters would be a great idea.
It
was going fine until she got a call from one of the agencies. "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 agent told Jaqi. She
started to panic as the girls had gone to the same audition with the
other agency. Instead of making up any story, Jaqi told them the truth
and it didn’t take long for the matter to resolve.
Entering The World of Social Media
Jaqi created an Instagram account for the girls to gain a fanbase and also to serve as a portfolio for agencies.
The
account called clementstwins was created in – yes you’ve guessed it
right – July. The page started to blow up and gathered 300,000 followers
in a short time.
The Secret to Gaining Followers on Instagram
Although
the beauty of the twins was one of the main reasons behind the success
of their Instagram account, another major contributor was a tactic used
by Jaqi.
"Now,
a little over five months later, the girls have over 380,000
followers," she started. "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." Want to gain followers on Instagram? Take
quality pictures!
2017 Belonged to the Twins
Jaqi had a hunch that 2017 was going to their year and it was. The year was excellent for the twins and the family.
She
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."
A Talented Family
As Ava and Leah were gaining popularity through modeling, their older brother was also showing his talents to the world.
He also signed the same modeling agencies as his sisters. Aside from modeling, he has also acted in a few commercials as well.
Job Offers
It didn’t take much time for everyone to know that the twins had the nature for modeling.
They got six jobs in just a week. It might have tired most little girls, but the twins were eager to do more work.
Learning With Time
Jaqi
had no prior knowledge before entering the modeling industry and she is
still new to it. She says that she is still learning and there are
highs and lows that everyone needs to consider.
On
her blog, Jaqi mentioned the most important thing she learned so far
"is before trusting someone to guide you, make sure you know who you are
getting involved with."
Facing Challenges with a Smile
For
Jaqi and her twins, one of the major challenges in their new lives in
the modeling world is LA’s traffic (which is, by the way, the fifth
worst traffic in the country).
As
they have to go into downtown Los Angeles several times a week, their
trips can turn into 5 to 6 long tiring hours of traveling.
Getting Guidance From Others
Jaqi
is on board with the idea of taking guidance from others, but getting
the right advice from the right people is what matters the most to her.
She believes in going with her gut feeling and doing thorough research before working with someone.
Ignoring Negativity and Staying Positive
Jaqi has to deal with all the negative comments and backlash that is directed at her and her daughters.
Although she knows that it is best to ignore the negativity, it isn’t as easy as it seems.
A Comment They Frequently Receive
“They
look sad” is one of those common comments they receive most of the
times. Some even went on to comment that the girls are forced into
doing all this.
After
receiving such similar comment again and again, Jaqi responded by
saying that some photoshoots require to be more solemn than others. And
folks, if you ever meet the twins, you’d know that they are happy, jolly
girls.
"Are They Wearing Makeup?
One
of the most frequently asked questions is that if the girls are wearing
makeup or not. Some people have concerns that these girls are too young
to be exposed to makeup.
However,
Jaqi clarified in her comment by saying: "in almost 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."
A Comment Jaqi Hates the Most
Jaqi
and her family receive a lot of backlash about the modeling career of
young twins. One comment that Jaqi hates the most “Let them be girls.”
It
really annoys Jaqi because she wants people to understand that they are
not forced into it. In fact, the twins really like it and that’s how
they prefer spending their time.
They Are More Than Just Models
Although it seems like they spend most of their time modeling, in reality, they are still average little girls.
They goof around during photo shoots, like to make music playlists in the car and play games together.
Benefits of Living the Modeling Life
Being
a model means spending most of the time traveling, scheduling and doing
makeup, but it also helped to bring their family together.
The
twins and the family experienced something new on each trip and they
spend more time together than most families. And hey, they also get to
meet new people and make new friends.
Additional Benefits
The twins spend more time with their family and meet new kids their age with similar interest. But that’s not it.
Various
companies frequently send them new products and clothes to try out and
the twins love testing them out at photo shoots. In return, they help
companies by giving shoutouts on their social media accounts or tagging
them in their photos.
Tips on Gaining Instagram Success
You
cannot get Instagram success and gain over 300,000 followers in a short
period of time without having any knowledge about it.
Jaqi
has a few tips to share. Remember that she had very little knowledge of
social media herself. But now, she has some personal secrets to share.
Keep on reading to know what her personal secrets to growing Instagram
fanbase are.
Never Overpost
Jaqi highly recommends moderation when it comes to posting on social media. She has a fair point to make as well.
People
can get sick of your account or forget about it if you overpost.
Eventually, they will unfollow you because you are everywhere on their
timeline.
Never Neglect Hashtags
Using hashtags smartly is another reason behind the success of twin’s Instagram account.
She discovered the formula of using similar hashtags to other models of their age.
Tags are Really Important
According to Jaqi, tags have also played a crucial role in the success of girls’ Instagram account.
Tags
not only help in showing appreciation for their makeups artists,
photographers, designers, and others, but it also shows their Instagram
account in search results when people look for those particular people.
How to Follow The Right People
You
cannot follow random people in hope for them to follow you back. Jaqi
only followed the pages that she knew are most likely to follow the
twins account.
Jaqi followed all of the other kid models, photographers, kids’ stores, and more.
Comments Matter A Lot
Another way Jaqi increased the popularity of girls’ account was by making the best use of comment section.
She
would often comment on other model's photos, photographers, and other
accounts. This helps in establishing relationships and familiarizing
yourself with others
Following Trends That Work
Jaqi found out that there are certain pictures that are appreciated more by the general public than others.
She
noticed that those pictures of the twins got more attention in which
they had more similar features. This helped in drawing more attention of
people.
Outfits Also Draw People’s Attention
It
wasn’t only the girls’ looks and the likeliness that helped them get
the attention of people; it was also their amazing outfits.
In
order to ensure that her daughters had the perfect clothing, Jaqi
decided to borrow clothes from her neighbor who had her own children’s
boutique. This worked out for both Jaqi and her neighbor as they both
got what they wanted.
Remaining Honest is the Key to Success
As
Clements were still new to this field, they learned a lot of new things
every day. One thing that they’ve learned is that remaining honest is
the key to success.
They
have understood that whether they are working for an agency,
photographer or other models, staying true and telling what is on your
mind helps clear a lot of misunderstandings. Honesty is always the best
policy and they stick to it.
It's Entirely Their Decision
Jaqi
and her husband really care about their children. That’s why they came
to a family agreement that the girls and their older brother will only
stay in the modeling business if they want to. If not, it is entirely
their decision to make.
Their
parents are more than happy to support their children in their modeling
careers. They just want to see their children happy and would always
support them.
They Have A Lot of Friends
According
to mom Jaqi, one of the upsides of having a modeling career is that the
girls are making a lot of friends along the way.
She
writes in her blog that: "[They] meet a new 'friend' for 10 minutes at
an audition or a shoot and are already asking me if this new friend can
be their cousin because a simple friendship just doesn't quite express
the love they have for their new friend."
The Industry Isn’t Cheap
Jaqi
wanted to clear it to everyone that just because the twins are getting a
lot of modeling jobs, doesn’t mean the family got rich all of a sudden.
In fact, it is costing the family in headshots, gas, food, and other
expenditures to keep up with this job.
She
writes in her blog that: "But I guess if you really put it all into
perspective, the money we as parents put out now... will allow them to
make their own money they can use towards college or a car or a house in
the future."
Be Wary of Who You Trust
Jaqi
writes on her blog that: "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
is actually referring to the fact that everyone who plans on entering
this industry must be careful in choosing an agent, agency or other
professionals to work with. She highly recommends choosing after doing
some research on the person.
It Runs in The Family
When you look at the parents of Twins and their older brother, you can see why they are so beautiful.
Although Jaqi is seen modeling with her daughters, it seems as if the father could have a good modeling career as well.
A New Adventure Every Time
Some
people believe that the twins are forced into this career, but it is
far from the truth. In reality, they actually like what they do and
modeling is an adventure for them.
"They
like the new adventures we go on every week, never knowing where we
will end up but looking forward to a new experience," Jaqi writes on her
blog.
They Have a Perfect Bonding With Their Mother
As
Jaqi is the manager of her daughters, it is no surprise that they have
to spend a lot of time together. It has certainly helped in creating a
great mother-daughter bond.
"They like spending time in the car with each other and with me... having some girl time together," Jaqi writes on her blog.
Taking It With Courage
The
main criticism is towards Jaqi and she often finds herself at the
receiving end of really negative, hurtful comments. However, Jaqi
doesn’t pay much attention to negative comments.
"I
definitely don't give any light to negative comments because I know
myself that they are untrue and that's really all that matters," Jaqi
replied to a commenter on her blog.
Jaqi Has a Solution for Negative Comments
Although
Jaqi ignores the negative comments that come her way, it doesn’t mean
that they stop coming. So, she has one solution for it: she welcomes
them!
Jaqi
writes, "I welcome people to comment... good or bad. I don't plan on
deleting anyone's comments even if they are negatively directed towards
me because everyone is entitled to express how they feel."
Speaking Up is Worth It
When
you are in the modeling industry, you tend to fear for your position
whenever you want to speak up. Jaqi had to reply to one of the
commenters who have kids in the industry and was scared to say something
at first.
She
writes, "I don't want to do or say anything that will jeopardize
anything for my kids but at the same time, enough is enough. If I can
prevent others from going through what we have been through then it's
worth the fight!"
Looking Ahead
For
now, the twins are showing no signs of quitting the modeling industry.
They are still in the elementary school and it seems like they will
continue doing modeling well into their high school years.
The twins really enjoy what they do and who knows you might even see them acting one day.
Over 1.3 Million Followers
Given that the twins are still very young, it is really impressive that they have over 1.3 million subscribers on Instagram.
They
are very young and have a great future ahead. So, it won’t be a big
surprise that one day they become two of the most followed females on
Instagram.
An Incredible Portfolio
As the girls are a bit older, they are becoming more in-demand among fashion publications and clothing brands.
They
have a really solid portfolio as their photographs have been taken by
some of the best photographers. It will certainly help them get even
bigger modeling gigs in the future.
First Year as Professional Models
The
girls became professional models at the age of seven and their first
year as professional models were really exciting for the twins and their
family. Their careers were launched in the best way when the Daily Mail
wrote an article on the girls.
"It
was at that time that DailyMail.com published an article on them," Jaqi
said. That was December of 2017. "This past year has been really fun
and exciting for Ava and Leah."
An Amazing Life
Jaqi
explained what it is like being a professional model, “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."
The
twins are following something they really like and they are really
lucky that their mother is always there to guide them. We wish the twins
and her family a great future.
