In 2017, when Leah Rose and Ava Marie Clements turned seven, their mother created an Instagram account to share their lives with friends and family. She had no idea that a few snapshots would catapult her identical twin daughters into global fame. Almost overnight, their images captivated the internet, with followers calling them the “most beautiful twins in the world.” What began as a casual social media experiment turned into a whirlwind journey that would define their childhood.
Now 14, Leah and Ava are internationally recognized child models. Based in California, the girls have spent the past seven years growing up in front of a camera lens while navigating a world of opportunity, attention, and scrutiny. Their Instagram following quickly grew into the millions, attracting the attention of major brands like Nike, Disney, and Target. What started as a modest account is now a powerful platform, one that not only showcases their modeling work but also reflects their personal and family journey.
Their mother, Jaqi Clements, admits that she wasn’t social media-savvy when she first posted photos of the girls. But the account’s rapid growth surprised even her. “If you would have asked me 6 months ago if 300,000 followers was a lot…I wouldn’t have had a clue,” she wrote in a blog post. That number has since multiplied, and the twins now have close to 3 million followers across Instagram and Facebook.
With fame came criticism. Some questioned the parents’ motives for allowing their daughters to work in the modeling industry so young. But Jaqi made it clear that modeling was not her idea—it was the girls’ dream. “I didn’t decide that my girls were going to start modeling, they did,” she explained. “And if the day ever comes that they want to move on to something else, I will 100% support their decision to do that.” She also clarified that she and her husband, Kevin, were not making money off their daughters, and in fact, were making personal sacrifices to help the twins pursue their passion.
In 2019, the Clements family found themselves facing an unexpected and deeply personal crisis. Kevin, then 39 and a swim coach and father of three, was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. What began as what he thought was a mild cold turned out to be life-threatening.
The family once again turned to the same platform that had made the girls famous—but this time, they used it to try to save their father’s life. Leah and Ava posted a call for help, asking their millions of followers to get tested as potential bone marrow donors. Their message was heartfelt and urgent. “If he gets a transplant, his cancer will go away quicker,” Ava told People. Leah added, “People are so sweet to want to help my dad. The more people that get tested the better.”
The response was overwhelming. Thousands of people signed up to be tested. Although Kevin ultimately found a match through his brother, the twins’ efforts helped build awareness and add names to the national bone marrow registry, potentially saving the lives of other patients in need.
Today, the girls continue to model, balancing their career with school, family, and a growing role as advocates. Their story is more than one of social media fame or childhood beauty. It’s a story of family strength, community support, and resilience.
Leah and Ava’s journey proves that their influence reaches far beyond the lens. They’ve used their platform to spread awareness and hope, showing that even in a world focused on appearances, authenticity, heart, and purpose still shine through.
