Their early success positioned them as rising names in fashion and social media. Their synchronized charm and camera-ready looks earned them one of the most coveted titles.
They were only seven when the world first took notice. Ava and Leah Clements, identical twins from California, rose to international attention after a few photos on social media turned into modeling contracts and global recognition.
But not long after their rise began, the family was forced to confront a medical emergency, and they focused on doing what they could to help. As they approach 15, here is a look at where life has taken them since those early viral days.
The Clements twins began modeling on their seventh birthday, July 7, 2017. It wasn’t something their mother, Jaqi, planned for them. The girls had been interested in trying it out, and when they asked to give modeling a go, she agreed. That same day, Jaqi launched an Instagram account to share a few photos.
What followed was immediate and unexpected attention. Their synchronized features and comfort in front of the camera drew interest from modeling agencies, major brands, and followers worldwide. Within months, Ava and Leah were featured in major publications and hired by well-known companies.
Their early modeling work included campaigns for brands like American Girl, Janie and Jack, Claire’s, Skechers, Old Navy, Lands’ End, Nike, and Disney. They also appeared in Harper’s Bazaar Brazil and Vanity Fair Italia. As their popularity grew, the family began fielding both admiration and criticism.
Some online commenters questioned the decision to let young children work in fashion. Jaqi responded publicly in a blog post. “I didn’t decide that my girls were going to start modeling, they did,” she wrote. “If the day ever comes that they want to move on to something else, I will 100% support their decision to do that.”
Despite the public commentary, the twins were enjoying their work. They continued modeling, occasionally wearing makeup, and remained active in campaigns and collaborations. At home, the family focused on keeping things balanced and supporting the girls through the realities of early public life.
However, in October 2019, their father, Kevin Clements, started feeling unwell. At first, it seemed like nothing more than a mild cold. But within weeks, his symptoms worsened. On October 30, after a series of medical evaluations, doctors diagnosed him with a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
He had T-cell acute lymphoblastic lymphoma, with leukemia later confirmed through bone marrow tests. Kevin had always been in excellent shape. A competitive swimmer who once nearly qualified for the Olympics, he had been serving as the head swim coach at JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, California.
His wife, Jaqi, recalled the shock of receiving the diagnosis. One day, Kevin, then 39, was teaching and training, and the next, he was being prepped for intensive chemotherapy. The weeks leading up to the diagnosis had been filled with uncertainty.
Jaqi described the experience as agonizing—days of conflicting predictions from specialists, fear, and waiting. At first, doctors suspected Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which has a high recovery rate. But each day brought new evaluations, and the predictions grew more serious.
Sharing the experience, Jaqi wrote, “Maybe I was in denial, maybe I had decided without actual results I wouldn’t believe anything they said, or maybe I was just trying my best to stay positive, but even after everything I truly believed there was no way this was actually going to turn out to be cancer.”
By the time the final diagnosis came in, the family had already been warned it might be the most severe option. With their fears confirmed, Jaqi’s denial turned to optimism. “The thing about our family is, no matter what you throw at us, we will get through it,” she stated.
“Kevin and I are the perfect balance for each other… he’s my soulmate, the love of my life… and I am his. And that’s why I know he’s going to fight this cancer and win,” she continued. “He loves his kids and his family too much to let it get the best of him, and for anyone that knows Kevin, he’s way too competitive to let something else beat him!”
Twelve rounds of chemotherapy were scheduled, and they began searching for a bone marrow donor, his best chance for long-term survival. With limited matches available and time working against them, the family turned to the one resource that had already connected them to millions of people—Instagram.
At the time, the twins had over 1.5 million followers. Their account, created to share modeling photos, became a way to reach potential donors. The girls used their platform to promote cheek swab testing and raise awareness about the importance of bone marrow registration.
“If he gets a transplant, his cancer will go away quicker,” Ava explained in one interview. Leah added, “People are so sweet to want to help my dad. The more people that get tested, the better.” The family partnered with DKMS, the world’s largest bone marrow donor center, and participated in public drives.
They knew the odds of finding a perfect match were low, but they hoped their outreach could also help others on the transplant list. “There’s just so much you could do with this platform,” Jaqi said. “And it’s taken about two years to build, but I think we can really get out there and help a lot of people.”
The campaign reached beyond their immediate circle. Thousands learned about the process through Ava and Leah’s posts, and many took action. Whether or not a direct match came from their followers, the effort raised awareness widely and brought comfort during an uncertain time.
In January 2020, the Clements family received the news they had been hoping for. Kevin would be receiving a bone marrow transplant, with his donor being his brother. The girls shared the update with their followers on Facebook, writing, “Heading to the hospital soon for the big day—our dad’s bone marrow transplant!”
“Our hope is that the cells take over our dad’s body so that his cancer never comes back again. The process will make our dad very sick for a while, but we are hoping it all works as planned so we can have our dad back home as soon as possible,” the post concluded.
The transplant process was difficult. The family knew it would make Kevin very sick before it made him better, but they remained hopeful. Jaqi continued staying by his side at the hospital while also managing life at home with their three children. It was a major adjustment, especially with Kevin in isolation during recovery.
The weeks following the procedure were filled with uncertainty, but there were also small signs of progress. Kevin continued chemo treatments as his body accepted the donor cells. The transplant was not the end of his treatment, but it gave him the best chance of recovery.
Throughout the process, the family shared occasional updates, offering a window into what recovery looked like for Kevin and the people around him. The treatment left him physically drained, and the months that followed were difficult. He continued chemotherapy and regular hospital visits while adjusting to life at home.
Jaqi remained by his side through the process, balancing caregiving with raising their three children. As time passed, signs of progress became more consistent. Kevin gradually regained his strength and returned to family life.
In the years that followed, life for the Clements began to settle. Ava and Leah continued modeling, and in 2023, they appeared on a major runway for New York Fashion Week. They also began looking beyond fashion, trying out different activities and focusing more on school and sports.
A post from early 2024 revealed that they had once played tennis, baseball, and dance before choosing to stick with swimming and volleyball. Kevin’s presence in more recent family photos suggests continued stability. In April 2025, the family spent Easter together, signaling how far they had come since the transplant.
As they got older, Ava and Leah began shifting focus from modeling alone to building something of their own. In 2024, they introduced KAVEAH, a laid-back clothing brand designed for tweens.
They also encouraged followers to join their VIP program and participate in upcoming photo shoots, including one planned in New York. The collection featured casual, age-appropriate pieces and was promoted through social media and in-person events.
Ava and Leah remain active online and in the public eye as they approach their 15th birthday in June 2025. While they’ve taken on new roles as brand founders, they continue modeling and regularly share updates on social media. Their Instagram page features recent campaigns, personal photos, and snapshots from everyday life.
Some followers note how their appearance has changed with age. One comment reads, “The older the girls get the more different they looking. [sic]” Others remark on their strong resemblance to Kevin. “You two look so much like your dad,” one user writes. Another adds, “Both of them still beautiful and they got the looks from daddy.”
Nearly eight years after Ava and Leah first went viral, the Clements family remains close. Their journey has changed over time, but the foundation remains the same. What began as a few shared photos became a platform that helped their family through one of its most difficult chapters.
