In the day and age where gay marriage is becoming legal, the LGBT community still has ground to cover. Jazz Jennings is doing her part and has been since she was just five years old. It has been just announced that she is one of the new faces of Clean & Clear’s “See The Real Me” ad campaign.
The Clean & Clear campaign has a message that not only includes endorsing skin care products, but the campaign is trendy with the social media driving aspect and requests people to send in personal stories using the hashtag #SeeTheRealMe to promote natural beauty.
Jennings, 14, told Huffington Post that she feels honored to be part of the campaign. “"I feel really honored to be part of The #seetherealme campaign. It's really amazing, as it helps many teen girls who are struggling. It helps them to find themselves and be true to who they are. I hope they can learn to be brave and not care what other people think about them, because if they just stay positive and spread love, then others will be true friends who will accept them no matter what.", Jennings said.
In addition to the campaign launch, Jennings has been active in the trans community by sharing her story of being a trans female with the world. Having a supportive family is key who accept her and love her first and foremost. Her parents and Jazz have posted videos on Youtube over the years showing her story of growing up as a trans girl. She tells Popsugar , “I've learned that no matter what your differences are, you have to embrace them and be proud of the way you are. If I wasn't confident in who I am or didn't like the fact that I was transgender, then I would not have gotten as far as I have today. Also, if you accept yourself, then you'll find that others will accept you as well, and having that support is really reassuring.”
It has to be truly hard growing up having a girls mind, but having a boys body. Some may say that Jennings story may not be unique in the fashion that she is a trans female being there are others like her, but what isn't the norm is the support system that she has had since the young age of five years old and to grow up feeling beautiful and positive. A young girl wanting to help others like her feel more accepted, some would say is an exceptional story and a remarkable feat.
Jennings was born a boy, but started feeling like a girl within a few years suffering from gender dysphoria. Jennings has done talks shows to actively show that being trans is something people should understand and possibly accept. She did a 20/20 special with Barbara Walters two years ago. She has co-authored a children's book to help others understand what it means to feel like her and to help other kids know they are not alone. The book, I am Jazz is loosely about her and is geared to help other trans kids. On top of becoming a fresh face of Clean & Clear, Jennings and her family will be starring in an 11 part reality series on TLC called All That Jazz which is set to air in summer of 2015.
Jennings has been recognized for her bravery, her positive outlook and her desire to make changes to better the world for other trans kids to grow up in. She has been ranked fourth out of the 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014 because she stands out for how much she has accomplished at a young age.
Jennings showing her own self love and being happy with herself shows not just in the Clean & Clear video, but she shows that side of her everyday of her life according to many. While changing the world one step at a time, Jennings states how she is “just having fun being one of the girls” in the new Clean & Clear video.