Why This Girl's Clean & Clear Campaign Matters

By Kristy Puchko | Celebrity | March 19, 2015 |

By Kristy Puchko | Celebrity | March 19, 2015 |

Typically when picking a spokesperson for their product, beauty companies go with perky pop stars like Zendaya, Rihanna or Jessica Simpson. (Is my age showing?) But Clean & Clear has just made a political stand by plucking the plucky Jazz Jennings as the new face of their anti-acne line. Not just a lovely girl with a contagious smile, Jennings is transgender, out and proud. And her first ad for the company makes that positively clear.

“The real me is happy, and proud to be who I am.” Look! A marketing ad that promotes a product and a positive message of self-acceptance. It’s not that hard.

At 14, Jennings has already become a celebrated activist. Her family accepted her female gender identity when she was in kindergarten. Her first platform for activism was her youtube channel. Then came the kids’ book I Am Jazz. And next, this incredibly brave girl will have a reality show, All About Jazz, on TLC.

I know, I know. TLC is the home of such cringe-inducing fare as 19 Kids and Counting and My Husband’s Not Gay. Not a good sign. But Jennings is optimistic about the project, saying, “I thought doing this show with TLC would be a great opportunity to spread my family’s message of love, tolerance and acceptance. All the media I’ve done so far has been on a smaller scale, but this TV series will be a whole new level so I can reach more people.”

This girl is just fifty shades of amazing.

For more on Jennings, check out this interview from last fall:

Kristy Puchko isn’t crying. YOU’RE crying!