‘I Am Jazz’ Season 7: Jazz Jennings Says She’s ‘Finally Ready to Begin the Next Chapter’ After Struggling With Eating Disorder
I Am Jazz is a reality show on TLC that has taken the world by storm, introducing viewers everywhere to a young transgender activist named Jazz Jennings. The series has been in almost continuous syndication since 2015 and even today is considered to be a groundbreaking piece of television. Not only has I Am Jazz spotlighted many of the hardships that young transgender people face, but it has made a social media star out of Jennings herself. Ahead of the season 7 premiere of her hit show, Jazz Jennings sat down for an intimate interview, discussing what’s next for the show and some of the hardships that she has faced over the past year, including her eating disorder.
What is Jazz Jennings best known for?
Jazz Jennings was born in 2000 and was assigned male at birth. Jennings developed gender dysphoria by the age of 5 and communicated to her parents that she wished to present as female. Her parents were accepting of her wishes, and they helped her to become one of the youngest publicly documented people to be identified as transgender. By the time she was 10 years old, Jennings was an outspoken advocate for transgender youth, appearing on talk shows and raising awareness.
In 2015, Jennings and her family began starring in the TLC series I Am Jazz, a show that documents her life as a transgender youth. The show has helped Jennings become an icon of national importance.
In 2018, Jennings got gender confirmation surgery, a process that was documented on the reality show. “Finally undergoing bottom surgery has allowed me to confidently flourish in my new body and dismantle any remaining gender dysphoria,” Jennings said in an interview at the time. “For the first time, my body fully reflected my soul — how I felt on the inside.”
Jazz Jennings offered an update on her eating disorder ahead of the season 7 premiere of ‘I Am Jazz’
The past several years have not been easy for Jazz Jennings.
“The past two years have been a struggle not just for me but for my entire family,” she revealed in an interview with E! Online. “They’ve held my hand and supported me and stayed by my side throughout every single second of it all and I focus every day on expressing gratitude for them because we really are a blessed family.”
She added, “I know that I have a long way to go, but I am finally ready to begin the next chapter.”
Jennings admitted that her eating disorder caused her to experience some setbacks, especially after she gained close to 100 pounds and found herself unable to be as active as she once was. Still, she has big ambitions to finally attend Harvard after initially delaying her attendance.
“I really, really want to be sitting in a classroom this fall, like this is everything I have been waiting for,” she explained. “I need to prove to Harvard that I could carry a full schedule, so I have to work or volunteer for 40 hours a week, showing that I can be productive.”
With her family at her side, it seems likely that Jennings will be able to move into her new phase of life with confidence and poise.
Here’s what else to expect in season 7
With the new season of I Am Jazz approaching, fans were curious about what to expect from Jennings and her family. As reported by E! Online, the seventh season of I Am Jazz will feature a lot of drama, with cast member Ari Jennings claiming that there will be a “lot of adult energy” in the proceedings.
With the Jennings parents dealing with the next chapter in their lives as soon-to-be empty nesters and several of the children moving on to college, fans will be able to see the whole family adapt and change, all while building their own bonds with each other.
Season 7 of I Am Jazz is set to debut at 10 p.m. EST on Nov. 30 on TLC.
