Parents' Guide to

I Am Jazz

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Transgender teen's reality show is positive, poignant.

TV TLC Reality TV 2015

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What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 9+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Bartram Petrikov
Bartram Petrikov Adult
January 1, 2024
age 18+

I have no transphobic bias. This show is very stupid, the people are too.

I have nothing against transgender people. This show is terrible, and Jazz's parents are especially the worst. Horrible role models!
brandih8
brandih8 Adult
March 19, 2019
age 10+

Not Just Another Pointless Reality Show.

When I first came across this show, I never expected to be impressed. In fact, I almost didn't watch it. I am not transgender and I grew up I'm the 90's when this type of situation was kept quiet. This is about a teenage girl who was born with a male body but from a young age exhibited signs of a female brain. She deals with everyday pressures that normal teens face on top of being treated poorly by many people that don't understand her situation. Jazz is extremely brave to share her story. She comes from a normal, loving family and has 3 non transgender siblings. She has helped write a children's book and is helping to raise money for other kids in her situation. This show teaches people that some people are different and that it's ok. It doesn't make them freaks or gross or scary. Jazz and her family are a delight to watch. This seems much more honest and down to earth than many of the reality TV shows I have previously watched. I gave this a 10 and up age rating because I know that many between 10 and 13 will struggle talking to someone about this if they are going through the same thing but afraid to speak up otherwise I would have rated it 13 and up for harsh language.
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What's the Story?

I AM JAZZ is a reality series that starts with author and YouTube celebrity Jazz Jennings as she prepares to enter high school. Assigned male at birth, Jazz began her transition when she was five years old and has lived a happy life as a girl. But as she's getting older, she must deal with the challenges that come with puberty, including adjusting hormone treatment levels to prevent male development, becoming comfortable with meeting new people, and dating. Meanwhile, she must continue to cope with institutional ignorance and ongoing bullying. Luckily her parents, Greg and Jeannette, as well as her older sister, Ari, and twin brothers, Griffen and Sander, are there to support her every step of the way.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (6 ):

The overall series is largely uplifting, thanks to Jazz's honesty about who she is, and her efforts to be a role model to other transgender people. I Am Jazz weaves together conversations about clothes, makeup, and boys with a positive and uniquely personal story about a teen who's constantly negotiating her willingness to openly be herself and facing fears of being rejected or bullied because she's transgender. It also underscores the serious medical decisions she must constantly make to ultimately have the life she wants.

The picture painted here isn't an easy one, especially when Jazz and her parents describe the endless struggles they've had to face over the years and some of the concerns they have for the future. Bullying incidents captured on camera aren't easy to watch either.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about being transgender. What kind of challenges do trans people face on a daily basis? How can TV shows like I Am Jazz help?

  • Jazz's family is both supportive and financially stable. How do you think her life might be different if one of these factors changed?

  • How does I Am Jazz promote courage, communication, and empathy? Why are these important character strengths?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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