Jazz Jennings Plays a Humiliated Transgender Teen within the Short Film 'Denim'

Jan. 28 2020, Updated 6:28 p.m. ET

In 2019, Jazz Jennings went from truth famous person to actress with the debut of Daryen Ru and Lucas McGowen’s short movie Denim. In the 15-minute drama, the teen performs transgender high school scholar Micayla Greene, who gets outed after considered one of her peers takes a picture of her in the women’ rest room.

As 5 seasons of TLC’s I Am Jazz can attest, the Florida local is aware of a thing or two about navigating youth as a transgender youth — and Denim is the very best challenge for Jazz to show off her abilities.

Jazz Jennings’ movie 'Denim' is relatable to everybody, regardless of their gender identity.

Though the movie is targeted on the plight of a transgender feminine, the message is common. "I know that Denim is going to make a difference," Jazz instructed Dazed magazine in June. "Placing the spotlight on how ignorance and cruelty can affect a teenager will open some eyes for sure and hopefully create awareness."

The 19-year-old added, "I think any teenager, transgender or not, would be humiliated if a picture of them peeing was distributed around school, but since Micayla is dysphoric and stealth, she’s even more devastated than a cis person would be."

In a submit on her Instagram selling the film, Jazz referenced Transgender Day of Remembrance (Nov. 20), noting that many of these deaths could’ve easily been avoided. "Denim is supposed to help people of all ages be more aware of this, to treat everyone for who they truly are… people," she wrote.

Co-director Daryen shared a equivalent sentiment. "Maybe not everyone can directly relate to lead character Micayla’s experiences, but they should be able to understand that innate human desire for acceptance," the writer informed Dazed. 

Highlighting the struggles trans people face on a daily foundation was once deeply important to Daryen. "It’s necessary. It’s past due time that these stories are told so that people can learn from their hardships and recognize the injustice that is being placed on these minorities," the LGBTQ advocate stated. 

"Denim emphasizes that transgender people deserve to feel safe, protected, and equal to everyone else," Daryen continued, with Jazz including, "It’s not only the bathrooms. The discrimination and bigotry [against the trans community] is getting worse. Hopefully Denim can promote empathy and understanding."

Season 6 of 'I Am Jazz' will show the TV personality’s third gender confirmation surgery.

In a trailer for the brand new season, which premieres on Jan. 28, Jazz prepares to go beneath the knife again after experiencing headaches during her first two surgeries. 

The initial operation took longer than anticipated due to Jazz’s longtime use of hormone blockers, which had avoided her from going through puberty. As a consequence, she didn’t have enough penile pores and skin to create a vagina. Despite that hiccup, the procedure appeared to move smartly.

However, Jazz was once forced to undergo a 2nd surgery a few days later when her incisions began to split open. "Her wounds were definitely separating and a blood blister began to form," the TLC famous person’s mom, Jeanette, advised the physician. 

Based on Jazz’s social media, it looks like the 3rd surgery used to be a luck. She proudly showed off scars on her higher thighs in a bathing swimsuit on Dec. 31. "I call them my battle wounds," she wrote, "because they signify the strength and perseverance it took to finally complete my transition."

New episodes of I Am Jazz air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on TLC.

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