Model Jenna Lee to Pay Followers' Rent in Coronavirus

As we learned earlier this year when “naked philanthropist” Kaylen Ward launched a viral charity porn initiative to raise money for Australian bushfire relief, Instagram models are among the greatest philanthropic heroes of our time, capes or no capes, clothes or no clothes.

With the world facing yet another crisis, model and mental-health activist Jenna Lee, who was among the earliest adopters of Ward’s charity porn initiative back in January, has donned her philanthropist hat yet again, this time offering to pay rent for two of her Instagram followers whose income has been disrupted by the widespread financial fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

Lee launched the generous initiative last week, taking to Instagram to announce she would be selecting one follower in need to assist with rent this month and encouraging her over 800K followers to submit their stories.

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PLEASE SHARE!! I will be paying 1 persons rent this month! If the #coronavirus has caused you to lose your job OR you’re unable to quarantine because you don’t have the option to stop working (and you wish to quarantine) then please nominate yourself or someone you know in my comments WITH YOUR STORY and specifically how you’ve been struggling. The MORE DETAILS THE BETTER. I’m looking to help someone that’s in desperate need of help. I will DM you for further information to make sure that your situation is legit and will ask for proof of how much your rent is. PLEASE DO NOT BE EMBARRASSED TO NOMINATE YOURSELF WE ARE ALL STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW so you’re not alone. Money will be sent via Venmo or PayPal before the 1st. #covid_19 #covıd19 #covid #coronovirus2020 #stayhome #quarantine I’m not partnering with a company I’m just doing this myself to give back 🥰

A post shared by jenna 🌱 (@thejennalee) on Mar 25, 2020 at 9:00am PDT

“I will be paying 1 persons rent this month! If the #coronavirus has caused you to lose your job OR you’re unable to quarantine because you don’t have the option to stop working (and you wish to quarantine) then please nominate yourself or someone you know in my comments WITH YOUR STORY and specifically how you’ve been struggling. The MORE DETAILS THE BETTER. I’m looking to help someone that’s in desperate need of help,” Lee wrote. “PLEASE DO NOT BE EMBARRASSED TO NOMINATE YOURSELF WE ARE ALL STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW so you’re not alone.”

The model and activist says the relative stability of her online work encouraged her to step up and assist those in industries more vulnerable to the economic fallout of the pandemic. “It’s scary to think about what the global economy will look like once this is all over, so it’s up to those who haven’t taken a hit to step up,” Lee tells InsideHook, adding that while some of her other sources of income have been disrupted, “I am still doing better than most and have the ability to help where I can.”

Lee ultimately ended up selecting two followers to receive aid, a mother-of-two named Tess who works in the service industry and a laid-off automotive engineer and single father-of-four named Matt.

(Screenshot courtesy of Jenna Lee)

“I am in SHOCK right now and so incredibly grateful,” Tess wrote in an Instagram story shared with InsideHook. “I’m in tears. Thank you, Jenna! My kids and I are so thankful for kind people like you!!!!”

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