Latest news with #identicaltwins
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
My sister and I are identical twins. We did everything together until college, when we set out to find our own identities.
I was known for being an identical twin, and that shaped my identity. We lived in a small town in Iowa, and no one could tell us apart. My husband's best friend is a triplet, so he understood that my sister and I were not the same person. Being an identical twin shaped my identity in childhood. From the very beginning, it was what I was known for. I can't recall one picture of me without Rebekah. The story I heard most often was of our birth. I grew up in a tiny town in Iowa with dismal healthcare, which meant that even in 1980, my mom didn't have an ultrasound. After delivering me, the doctor shouted, "There's another one in there!" and my dad almost fainted. They say one of the perks of living in a small town is that everyone knows your name. Well, I guess that only applies to non-twins. Which one was I again? Rebekah or Rachel, they'd ask. My parents encouraged this by dressing us identically and giving us the same hairstyle. They thought it was best for us to be together, and we were supposed to ensure the other twin was safe. I thought we would grow up to live next door to each other. This constant togetherness was all I ever knew and was such a large part of my identity that when I talk about my childhood, I accidentally start using the plural "we" to tell a story about myself. The only time we were apart was during the short school day. The elementary school wouldn't let us be in the same class together, but we made sure to play together at recess and sit together at lunch. I hated being away from Rebekah. It felt like half of me was missing. She was my best friend and the person I was the most myself with. Being a twin was the most interesting thing about me. It was something that people were always curious about. Do we have telepathic powers? If Rebekah gets hurt, do I feel it? Don't get me wrong, I liked the attention, but no one ever asked about me specifically or wondered who I was without Rebekah. People wondered if we played tricks, like we were some characters in a Disney film. No, we didn't, and by high school, it was no longer funny finding out a boy meant to ask you to homecoming but got it wrong. In return, I often wondered what it was like not to be a twin. Was it terribly lonely? Regardless of whether other people knew the difference between Rebekah and me, we did. Having an identical twin was an easy yardstick against which to measure myself. Her successes felt like my failures. By high school, our twinness was a competition of who did it better while also knowing each other so well that a sideways glance could cut like a knife. While we had similar interests (and still do), we started to find our own paths. I baked cookies and made a scrapbook while Rebekah wrote in her journal and joined the soccer team. But the most profound difference was that she knew what she wanted to do after high school, and I did not. She was going to a four-year college and was going to get an English degree. I could've gone and done the same, but by that point, I was starting to see that I needed to be a whole person and not just the other half of a whole. It was the first time in my life that Rebekah wasn't right by my side. We stayed in touch, but we were both finding out what it was like to be seen as our own person and not the other sister's doppelgänger. I wasn't used to going places by myself or having to make all my own decisions without my twin's input. After a year, I ended up across the country at a small college. I met my husband and found out that his best friend was a triplet, which is decidedly cooler than a twin. He knew firsthand how incredibly different identicals can be. For the first time, being a twin didn't seem all that interesting. I didn't have to try to explain what it was like or answer silly questions. He truly wanted to know me as me. I was finally known and loved for who I was and not seen as part of a box set. Sometimes I think about how sad 10-year-old me would be that Rebekah and I don't live next door to each other. But once she got over the shock of it, she'd be proud of the life I created all on my own. Read the original article on Business Insider
The Sun
09-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
We're identical twins and we're BOTH called Marie – people say it shouldn't be legal but we love confusing people
BEING an identical twin can be confusing - but imagine how it feels when you also share the same name. This is the case for twin sisters Marie and Marie, who have been confusing internet users with their posts. 2 On their @doublemaries account, the German sisters shared snaps of them together, and said: 'Told him I have a twin. 'We are named the same.' The blonde sisters document their travels and life together online, where they call themselves 'twin explorers' and 'double the fun, double the adventure.' Many people were baffled at their claim they were given the same name by their mum. One wrote: 'Is it allowed to be called the same? Like being twins.' Another added: 'God really said copy and paste.' In a video they joked that being a twin with the same name has some benefits, including the option of taking exams for one another. They are also able to prank people - including dates - who have no idea that they are twins. However, there are a number of drawbacks. Marie explained: "The problem is we have the same picture, name, date of birth and address. 'You don't even wanna know how many problems come up.' Not only have they had issues with post arriving for one another, but also in school, where teachers had to call them 'Marie 1' and 'Marie 2' to differentiate them. 2 One person asked if they had ever shared their frustration with their mum for giving them the same name. Marie said: 'Nope, we're actually thankful for the name.' They added that their mum also has no regrets about the name choice, but they said that it can be hard to feel like they have their own identities. One person replied: 'This would be the worst thing ever if one of you ever committed a crime.' The twins said in response: 'No it wasn't me.. it was Marie!!' Another pointed out: 'So you can take each other's driving test??' to which the girls joked: 'Maybe.' What are the different types of twins? TWINS are when two children are produced in the same pregnancy. They can be identical or different, and two boys, two girls, or a girl and a boy. Twins are quite rare, but are usually born completely healthy What are the different types of twins? Monozygotic – identical twins ('one cell' twins) Dizygotic – also known as 'fraternal', non identical twins. Babies are no more alike than siblings born at separate times, and they can be the same or different sexes Conjoined twins – identical twins that are joined together. They are extremely rare, and it's estimated they range from one in 49,000 to 189,000 births, although around half are stillborn, and one third die within 24 hours. Can identical twins be two different sexes? Identical twins are always of the same sex because they form from the same fertilised egg that contains either female or male chromosomes. The single egg is divided into two separate embryos, and they occur in about three in every 1000 deliveries worldwide. Therefore, boy/girl twins are always fraternal (or dizygotic), as their chromosomes are either XY (male) or XX (female). What are Di Di twins? Di Di stands for Dichronic Diamniotic, and they are the common type of twins. They have their own amniotic sacs and placenta, so are just sharing the womb of the mother, and are therefore not identical. There are few complications with Di Di twins, so have a good chance of being born completely healthy without intervention from your doctor. Di di twins are more likely to be non-identical than identical.
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Is Scott Cam leaving The Block? Nine star lands another TV gig as filming wraps for renovation show
Channel Nine star Scott Cam momentarily shocked fans when his new TV gig was announced this week. As filming of the upcoming series of The Block wraps up, the long-serving host already has a new project in the works. The television tradie, 62, will appear alongside three-time Olympian Dr Jana Pittman, 42, to host a two-part series all about identical twins. Australia's Most Identical will see 100 sets of twins undertake a raft of challenges and tests in an effort to be crowned Australia's most identical siblings. The series will see UK TV presenters Dr Xand and Dr Chris van Tulleken, themselves identical twins, set the challenges, while Australian twin experts Professor Sarah Wilson and Professor Jeff Craig will analyse the results in conjunction with Twin Research Australia. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. It was a role Cam was born to play, as he is the father of twins, Bill and Sarah, 26. The reality veteran also shares another son Charlie, 29, with his wife of more than 30 years Ann. Meanwhile Pittman welcomed twins - Quinlan and Willow - back in 2022, expanding her brood to six. She shares Quinlan and Willow, along with Emily, nine, Jemima, eight, and Charlie, two, with husband Paul Gatward, as well as Cornelis, 18, with first husband Chris Rawlinson. It's been a long road to get the series to screens, with Nine announcing Australia's Most Identical as part of its 2024 lineup. Fans need no fret about Cam's future on The Block, with the popular star confirming he has no plans on leaving the show earlier his year. Meanwhile, Cam recently revealed that he has become a grandfather for the first time. He shared a gallery of photos to social media in May confirming his son Charlie and his partner Amber had welcomed their first child, a beautiful girl. The Sydney-born presenter revealed in the caption the birth happened last month and he is now going public: 'As of five weeks ago, I became a grandfather to beautiful Tiggy. 'I'm so proud of Charlie and Amber. She is absolutely gorgeous.' It's certainly been a busy time for Cam, who was recently revealed as being the second highest paid small screen star in the land on a formidable $2.4million. He is sitting comfortable behind Today host Karl Stefanovic on $2.8million and ahead of another Nine colleague, Andy Lee, on $2million. The Nine star has been busy with the anticipated 21st season of the reality show in Daylesford, Victoria. It seems fans will soon get to see the fruits of his efforts with Block foreman Dan Reilly teasing the new series was imminent. Reilly took to his social media on Sunday to share a gallery of snaps featuring cast and crew from the Daylesford construction site in rural Victoria. While he was careful not to show off any of the homes featured in the upcoming season, a glimpse of what appears to be completed structures can be seen in the background of one photo. Aerial photos released in April revealed that the 2025 season will feature some massive homes. The sprawling construction site located in the tiny rural getaway, 112km from Melbourne, features five blocks. All of the two-storey dwellings are built as a 'H' design layout with courtyard spaces in front and back of the home. It comes after claims that the upcoming season allegedly hit a serious snag which had caused production to be delayed. An industry insider exclusively told Daily Mail Australia in January that filming was set to commence in Daylesford that month but was pushed back. Production on the popular Channel Nine reality renovation series was slated to begin in February after being delayed for a month.
The Independent
12-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Australian twins went viral for speaking in unison. But is twin telepathy real?
An interview with Paula and Bridgette Powers – identical twins who witnessed their mother's carjacking – recently went viral. The way they spoke and gestured in unison has captivated global audiences. Genetically, identical twins are clones. They result from the splitting of an early embryo, meaning they share the same genes. In contrast, fraternal twins are the result of two eggs being fertilised by two different sperm. On average they share 50 per cent of their genes – the same as any siblings who share both their biological mother and father. So, when identical twins talk and gesture in unison (known as synchrony), is it down to genes? The answer can be complicated. Genes aren't the only influence on looks, language and like-minded thinking. Let's break down the factors that might lead some twins to speak — and apparently think – in unison. A close bond in a shared environment Almost all twins, even 'identical' ones, show some differences in physical, mental and emotional traits. They also regard themselves as distinct individuals and typically don't like being referred to as 'the twins'. Yet we know most people naturally mimic the way those close to them speak and move, even without realising it. This phenomenon is called automatic mimicry and may be part of healthy social development, helping people synchronise behaviours and share emotions. For identical twins who grow up in the same home, school and community, the effect of a shared environment and close bond may be particularly intense. Paula and Bridgette Powers, for example, have shared an environment: not only the same parents, home and upbringing, but also the same job, running a bird rescue charity. Twins may know each other so well they can intuitively sense what the other twin is about to say — and may feel like their brains are in sync. The Powers sisters have explained: 'Our brains must think alike at the same time.' In contrast, twins who grow up apart share many personality traits, but without years of shared interaction they are less likely to develop synchronised speech or mirrored behaviours. However, they do display many of the same unusual habits and idiosyncrasies. What about genetics? Studying identical and fraternal twins separated at birth can help us unravel how much of our behaviours — intelligence, personality and temperament — are influenced by genes and environment. Even when identical twins grow up apart, they tend to closely resemble one another — not only physically, but in their personality, interests and behaviours. Fraternal twins, in general, are much less alike. This tells us genes matter. One of us (Nancy) was a researcher with the Minnesota Study of Twins Raised Apart, which lasted from 1979 to 1999 and looked at more than 100 sets of twins (and triplets) separated at birth and raised apart. Twins were separated for various reasons, such as the stigma of single motherhood, inadequate family resources and maternal death. The study comprehensively examined factors affecting a wide range of psychological, physical and medical traits. Researchers wanted to understand the impact of differences in their life histories on both identical and fraternal twins, reared apart and how they affected the current similarities and differences between them. A striking finding was identical twins raised apart are as similar in personality as identical twins raised together. For example, the Minnesota researchers found little difference in traits such as wellbeing and aggression, whether identical twins were raised together or apart. This shows genes play an important role in shaping our personality. Genes also affect the way we process speech and language. Sharing identical genes may mean identical twins also respond to situations in similar ways. This is because their brains lead them to behave in comparable ways. This genetic closeness, which underlies their behavioural resemblance, explains why they may independently say or do the same thing, without any need for a mystical explanation. The Minnesota study also found when identical twins were reunited they formed closer relationships with each other than reunited fraternal twins did. This suggests perceptions of similarity in behaviour might draw people together and help keep them connected. We now know genes and environment each account for half the person-to-person differences in personality. However, the life events we individually experience remain the most important factor shaping how our unique traits are expressed and who we ultimately become. What about a secret 'twin language'? Parents of identical twins may be left baffled as their children, even as toddlers, seem to communicate through babbles and gestures that no one else can understand. Each twin pair has their own way of communicating. Twins' private speech — also called idioglossia, cryptophasia or a 'secret language' — refers to verbal and nonverbal exchanges most other people don't understand. This is different to synchronised speech. Private speech is displayed by about 40 per cent of twins. However, estimates vary wildly — ranging from as low as 2 per cent to as high as 47 per cent. That's mainly because researchers define and measure it differently. Private speech usually fades as children age, at about three years of age. But some twins continue to use it into early childhood. Why are we so fascinated by twins? Twins continue to fascinate us. That is clear in the wealth of media attention they receive, their popularity in scientific studies, and their presence in myths and legends across all continents. Perhaps it is because when we see identical twins who look and act so much alike, it challenges our belief that we are all unique. But even identical twins are not exact replicas of one another. Genetic changes, events in the womb, and/or life experiences can conspire to create differences between them. Nevertheless, most identical twins are more alike and socially closer than any other pair of people on the planet.
ABC News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Birds of a Feather
Australian Story was updating its episode on identical twins Paula and Bridgette Powers when they became a global sensation due to an interview they gave about a carjacker. Because they speak in unison, parodies of them flooded the internet but the Twinnies are unfazed by the attention. Their life purpose is to rehabilitate seabirds at their sanctuary on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. But all that was under threat until a mystery benefactor came along. teaser Quirky identical twins Bridgette and Paula Powers were in the process of sharing some exciting news with Australian Story when they suddenly became a global sensation.
