Naturally, Alison and Dean’s relatives and friends were astounded. The occurrence is exceptionally rare, although it does happen on occasion. Growing up posed challenges as their parents had to navigate questions about the unusual situation and face disbelieving comments. The girls, in turn, encountered inquiries from their school friends.
On the twins’ 18th birthday in 2019, Hayleigh, with dark skin and hair like her father Dean, revealed that acceptance wasn’t always forthcoming. “Some people can be really rude. They’ll say, ‘You’re lying, you aren’t twins – prove it!’ So we’ll reel off the same address or pull out our passports. It’s nice to see the shock on people’s faces.
“When we went to college, it was difficult because there were lots of groups of Asian, white, and black kids. The black group was trying to integrate me, and I was like, ‘This is my white twin sister.’ No one could believe it. People look at us like it’s some kind of miracle. I’m still amazed that we are twins.” Meanwhile, Lauren, with her mother’s green eyes and fair hair, said, “People just assume we’re best friends rather than sisters, let alone twins. I’m happy with that because she is my best friend.” There is a 1 in 500 chance that twins born to multiracial parents will have distinct skin tones.
After only seven years, Alison discovered she was expecting twins once again! When Laura and Hayleigh were 7, their mother gave birth to another set of identical twin sisters, making headlines once more. This time, when the babies were found to be in the breech position, Alison was induced at 37 weeks. Due to breathing issues, the newborns had to be immediately sent to intensive care, depriving Alison and Dean of the opportunity to spend quality time with them.