DO NOT PUBLISH: Taking a Look at the Miraculous Conjoined Twins Years Later

The Showstoppers

Abby and Brittany Hensel are two very different girls with one big thing in common- they share the same body. The conjoined twins have been tackling every challenge that’s come their way since birth, and doing it all with smiles on their faces. When they were born, a doctor told their parents that he didn’t expect them to live until the next morning. Since their time on TLC, the twins have graduated from college, moved away from home, and even joined the work-force. The only question in our minds is what’s next for these over-achievers? They miraculously survived and have continued to exceed expectations since birth.

The Showstoppers

Abby and Brittany Hensel became internationally famous with TLC’s 2012 reality show Abby & Brittany.

conjoined twins
The Showstoppers

The show portrayed the conjoined twins in a positive light, showing the world that despite their different appearances, they are just as capable and fun-loving as any other teen. Where they are now is quite stunning…

Life In The Spotlight

Although TLC’s Abby & Brittany wasn’t released until August 2012, the Hensel twins have been no strangers to the public eye, having appeared in popular media sources since the mid-90’s.

Life In The Spotlight

Their first experience with fame came on an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1996, followed shortly by a cover feature in Life Magazine under the caption “One Body, Two Souls.” The article, titled The Hensels’ Summer, described the twins’ day-to-day life and was followed up just two years later.

Oprah

While today the twins don’t remember too much about the time Oprah Winfrey invited them onto her show over twenty years ago, the rest of the world still does.

conjoined twins
Oprah

Their appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show was really the first time the conjoined twins were exposed to such a large audience. Their story resinated with millions of Americans from all over the country and marked the beginning of a new chapter of fame, recognition, and popularity in the girls’ lives.

Television Celebrities

In 2002, the twins appeared on television for the first time in Joined For Life, a documentary created by Advanced Medical Productions and shown on the Discovery Health Channel, and again in a 2003 follow up called Joined At Birth.

conjoined twins
Television Celebrities

In 2003, Life, along with Time published an updated story of the twins at age 11. In 2006, TLC put out their first television special about the twins called Joined For Life: Abby and Brittany Turn 16, and in 2007, they appeared in the UK series, Extraordinary People.