The Durrant family is truly remarkable. They consist of six members who have overcome incredible obstacles. In 2001, when Dean Durrant and Alison Spooner had their first set of twins, everyone was captivated.
Hayleigh and Lauren Durrant, twin sisters from Hampshire, England, were born in 2001 with different skin tones. One twin took after their father, who is black, while the other twin resembled their mother, who is white.
Alison and Dean were shocked when they discovered they were expecting twins. They thought the babies would take after them, but when Laura and Hayleigh arrived in 2001, it was a surprise. Laura inherited her mother’s fair skin, blue eyes, and red hair, while her twin sister took after their father. Their family and friends couldn’t believe it, even though it’s a rare occurrence.
As they grew up, their parents faced questions and disbelief, while the girls had to answer their friends at school. On their 18th birthday in 2019, Hayleigh, who takes after her dad with dark skin and hair, revealed they weren’t always welcomed.
Some individuals can be quite impolite. They might question if we are truly twins and demand proof. We usually just share our address or show our passports to prove it. It’s amusing to witness the surprise on their faces.
Going to college was tough with all the different groups of Asian, white, and black students. The black group tried to include me, but I joked, ‘This is my white twin sister.’ Everyone was shocked. People see us as a miracle. I’m still surprised we’re twins.
Lauren, with her mother’s green eyes and fair hair, mentioned, “People often mistake us for best friends instead of sisters, and they don’t even realize we’re twins.”
“I’m happy with that because she is my best friend.”
According to the BBC, there is a 1 in 500 chance that twins born to a biracial couple will have different skin colors.
Alison was surprised to find out that she was pregnant with twins again, just seven years later! When Laura and Hayleigh turned 7, their mom gave birth to another pair of identical twin sisters, causing the family to make headlines once again.
Alison was induced at 37 weeks when the babies were found to be in the breech position this time. The newborns had to be immediately sent to intensive care due to breathing problems, which prevented Alison and Dean from spending quality time with them.
Upon seeing their newborns, they realized they had faced more challenges and were now blessed with another set of mixed twins.
Leah and Miya, with their unique skin tones, made their family stand out as the only one with two sets of multiracial twins. Their family’s achievement landed them in the Guinness World Records.
Dr. Sarah Jarvis from the Royal College of General Practitioners informed CBS News that non-identical twins are rare.
Having two eggs fertilized and resulting in different colored twins is rare, so for it to happen twice is extremely unlikely,” she said. “I’m as surprised as everyone else, there’s no simple explanation,” proud father Dean shared with CBS News. “I’m still amazed even though the first set was born 7 years ago, it’s truly incredible.”
Leah and Miya receive assistance from their two elder sisters, who have been able to support them through difficult times. Their father mentioned, “The younger ones look up to the older ones and often imitate them. It’s like having two Mini-Mes.”
Their mom mentioned that they are best friends and very close, despite looking different. It took her a while to understand why they appeared so different.
Leah expressed her admiration for Lauren and Hayleigh, calling them her heroes. She has a strong bond with her older sisters and aspires to be like them when she grows up. Despite their physical dissimilarities, the girls acknowledge their good fortune in having each other and find many similarities between them.
Hayleigh described how she and her friend have a unique connection. They often speak in sync and complete each other’s sentences. Sometimes, Hayleigh even has a clear understanding of what her friend is thinking.
Alison and Dean are truly fortunate to have been blessed in such a mysterious world.
What an incredibly beautiful family that can show us how to embrace our uniqueness.
