Who Are Abby & Brittany Hensel? Get to Know the Conjoined Twins

As a curious observer, I find myself deeply intrigued by Abby and Brittany Hensel. Their unique existence and shared experiences have undeniably shaped their lives in remarkable ways. The way they navigate the world as conjoined twins is both fascinating and inspiring.


After decades away, conjoined twins Abby Hensel and Brittany Hensel are back in the spotlight.

After concluding their TLC series “Abby & Brittany,” the twin sisters, now aged 34 and known as some of the longest-surviving conjoined twins with a condition called dicephalic parapagus, have once again gained attention in popular culture. This renewed interest stems from the news that Abby got married to Josh Bowling in the year 2021.

He even shared a rare glimpse inside their world when he updated his Facebook profile picture in September to a selfie of the trio. Then, the following month, he posted a video of their pumpkin-shaped, homemade bread: “#SourdoughSistersBread.”

1996 marked a significant moment for Abby and Brittany, as they became widely recognized following their interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Born to Mike Hensel and Patty Hensel in 1990, these extraordinary sisters have two younger siblings named Morgan and Cody. During their chat with Oprah, the six-year-old twins shared insights into their unique bond, discussing how they can perform certain tasks individually, such as sleeping, eating, and speaking (although they do occasionally speak in harmony).

And as for when they disagree, the girls explained at the time, “We flip a coin.”

In terms of their physical structure, Abby and Brittany have a shared lower body starting from the navel region. Professor Nick Fisk, who has been involved with their case since birth, elaborated in the 2007 documentary Extraordinary People: The Twins Who Share a Body, that they each possess individual essential organs like hearts, lungs, a stomach, and a kidney. However, they share a colon, rectum, reproductive systems, and bladder. Interestingly, their body temperatures are distinct, with Abby usually running warmer than Brittany.

On the show Abby & Brittany, Abby remarked, “It’s really strange because I heat up incredibly quickly now, and there’s a clear red line running down my legs, which means they are sweating excessively. It’s uncomfortable, yet she seems perfectly fine.

The duo, Abby and Brittany, function as a single unit. Abby manages the right components while Brittany handles the left, resulting in their actions being incredibly synchronized. To give you an idea, they’ve played basketball and softball together, and even when they were 16, they managed to earn separate driver’s licenses. In that context, Abby operates the pedals and gear shift, while Brittany handles the blinker and lights. Interestingly enough, both of them steer the vehicle.

“We each had to take the test,” they noted on their TLC series. “We both passed—obviously.”

Beyond their brief appearances on reality TV shows and documentaries, these amazing sisters have mostly kept a low profile in their hometown of Minnesota. Currently, they reside with Abby’s husband Josh and his lovely daughter Isabella, while they both dedicate their time to teaching fifth grade at an elementary school. I simply can’t get enough of them!

Despite being incredibly synchronized in activities such as work and driving, their family and the twins themselves make it clear that they should always be regarded as distinct individuals.

In the 2007 documentary, Brittany stated that they and [another person] were distinct individuals, often engaging in a give-and-take arrangement such as “if you do this, I’ll do that,” or taking turns with tasks.

And Abby agreed, “We take turns a lot.”

Read on to learn more about Abby and Brittany.

On March 7, 1990, Abby and Brittany were born. Their mom, Patty Hensel, revealed in a 2007 documentary titled “Extraordinary People: The Twins Who Share a Body” that she was expecting only one baby at the time of delivery as per the scans. Initially, they were born with an extra arm each, but since it wasn’t functioning properly, it was surgically removed.

Patty and her spouse, Mike Hensel, learned that Abby and Brittany had been inseparable since infancy. Although Patty suggested that separation might have become an option as the girls grew older, their parents opted to keep them joined because they could lead a complete, healthy life together.

In the 2007 documentary, Abby and Brittany made it clear that they were glad they weren’t apart because that way they could enjoy doing things like playing softball, meeting new people, and running together.

In a 2007 documentary, Abby and Brittany shared that they frequently predict each other’s responses when composing emails or messages online. They often refer to themselves as a single entity, unless there’s a disagreement, at which point they distinguish by saying “Abby speaks” or “Brittany speaks.

They also now share singular social media accounts, which are private and mostly inactive. 

Abby and Brittany often acknowledge the intrigue that surrounds their lives, yet they confessed experiencing annoyance when encountering public reactions, particularly instances of people snapping photos of them without consent.

In 2007, Abby made clear that she strongly dislikes it when someone takes her photo without permission. She would express her disapproval and even make the person feel awkward or uncomfortable as a result.

As an ardent admirer, it’s fascinating to delve into the story of Mike and Patty Hensel, who were fiercely protective of their daughters’ wellbeing. Unlike many parents, they refused to subject their little girls, Brittany and Abby, to unnecessary medical tests during their childhood growth spurt. For these two young ladies, the doctor’s office was a place they longed least to visit during that time.

In 2007, as explained by their doctor, Joy Westerdahl, the family desires to handle them as if they were ordinary individuals, despite their uniqueness. She also mentioned that she must respect the family’s wish for her not to overstep boundaries in involvement.

Following her wedding with nurse and veteran Josh Bowling, Abby welcomed another cherished addition to her family – his 8-year-old daughter Isabella. Their union was formalized on November 13, 2021. Although the announcement took many by surprise, Abby and Brittany had long nurtured dreams of starting a family together.

In the year 2006, during the show “Joined for Life: Abby & Brittany Turn 16”, Brittany expressed that they will become mothers. However, she admitted they hadn’t contemplated the practicalities of motherhood at that point in time.

In their mid-30s, Abby and Brittany have continued to keep their personal lives private since the airing of their show Abby & Brittany in 2012. The reality series followed these young women during their college years and transition into adulthood over a single season.

After completing college, Abby and Brittany commenced their teaching careers. Upon being employed, they mentioned they weren’t on a salary, instead receiving individual contracts, with their earnings divided between them.

They currently teach fifth grade together at an elementary school in Minnesota. 

In one of my episodes on ‘Abby & Brittany’, I shared that my forte lies in areas such as math and science. On the other hand, Brittany shines particularly bright in language arts, including reading and literature.

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2024-10-28 17:51