Latest news with #BridgettePowers
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Saturday Night Live takes aim at viral Australian 'Twinnies' in brutal skit - and fans Down Under are furious
Famed US comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL) has sent fans into an uproar after they staged a skit mocking Aussie 'Twinnies' Bridgette and Paula Powers. The 47-year-old Sunshine Coast identical twin sisters known for speaking in unison, became international sensations after they gave a word-for-word account of a fatal carjacking last month. SNL cast members Heidi Gardner and Chloe Fineman performed in the scathing skit as the twins, complete with broad Aussie accents, costumes and makeup that parodied the sisters well known look. In the sketch, which landed online this week, the Bridgette and Paula characters were asked 'why should Americans move to Australia?' 'Australia is a gorgeous island nation and we have more Hemsworths than people - that's a joke, don't write that down,' the 'Twins' replied in perfect synchronicity. SNL cast member Colin Jost, who appeared in the skit as the news 'interviewer' asked, 'I see, so you guys are basically the same person?' 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. 'No, we're totally different, because her favourite food is Vegemite and I only date black guys, the 'Twins' replied. The skit met with a grouchy response online from fans Down Under and in the US. 'Yeah no, the accent is not even close,' complained one Aussie viewer. Added another viewer, 'Australian-American here. I don't get why this is funny.' Said another bewildered fan, 'American here… neither do I!! I remember seeing them on Jimmy Kimmel and he was so respectful in their conversation. This is just mean.' 'That sounded more like a Jersey accent not Australian,' messaged one SNL viewer on the SNL Instagram share. 'It's not. Kind of offensive. Making fun of them is not cool,' replied another disgruntled viewer. It comes after the mother of a pair of the twins has revealed the pair's struggle with ongoing health issues. Their mother Helen explained earlier this month that the twins have faced difficulties since birth. 'I bought them home from the hospital and I thought there was something wrong, and in my heart, I knew they were different,' Helen told Australian Story on Monday. 'They never really sucked properly on a bottle, they used to scream a lot, they were floppy babies - they didn't sit up until they were about probably 15 months old.' Their dad, John, said he and his wife could not figure out what was wrong, and neither did the doctors, despite countless visits to the hospital. Bridgette and Paula were sent to a school that specialised in speech therapy before moving to a mainstream school. However, the pair faced intense bullying from other students for their unique bond. 'High school was very, very hard for them. As they got older their heart problems started kicking in,' Helen said. 'A lot of girls used to give them a hard time about not having boyfriends, asking if they were having it off with one another.' The beloved set of twins, who wear matching clothes every day and sleep in the same room, found their purpose once they left school in year 10 and moved to the Sunshine Coast. Their love for wildlife flourished and they were even hired by the late Steve Irwin to work at his Australia Zoo after he saw them in action during their first wildlife rescue. They have since been running the Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue for 25 years and are renowned across Queensland for their wildlife volunteer work. The pair suffer from osteoporosis, heart and stomach issues and have acknowledged their health problems will eventually force them to give up their wildlife rescue. Bridgette and Paula sparked worldwide interest on April 23 after they gave an interview about an attempted carjacking of their mother. Dressed in matching Easter outfits, the sisters recounted the terrifying moment their mother came face-to-face with an alleged gunman.
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Beloved Aussie twins brutally mocked in US
Bridgette and Paula Powers from the Sunshine Coast have become internet sensations, thanks to their eerily synched interviews, devotion to doing everything together and passion for animal rescue. However the 51-year-old twins were brutally mocked in a recent episode of Saturday Night live (SNL), with the iconic American sketch comedy show taking aim at the Queensland sisters, affectionately known as the 'Twinnies'. The loveable Aussie duo captured global attention last month after an interview about their mother's carjacking went viral. Their synchronised storytelling, including the now-infamous line, 'Run he's got a gun,' went viral, spawning countless parodies. The SNL sketch, titled 'Weekend Update: Twins Bridgette and Paula on why Americans should move to Australia,' featured cast members Heidi Gardner and Chloe Fineman donning matching outfits, wigs and thick Aussie accents, to portray the Powers' sisters during a makeshift news interview. From the moment they appeared on screen, the mockery was ruthless. 'G'day Colin, it's so nice to be here in New York City,' the duo said in their exaggerated accents. The 'news presenter' played by Colin Jost laughed as he asked the twins why Americans should move to Australia. 'Australia is a gorgeous island nation and we have more Hemsworth than people,' they joked. 'I see, so you guys are basically the same person?,' said Jost. 'No, we're totally different, because her favourite food is Vegemite,' they said in unison. 'Wait, sorry, who likes Vegemite?,' Jost asked 'Her,' they said together as the crowd laughed. The short skit has amassed almost 2 million views in just one day, with many unimpressed Aussies flocking to the comments. 'As an Australian … They are doing it wrong,' said one viewer accompanied by an eyeroll emoji. 'Yeah no, the accent is not even close,' said another. 'How did they get this so wrong??,' critiqued a third. 'This is tasteless,' added a fourth. However, some were able to see the funnier side. 'As an Australian … I approve of this skit,' said one. 'They're more in sync than the original twins,' laughed another. 'These twins are always so entertaining! Their synchronised speaking is impressive and hilarious,' said a third. The Twinnies, founders of Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue, are no strangers to fame. They first gained recognition after working closely alongside and being mentored by late wildlife legend Steve Irwin. The pair went viral in 2016 after appearing on Good Morning Britain where they spoke in unison during an interview with Piers Morgan, who couldn't stop laughing. 'This is one of the greatest interviews I've ever conducted in my life,' he declared at the time. They confessed that they in fact did not rehearse their speech and that speaking in unison was simply to do with how close they are. In a 2021 interview with ABC's Australia Story, the pair further admitted that they had never spent a day apart, saying 'When we're separated we don't feel complete.' 'Our brains must think alike at the same time,' they added. The two acknowledged that it is 'weird' to some and revealed they tried to alter the way they speak in the past. 'We do annoy a lot of people [but changing] doesn't feel right to us at all.'
Hans India
14-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
The genes conundrum-why some twins talk and think in unison
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 that they can intuitively sense what the other twin is about to say — and may feel like their brains are in sync. 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 that 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. The 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. It also found that 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. (Jeffrey Craig is with Deakin University and Nancy Segal is associated with California State University, Fullerton)
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The heartbreaking truth behind Australia's iconic viral sisters 'The Twinnies'
The mother of a pair of Aussie twins who shot to stardom after speaking in unison during a TV interview has revealed the pair's struggle with ongoing health issues. Sunshine Coast sisters Bridgette and Paula Powers became international sensations after they gave an identical, word-for-word account of a fatal carjacking last month. Known as The Twinnies, the 47-year-old sisters have been widely trolled for their unusual behaviour. Helen, their mother, explained that the twins have faced difficulties since birth. 'I bought them home from the hospital and I thought there was something wrong, and in my heart, I knew they were different,' Helen told Australian Story on Monday. 'They never really sucked properly on a bottle, they used to scream a lot, they were floppy babies - they didn't sit up until they were about probably 15 months old.' Their dad, John, said he and his wife could not figure out what was wrong with their girls, and neither did the doctors, despite countless visits to the hospital. Bridgette and Paula were sent to a school that specialised in speech therapy before moving to a mainstream school. However, the pair faced intense bullying from other students for their unique bond. 'High school was very, very hard for them. As they got older their heart problems started kicking in,' Helen said. 'A lot of girls used to give them a hard time about not having boyfriends, asking if they were having it off with one another.' The beloved set of twins, who wear matching clothes everyday and sleep in the same room, found their purpose once they left school in year 10 and moved to the Sunshine Coast. Their love for wildlife flourished and they were even hired by the late Steve Irwin to work at his Australia Zoo after he saw them in action during their first wildlife rescue. They have since been running the Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue for 25 years and are renowned across Queensland for their wildlife volunteer work. 'It is a costly passion [but] we just love looking after the seabirds and water birds,' Bridgette told Daily Mail Australia. 'We love it because they need our help because there's hardly anyone who cares for them on a big scale.' The Twins' close friend Claire Smith added Bridgette and Paula's love for sea birds had helped them over the years despite their debilitating illnesses. The pair suffer from osteoporosis, heart and stomach issues and have admitted their health problems will eventually force them to give up their wildlife rescue. Bridgette and Paula revealed they feel they're going to 'fall off our perch' have already decided what they will do with their wildlife rescue if they are unable to find a suitable replacement. They plan to knock everything down and turn the area into a wetlands so that birds can feel safe and fly in and out when they please. In the wake of their recent TV appearances the pair were contacted by GoFundMe who want to help use their fame for a good cause. As a result, the Powers sisters launched a fundraiser to raise $30,000 to support their long-standing work rescuing pelicans and seabirds. The funds will go towards buying fish, ongoing electricity costs and maintaining the rescue building. 'Our poor old centre, we're forever patching it up all the time. It's a very old building but it's working,' Bridgette told Daily Mail Australia. When asked how long they had been speaking in unison, they answered: 'From day dot'. But the pair have not always received a warm reception, with some online trolls criticising the pair if there is a delay between their voices. 'It worries the keyboard warriors, they've got nothing better to do,' they said. 'The comments don't bother us anymore. It used to bother us but now it doesn't whatsoever. I don't know why it bothers them.' The sisters say they try to speak independently but it 'comes very awkward'. Bridgette and Paula sparked worldwide interest on April 23 after they were filmed speaking in unison during an interview on 7News about a carjacking. Dressed in matching Easter outfits, the sisters recounted the terrifying moment their mother came face-to-face with an alleged gunman. Their appearance subsequently made headlines around the world, with US media and politics news website Mediaite describing their recount as 'surreal'. Twins Bridgette and Paula have previously caught the attention of media after it was revealed they have their own language and wear matching clothes every day.
Indian Express
13-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Genes, environment or special bond? Why some twins talk, think in unison
By Jeffrey Craig and Nancy Segal 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% 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. 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. 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. 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% of twins. However, estimates vary wildly – ranging from as low as 2% to as high as 47%. 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. 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.
