Latest news with #TheTwinnies
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.
News.com.au
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Sad truth behind Australia's iconic viral sisters, The Twinnies, revealed by their mother
The heartwarming story behind two of Australia's most recognisable twins has been revealed for the first time. The Sunshine-Coast-based sisters, Paula and Bridgette Powers, also known as The Twinnies, shot to international fame recently after a TV news interview they did in the aftermath of a violent carjacking went viral. Dressed in matching blue scrubs with a rabbit pattern, the pair described how their mother went to help a bloodied man only to be confronted with a gun-wielding car thief. Talking almost in complete unison, the pair captivated social media, but the clip also saw them face widespread trolling for their oddball behaviour. But behind the viral video lies a beautiful story of two people who have moved past a difficult upbringing and found a meaningful way to give back, despite battling ongoing health issues. 'I brought them home from the hospital and I thought there was something wrong, and in my heart, I knew they were different,' the twins' mother Helen said during an interview on 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, shared: 'We could never work out what it was. We took them to doctors and they were in hospital. They just had that many problems and we couldn't, didn't know what to do about it … neither did the doctors.' The twins started out at a specialist school that helped with speech therapy, and later moved into a mainstream school where they encountered students who made their lives difficult. 'High school was very, very hard for them. As they got older their heart problems started kicking in. 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.' They left school in year 10 and moved to the Sunshine Coast, where everything started to fall into place when their love of all things wildlife flourished, giving them a new purpose in life. Paula and Bridgette have since established a non profit animal shelter dedicated to caring for sick and injured birds. Their close friend, Claire Smith, said that the twins' love for sea birds has driven them all these years. 'Twinnies suffer with a lot of debilitating illnesses, but the birds keep them going,' she said. 'We've got osteoporosis already and got heart problems, and we've got stomach problems, but we just go from one day to the next,' shared Bridgette. Paula added that the pair struggle with seeing each other struggling. 'It's hard watching my twin sister with that angry, kind of sad face when she's in pain. And it's hard for my twin sister to see me sick.' The twins admitted that it's their health issues that will eventually force them to stop dedicating their lives to saving birds in need. 'We do feel like we're going to fall off our perch,' they shared, revealing their plans for their rescue centre should they not find a suitable replacement to take over: 'We'll knock everything down and turn it into wetlands where birds can fly in and out and they'll be safe'.
IOL News
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Unbelievable twin telepathy? Watch these Aussie sisters speak as one and amaze the world
Identical twins Bridgette and Paula Powers are making waves with their surreal synchronised speech. Image: Screenshot You know when besties or couples try to finish each other's sentences, and it's clearly scripted? We all just smile, nod and pretend it's sweet, not weird. But what if two people genuinely spoke in unison, naturally and effortlessly? Meet Bridgette and Paula Powers, known as "The Twinnies" from Queensland, Australia. These 50-year-old identical twins have recently gone viral for their unique ability to speak in perfect harmony, leaving social media users both baffled and amused. In a recent interview with "7News Queensland", the twins recounted a carjacking incident involving their mother. As they detailed the event, their synchronised speech and mirrored gestures left viewers both astonished and amused. Dressed identically, they narrated the ordeal in perfect harmony, making it seem as though a single voice was echoing. 'He was coming back down towards us and he goes, 'Run, he's got a gun',' they said. They. Not she. Same rhythm, same inflections, same everything. The dramatic retelling continued: 'He pulled up the car… what was over the road there… he went and approached that car and pulled the young girl out… her mum was in the car too and she goes, 'Yes, take my car.'' It sounds like a scene from a soapie, but their synchronised delivery made it even more surreal. And they weren't even trying to be dramatic, this is apparently just how they talk every day. In a follow-up appearance on "The Project", the twins addressed the synchronisation. 'We have tried to talk separately,' they said, once again, in eerie harmony. 'But we're not ourselves. It's very hard.' This video of these eerily in sync Australian twins is going viral. (1 min, 10 sec) — Carmandy Graff (@GraffCarmandy) April 24, 2025 Now, before you blame aliens or assume it's some social stunt, it turns out this kind of twin telepathy isn't completely unheard of. According to researchers, many identical twins develop a deep, intuitive connection due to shared genetics, upbringing, and time spent together. While not all twins speak in sync, studies suggest that some do form their own private language called cryptophasia, especially in childhood. Research indicates that up to 40% of twin pairs create such private languages during early childhood. These languages typically consist of onomatopoeic expressions, invented words, and adaptations of adult language, shaped by the twins' shared experiences and interactions. However, while cryptophasia is relatively common in young twins, the persistence of synchronised speech into adulthood, as seen with the Powers twins, is notably rare. Most twins outgrow their private languages as they integrate more with the broader social environment and develop conventional language skills. So, are these twins taking us for a ride? Or do they simply just spend too much time together at this point?
Scottish Sun
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Moment ‘The Twinnies' who speak in near perfect sync brutally shut down gob-smacked Richard Madeley live on GMB
Watch the clip in our video player IN UNISON Moment 'The Twinnies' who speak in near perfect sync brutally shut down gob-smacked Richard Madeley live on GMB THIS is the bizarre moment 'The Twinnies', who speak in near perfect sync, shut down a gob-smacked Richard Madeley. Bridget and Paula Powers appeared on Good Morning Britain and stunned both Susanna Reid and her co-host. Advertisement 3 The twins speak in near perfect unison 3 Richard Madeley was baffled by The Twinnies The siblings, who call themselves The Twinnies, spoke via video link from their home in Queensland, Australia. They became globally recognised after talking in unison live to a news outlet about their mum being faced by an alleged gunman. Richard Madeley asked them: "Do you dream in sync, do you have the same dreams". The twins looked blankly at their camera before saying bluntly "no" at the same time. Advertisement "No we hardly dream", added Bridget. In a fascinating moment, the sisters giggled together in exactly the same fashion,after answering the question. "You even giggle in sync," responded a baffled Mr Madeley. The stunned GMB host also grilled the twins on whether they were telepathic. Advertisement "Yeh, probably, I'm so glad there are people out there who understand twins. We did go to a twins function and they said they were jealous of our relationship," they replied in unison. Bridget and Paula run an animal rescue charity and were mentored by the late Steve Irwin. It is not the first time they have showed off their remarkable shared wavelength on TV. The pair were interviewed by Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain back in 2016, where they spoke in sync with each other. Advertisement Morgan called it "one of the greatest interviews I've ever conducted in my life." Meanwhile, in their viral interview on 7NEWS Queensland, the twins told how their mother came face-to-face with an armed car thief. The Aussies, who were wearing matching outfits for the TV interview, completed each other's sentences word-for-word as they told their story. The pair stunned the internet with their jaw-dropping shared wavelength. Advertisement Social media users have gone as far to call it a "top five interview of all time." The clip has now been viewed on X more than three million times. The reported carjacking incident took place in Queensland - which the pair witnessed first hand. A 22-year-old woman is reported to have died from injuries sustained in a crash, and another man was shot. Advertisement Introducing the twins' interview, a news report sets up the witness testimony in a conventional, straightforward manner. The newsreader says: "Two sisters have told of how their mother and a man raced to help when the carjacked SUV rolled on Steve Irwin Way, only to find the gun-wielding car thief emerging from the wreck." Recounting the terrifying incident, the sisters explained: "One guy, he was up there with our mum. "And he went up there, he was coming back down towards us and he goes 'run, he's got a gun'. Advertisement "And our heart started to pound. And I said, 'Oh, mum, where's mum?'. And poor mum was stuck up there." While one of the pair recounts the story, the other repeatedly joins in word-for-word, fully in sync with her sister's account. They described how their mum went to the car to help only to find man with a gun. The pair continued: "She goes, 'Are you alright?' Because he had blood all over his face. She goes, 'I'm here to help'. Advertisement "Mum was distracting him to make him look the other way and he looked the other way and mum ran into the bush behind the fence and the guy goes, 'I'll find you and I'll shoot you'." The twins were unharmed in the horrifying incident.
The Sun
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Moment ‘The Twinnies' who speak in near perfect sync brutally shut down gob-smacked Richard Madeley live on GMB
THIS is the bizarre moment 'The Twinnies', who speak in near perfect sync, shut down a gob-smacked Richard Madeley. Bridget and Paula Powers appeared on Good Morning Britain and stunned both Susanna Reid and her co-host. 3 The siblings, who call themselves The Twinnies, spoke via video link from their home in Queensland, Australia. They became globally recognised after talking in unison live to a news outlet about their mum being faced by an alleged gunman. Richard Madeley asked them: "Do you dream in sync, do you have the same dreams". The twins looked blankly at their camera before saying bluntly "no" at the same time. "No we hardly dream", added Bridget. In a fascinating moment, the sisters giggled together in exactly the same fashion,after answering the question. "You even giggle in sync," responded a baffled Mr Madeley. The stunned GMB host also grilled the twins on whether they were telepathic. "Yeh, probably, I'm so glad there are people out there who understand twins. We did go to a twins function and they said they were jealous of our relationship," they replied in unison. Bridget and Paula run an animal rescue charity and were mentored by the late Steve Irwin. It is not the first time they have showed off their remarkable shared wavelength on TV. The pair were interviewed by Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain back in 2016, where they spoke in sync with each other. Morgan called it "one of the greatest interviews I've ever conducted in my life." Meanwhile, in their viral interview on 7NEWS Queensland, the twins told how their mother came face-to-face with an armed car thief. The Aussies, who were wearing matching outfits for the TV interview, completed each other's sentences word-for-word as they told their story. The pair stunned the internet with their jaw-dropping shared wavelength. Social media users have gone as far to call it a "top five interview of all time." The clip has now been viewed on X more than three million times. The reported carjacking incident took place in Queensland - which the pair witnessed first hand. A 22-year-old woman is reported to have died from injuries sustained in a crash, and another man was shot. Introducing the twins' interview, a news report sets up the witness testimony in a conventional, straightforward manner. The newsreader says: "Two sisters have told of how their mother and a man raced to help when the carjacked SUV rolled on Steve Irwin Way, only to find the gun-wielding car thief emerging from the wreck." Recounting the terrifying incident, the sisters explained: "One guy, he was up there with our mum. "And he went up there, he was coming back down towards us and he goes 'run, he's got a gun'. "And our heart started to pound. And I said, 'Oh, mum, where's mum?'. And poor mum was stuck up there." While one of the pair recounts the story, the other repeatedly joins in word-for-word, fully in sync with her sister's account. They described how their mum went to the car to help only to find man with a gun. The pair continued: "She goes, 'Are you alright?' Because he had blood all over his face. She goes, 'I'm here to help'. "Mum was distracting him to make him look the other way and he looked the other way and mum ran into the bush behind the fence and the guy goes, 'I'll find you and I'll shoot you'." The sisters were unharmed in the horrifying incident. This comes as another set of twins "shared psychosis". Elsewhere, a different pair of identical twins got engaged to the same man - and they all sleep in one giant bed. Plus, two other twins say telepathy is real - and there's one sticky situation they always use it for to avoid embarrassment. 3
