Black and White Twins Turn Seven

It can usually be difficult to tell twins apart - but not this pair. These beautiful twins share the same cheeky smile but Kian Hodgson's skin is dark and she has black hair while her sister Remee is blonde with pale skin.

The twins, who were born within a minute of each other, owe their different appearances to a one in a million combination of their parents' genes. Their mum Kylee Hodgson and dad Remi Horder both have white mothers and black fathers.
Their mother Kylee Hodgson, 25, says: "When they were born it seemed hard to believe that they were twins as they looked so different.

"I had expected that as they grew older that they may grow more similar and the difference between them would become less obvious But if anything, their skin color is even more striking now.

 The amazing conception happened after two eggs were fertilised at the same time in their mother Kylee's womb (as in all non-identical twins_.

The couple, who have since separated, were both stunned when they discovered Kylee was pregnant with twins. But when the twins were born in April 2005 by Caesarean, Kylee had an even bigger shock. Remee arrived first, weighing 5lb 5oz, then followed a minute later by Kian, weighing 6lb.

Kylee says: "I didn't see them at first. They were both whisked away to be checked over and then the midwife came back and placed them both in my arms. I noticed that both of them had beautiful blue eyes, but whilst Remee's hair was a blonde colour, Kian's was black and she had darker skin.

"It seemed strange, but I was feeling so ill from the Caesarean that I didn't really take it in at that stage. All that mattered was my precious daughters had arrived safely."

But the following day, Kylee mentioned the colour difference to her mother. "I said to my mother that Remee's skin was a lot lighter, and she told me that it would get darker as she got older.
I had just assumed that both our babies would have the same skin tone as me."

 Remee is still very pale skinned and her hair has stayed a white-blond. Kian's skin has gone even darker than when she was first born. But they never question the difference between them.

The doctors never explained to Kylee why the colour difference occurred.

But according to the Multiple Births Foundation, it can occur if two eggs are fertilised at the same time and one inherits the white genes and the other the black genes.

Jane Denton, from the Foundation added: "It is very rare. But it is possible for one sibling to be black and the other white if they have mixed race parents."

Both the babies were allowed home from hospital after four days and didn't need any treatment.

They then took the world by storm as one of the world's most amazing example of twins born with such a skin colour difference.

But as the years passed, Remee's skin grew lighter, whilst Kian's got darker. And while Remee's eyes stayed blue, Kian's turned brown. They are due to celebrate their seventh birthday in three weeks time.

Despite their colour differences, the girls have an incredibly strong bond between them.

Kylee, a full time mother, who lives in Dudley, West Midlands, says: "The twins have got such difference personalities as well as their skin colour. Remee is laid back whereas Kian is the more confident and outgoing of the pair. They both love dancing and music, but they have different groups of friends."

But despite their differences, the twins have an incredibly close bond. Their proud mum says: "They have never questioned their different skin colour. They know they are twins, but they never ask why they don't look the same. They were born this way, and they have always accepted it.

"They are such a perfect example of how it should be - they are not bothered about their skin colour and how different they look to each other. It isn't important to them - it's about what they are like underneath. They are the best of friends."