When Abby Hensel walked down the aisle in her wedding gown, she was radiant with pride, surrounded by loved ones. But unlike most brides, she wasn’t walking alone. By her side, as always, was her conjoined twin sister, Brittany. The sisters, who have shared their entire lives together, are now sharing Abby’s marriage to Josh Bowling, a 33-year-old Army veteran and father.
Photos recently shared on social media showed Abby and Brittany in a flowing white wedding dress alongside Josh in a gray suit, smiling with joy. The couple declared online that they were “happy” and “in love.” Yet, the unique nature of their bond has once again drawn global attention—just as it did decades ago when they first appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1996.
Defying the Odds
Abby and Brittany Hensel were born on March 7, 1990, in the small town of New Germany, Minnesota, with a rare condition called dicephalic parapagus. Each sister has her own heart, lungs, and stomach, but they share a single torso from the waist down. Abby controls the right side of their body, while Brittany controls the left.
Their parents, Patty (a nurse) and Mike (a carpenter), had no idea they were expecting conjoined twins until the moment of delivery. Doctors warned them that separation would likely mean severe disabilities for both girls, so their parents chose to raise them as they were. “From the first time we saw them, we thought they were beautiful,” Patty once said.
The twins grew up in a loving home with two younger siblings. Their parents limited media exposure, determined to give them as normal a life as possible. Still, the girls fascinated the world. By age six, their appearance on Oprah introduced them to millions, where they charmed viewers with their humor, confidence, and resilience.
Living as One but Growing as Two
Throughout childhood, Abby and Brittany demonstrated extraordinary coordination, playing piano, riding bikes, and excelling at sports like bowling and volleyball. They developed unique personalities, often dressing differently and making separate choices whenever possible. Abby was known for being feisty and practical, while Brittany was playful and witty.
Like all siblings, they had disagreements, but they learned to compromise. “We usually bargain with each other,” Abby once explained. “Like, ‘If you do this, I’ll give you that.’ We want to make sure each of us is happy.”
At 16, the twins earned their driver’s license, astonishing viewers who watched on their TLC documentary Joined for Life. They explained that Abby handled the pedals and gear shift while they both steered, and Brittany managed the blinkers and lights.
Later, they attended Bethel University in Minnesota, where they pursued a teaching degree. They eventually became educators, explaining that while they earn one paycheck, they provide two perspectives and twice the attention to their students.
Choosing Privacy
By 2012, after their TLC series Abby & Brittany ended, the sisters stepped away from the spotlight. They focused on careers, family, and personal happiness. Brittany once explained, “The whole world doesn’t need to know who we are seeing, what we are doing, and when.” Their father supported them, saying, “They’re witty, good-looking girls with everything going for them—except they’re together.”
Still, life in the public eye has brought challenges. The sisters have faced online criticism and cruel comments. To protect herself, Abby kept her romance with Josh Bowling private until recently, when wedding photos surfaced on TikTok. The couple had quietly married in 2021, and now they are finally sharing their joy publicly.
Josh, who describes himself as a “Christian, Father, Husband, Veteran, and occasional gamer,” has faced scrutiny as well, especially after his ex-wife filed a paternity suit regarding one of their children. Court records show Josh was previously married to Annica from 2010 to 2019, and they share custody of their daughter Isabella. The case involves a second child born in 2020, but details remain unclear. Despite the legal drama, Abby and Josh’s social media posts emphasize happiness and love, using hashtags like #Happy #Love #Forever.
Moving Forward Together
For Abby and Josh, marriage means facing challenges most couples never imagine, but it also means creating a life built on commitment and understanding. And for Brittany, it means continuing to support her sister while seeking her own path to love.
Abby and Brittany have always defied expectations. Doctors doubted they would survive infancy, yet they grew into confident women with careers, dreams, and now a marriage to celebrate. Their story has never been about limitations—it’s about possibilities.
As the world continues to watch, the sisters remain true to the values their parents instilled in them: that they are just like everyone else, deserving of happiness, respect, and love.
