The mother of million-to-one black and white twins admits that she has warned teachers that they are related as they prepare to start secondary school.
Marcia and Millie Biggs, both 11, from Highgate, Birmingham, looked almost identical when they were first born in July 2006, but their amazing differences soon became apparent.
As little Millie started to become darker-skinned, blue-eyed Marcia took on a lighter complexion, growing blonde, curly hair.
Amanda Biggs mother of million-to-one black and white twins Marcia (right)and Millie has admitted to warning teachers that her daughters are related as they prepare to start secondary school
And mum Amanda, 46, has had to warn King Solomon International Business School in Aston, Birmingham, where they will start secondary school on Thursday, that they are actually twins.
Marcia has inherited her mother’s fair complexion and golden brown hair, while Millie takes after dad Michael, 50, who is of Jamaican origin, with her tight dark curls and darker skin.
The couple have both told of how they are repeatedly stopped in the street when baffled passers-by catch eyes on the lovable pair.
Marcia (right) and Millie looked almost identical when they were first born in July 2006, but their amazing differences soon became apparent
Marcia has inherited her mother’s fair complexion and golden brown hair, while Millie takes after dad Michael, 50, who is of Jamaican origin, with her tight dark curls and darker skin
Teachers at their old school, Osborne Junior and Infant School in Erdington, Birmingham, also struggled to believe that the pair were related.
Amanda, a dinner lady, said: ‘Even when they were at primary school, people would get confused.
‘I’d be picking them up after school, and the other parents would stop me and say: “are they your daughters?”
‘When I told that them that they were twins, they would always be stunned. I notice a lot of people doing double-takes.
Teachers at the pair’s previous school had trouble believing that the sisters were related and would question Amanda as to whether they were her daughters
The sisters will start secondary school on Thursday and Amanda was sure not to face the same issues again
‘It does get a bit irritating sometimes, when you have people stopping you in the street all the time, but then I remember how beautiful they are and how lucky I am to have them, and the irritation goes away.
‘There were a few teachers who didn’t believe them at first, but as they got to know them, they saw how similar they were.
‘Other than the differences in skin tone, they look almost exactly the same.. They are both absolutely beautiful, and they make me proud everyday.
‘They do absolutely everything together, and they’re always making videos of themselves singing and dancing together.
The mother admits she finds the constant attention from strangers ‘a bit irritating’ at times
‘When they were younger, Millie was always quite shy, but as she’s grown up she’s become a real bossy-boots.
‘She’s very organised and in control, and is often telling Marcia what do.
‘Millie is our little princess, she loves to have clothes related to princess and lots of dolls.
‘She’s obsessed with the colour pink as well, just like you’d expect from a little feminine girl. Marcia’s a lot more of a tomboy.
‘A school friend was very good at gymnastics, and she’s picked it up from there and started to really enjoy doing that.
‘Because she’s having extra gymnastics lessons, we wanted Millie to do something outside of school too, so she’s going to do drama because she loves to perform.
Amanda admits that she thinks people will be amazed by the sisters for the rest of their lives
‘They’re both very outgoing and positive, which is wonderful. They’re great to be around, because they always make you simile.
‘I’ve devoted my who life to looking after them, and I’ve treasured seeing them grow up together.
‘They are both really excited to be moving up to secondary school, because they love to learn.
‘Millie is very good at maths, and Marcia has a talent for English, so it’s good that they have that bit of competition together.
‘Millie has become a little bit darker, and her hair is curlier and tighter, whereas Marcia’s hair is more of a golden brown.
‘I’ve explained to the school that despite their differences, they are twins, and hopefully that will help to overcome any awkwardness.
‘But people are going to be amazed by them for the rest of their lives, and I think that’s fantastic.’
Michael, who runs a panel beating business, said: ‘When they were born, they were almost identical.
‘Within a few months, the changes started to happen. Millie started to suddenly get darker, and we thought that the same would happen to Marcia.
‘The tops of her fingers and her ears started to get darker, which we thought would be a sign of what was to come, but in the end she just stayed the same.
‘We never worried about it, though, we just accepted it.
‘I thought to myself: ‘No problem – one black, one white.’
‘Regardless of the colour difference, people are able to tell that they’re twins because their features are so similar.
‘They’ve both got my nose, and I think often that’s how people work it out.
‘They get along so well with one another, they really do.
‘They’re always switching personalities – one moment one is quiet and the other is doing a lot of the talking, then after a few months or a year or so they switch back.
‘It’s like one takes a break and the other takes over.’
Millie said: ‘I am excited to start secondary school. I think that it’s going to be fun to meet some new people and make lots of friends.
‘My favourite lesson is Maths. It makes me laugh a lot when people don’t believe that we’re twins.’
Marcia added: ‘It’s going to be fun to go to a new school. The bit I’m most excited about is going to the lessons.
‘My best friend is Millie, because she’s always been there.’