This article was originally published 19 August 2022.
A mum was left gobsmacked after giving birth to million-to-one twins with completely different skin colours.
Chantelle Broughton, 29, claimed she regularly gets asked if her babies Ayon and Azirah are both hers after she gave birth to them in April.
After her son Ayon was delivered at Nottingham City Hospital with fair skin and green eyes, Chantelle was shocked to then deliver her daughter Azirah, who had a much darker complexion and brown eyes.
Such births are so rare, genetics experts have previously estimated them at one in a million.
Auxiliary nurse Chantelle Broughton, 29, from Nottingham, gave birth to Ayon and Azirah in April
Chantelle believes Azirah (left) has a darker complexion because her maternal grandfather is Nigerian and the twins’ father Ashton is half Jamaican
Auxiliary nurse Chantelle says she looks white but is mixed race due to having a Nigerian maternal grandad, whereas dad Ashton, also 29, is half Jamaican, half Scottish.
The mum-of-three revealed the twins did not look too different from each other at birth but as the weeks went by, Azirah’s skin complexion started getting ‘darker and darker’.
She says the four-month-old twins now have ‘totally opposite’ personalities but seem to be getting on well.
Chantelle, from Nottingham, said: ‘I’m so glad they came out the way they are – our own unique little family.
‘Azirah was slightly darker at birth but you couldn’t really tell. Now as weeks have gone on she has gotten to the point where she’s darker than her dad.
Chantelle claimed people ask her if the twins are really hers when she takes them out in the pram
Chantelle said the twins not only look different, but also have totally different personalities
The twins, who were born in April, have an incredibly close bond despite being so different
‘Every few weeks friends and family still say they cant believe it.
‘Azirah is really laid back and chilled, whereas Ayon was wants a lot more attention.
‘He always wants to be rocked and is constantly babbling along. Azirah doesn’t do that very often.
‘But I have noticed they are really staring at each other now and smiling more.
‘I think they will stay like this. I think their hair will be different too.
‘Azirah will have thick and curly hair and Ayon’s will be completely different. You can already feel the difference in texture.’
Chantelle says the twins attract plenty of attention when they go out and joked she imagines people believe they have separate dads.
She added: ‘When you’ve got a twin pushchair people seem to notice you more anyway.’
But she said people do a ‘double-take’ when they see her strolling around with Ayon and Azirah.
‘People just stop and say “oh my god”, they just look totally different. I’ve had people ask “are they both yours”?’ she said.
So far Chantelle said people react positively to the twins, with lots of ‘elderly ladies’ telling her the twins are ‘beautiful’.
She said: ‘A lot of the time people don’t want to mention it but when we tell them they say it’s crazy as you don’t see it very often.
‘I wouldn’t have it any other way though, it’s certainly unique.’