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Lookalike Couples: Are you in a Same Face Relationship?

May 17, 2018 //  by Uju//  4 Comments

 
Lookalike Couples Uju and Abiye
 
I have a strange little habit. A minor obsession, if you will. I enjoy staring at couples. If you and your main squeeze find an short average height Black woman on a bus or train, eyeing you up not too subtly, it’s probably me checking you out. And I’m probably thinking: ‘Wow, those two look alike. I wonder if they’ve noticed it?’

You’ve heard about how married couples start to resemble each other over the years. But have you ever met a couple who looked so alike, it made you do a double take?

Exhibit A: US actor Eddie Cibrian and his wife, singer LeAnn Rimes. SAME EXACT FACE!
 
LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian Lookalike Couples
 

Lookalike Couples and Love at First Sight

 
Years ago, I read an article based on the book ‘Love at First Sight’ by writer and portrait painter, Suzi Malin. It examined how people are often attracted to mates who either look like them, or like their first caregiver (usually a parent).

The author had been startled by the resemblance between Prince Charles’ first nanny, and his future wife Camilla.

 
Prince Charles Nanny and Camilla
 
She went on to examine celebrity couples and discovered an uncanny similarity between the likes of Posh and Becks, for instance.

 
Posh and Becks
 
Apparently, people who fall in ‘love at first sight’ — or who make a love match for life — are drawn to matching features in each other. Since reading the article, I’m always struck by lookalike couples. It’s my favourite form of people watching. What’s funny is when the couple has no idea that they’re each other’s doppelgänger. Or, as I like to call them, #couplegangers.
 

Royal Lookalike Couples

 
Prince Harry Meghan Markle
 
I knew Prince Harry was a goner as soon as I saw him with Meghan — she’s practically his double. Seriously, just swap their hair and gender. I’m amazed by how closely their features align: from forehead to eyes, to nose, to chin, right down to the way they smile. Meghan also looks quite a bit like his mother Princess Diana — another element that must have helped seal the deal.

Some of the most ‘ride or die’ celebs are totally twinning. Like Afro beats superstar Davido and his girlfriend Chioma. Same sweetheart faces.
 
Davido and girlfriend Chioma
 

Lifelong on again/off again lovers, Liz Taylor and Richard Burton. One of the ultimate lookalike couples.
 
Liz Taylor and Richard Burton
 

Ok, so they’re not together any more, but I always thought Noel and Meg Gallagher could have passed for brother and sister!
 
Lookalike Couples Noel and Meg Gallagher
 

Vinnie Jones and his wife Tanya are a ridiculous case of #couplegangers.
 
Celebrity Lookalike Couples Vinnie Jones and wife Tanya
 
Still don’t believe me? Here’s a sampling of friends and family who were happy to share pics of themselves with their partners.

My cousin Kelly and his wife Timil. Double trouble.
 
Lookalike Couples Kelly and Timil
 

My friend Jo and her husband Gavin. It was pure ‘love at first sight’ for her (or ‘fancy at first sight’ she might say).
 
Lookalike Couples Jo and Gavin

 
Lifestyle entrepreneur Sophie LeBrozec and her hubby Ben.
 
Lookalike Couples Sophie and Ben
 
Sophie says: ‘It has fascinated me since my first young love at age 17, as several people told us we looked alike. Interestingly my only real “loves” were the two people I most resembled – my first love and now Ben!’

Writer Bibi and her man, Yegwa.
 
Lookalike Couples Bibi and Yegwa 2
 
‘Yegwa and I hear it all the time,’ says Bibi, ‘Even though he’s a giant and I’m… well… regular sized. Anyway, I don’t see it but who knows?’

My cousin, Naija music superstar Naeto C and his wife Nicole (she also looks just like his mum!).
 
Naeto C and Nicole Lookalike Couples
 

The #coupleganger phenomenon cuts across ethnic lines too.

Margit, founder of TueNight.com and her other half, Mark. Twinning. (pic credit: Ruth Dusseault)
 
Margit and Mark
 

My cousin Ngozi who wrote about her lessons from a 12 year marriage to husband Jon. ‘I still don’t see it!’ says Ngozi.
 
Lookalike Couples Ngozi and Jon
 
Often, you don’t spot a couple’s similarities at first. Then you meet one of their parents, or another close relative, and it’s staring you in the face.

My cousin Kem basically married our maternal grandfather. Never mind that my granddad was from Owerri, Nigeria and her husband is from Boise, Idaho. When you see that Kem’s dad also bears a striking resemblance to our Papa, then it all starts to fall into place.

Or does it?

What exactly is this all about — Oedipal complex? Narcissism? Is there any actual proof to back up my claims? And what are the benefits of same face partnerships?

 
Lookalike Couples young couple
 

Are Lookalike Couples True Soul Mates?

 
Turns out, it’s not just in my head. Or what my auntie would refer to as: ‘Uju has come again with her madness’.

There have been actual science papers written about this, peeps. A 1970s study in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships concluded that: ‘the observation of facial resemblance among couples appears to reflect a real phenomenon.’

The scientific term is ‘assortative mating’. This means we select romantic partners based on similar facial characteristics, as well as skills, talents and other traits. The idea is that on a subconscious level, we want to pass on our features to our kids. So we find mates who are basically another version of ourselves!

Here are Jo and Gavin again, in their youth. Uncanny!
 
Lookalike Couples Jo and Gavin younger
 
An Indonesian saying — “kalau jodoh, mukanya mirip” — implies that your significant other will most likely be your soulmate if your faces show similar features.

Of course, looking like someone is no guarantee of attraction or even longevity in a relationship. There are way too many factors that go into hooking up: from pure chance, to timing, to those pesky pheromones. But I’m fascinated by the pull towards the familiar, especially when you don’t even realise it’s happening.

When I told blogger Hatty that she looks like her partner, her first reaction was: ‘Huh?!’ After she spent some time going through their photos, she said: ‘Now all I can see is us looking alike. This is a revelation!’

Despite my fixation, I’d never noticed much similarity with my husband. Then I showed our 12-year-old that selfie of us (top image), and his first response was ‘you guys look alike’. When I looked again, I saw it instantly. Of course, back when I was falling head over footsies in love with Abiye, I had no idea.

And there’s definitely a family connection. I shared an old photo of my paternal grandmother with my mother-in-law, Helen and she stared in amazement. ‘Look at her face,’ said Helen, ‘now look at mine. I have goosebumps.’

I did too. The resemblance is there, no question.

 


 
I find #couplegangers rather comforting… the idea that somehow, in this big wide world of strangers, you can meet your match. Someone whom, physically at least, you already belong to. It’s a bit scientific and a little bit magical too.

What’s even sweeter is that there’s some truth to old married couples looking alike. Even if you don’t resemble each other at first, studies reveal that you do eventually morph into your partner. It’s all thanks to shared life experience, and good old empathy. You develop the same wrinkles and laughter lines over time.

Your story together is written across your faces.

 
Lookalike Couples elderly
 

The Babes Verdict

‘No. Nope. Nope. Ok, yeah. No. Maybe. No they don’t look like each other. Kind of. These two do NOT look alike, are you crazy?!’

Do you spot lookalike couples too? Are you in a same face relationship? Or do you think this is all a crock of shut yo’ mouth?

Lookalike Couples: Are you in a Same Face Relationship?
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Category: LifeTag: celebrity lookalikes, couplegangers, lookalike couples, Prince Harry and Meghan, relationships

About Uju

Uju Asika is a writer, blogger and creative consultant. She is the author of Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World (Yellow Kite/Hachette UK) and the delightful new picture book A World for Me and You, illustrated by Jennie Poh (Wren & Rook/Hachette Children's Group). Uju's books are available at Amazon, Bookshop.org, Waterstones and other good bookshops. Follow Uju @babesabouttown on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. your DIY family

    May 22, 2018 at 11:47 am

    I’ll say it again ‘Uju has again come with her madness!’ 😂 I love this romantic notion but I can’t see it. Harry & Meghan, seriously? I’d love to believe in this idea but in my own situation, I am a brown Indian woman and hubby is all white. We don’t look anything like each other. It would be genetically impossible. Next time we meet, please explain this theory to me cos I’m definitely missing something. 😂😂😂

  2. Uju

    May 24, 2018 at 4:12 pm

    Lmao Nomita, I know it sounds odd but how can you not see the similarity with Harry and Meghan? I saw it instantly and I’ve had a few others agree, so it’s not all in my head (turns out they’re also very very distantly related lol). I’d have to sit you and your hubby side by side for a proper analysis, but you might be surprised ;-) I already got Hatty as mentioned in the post to notice it for herself with her other half. Ethnic differences don’t make a difference either, but yeah not everyone can see it! Will definitely bore you more with my theory next time we meet x

  3. Deborah

    August 22, 2018 at 11:26 am

    Love this! And can totally see it in Meghan and Harry now 😱 its a bit spooky though.
    My ex and I were definitely twinning. He also looked a lot like my father in his younger days. My dad was a cheating bastard – turned out my ex was, too. Twinning again, hooray 😆😭
    My current husband* looks nothing like me. Apart from different skin types, hair and eyes, our features couldn’t be further apart. I definitely do not look like his mum. Not that that would be a bad thing.
    There might be a reason why I choose someone looking so different the second time around…
    *just realised that this sounds like I was planning a to have another one. I’m not!! 😂 xx

  4. Uju

    September 8, 2018 at 2:36 pm

    Hi Deborah, great to hear from you and thanks for the feedback. That’s totally fascinating about you and your ex, I never thought about it from that angle – how you might subconsciously choose someone completely the opposite of your parent (or self) to avoid certain characteristics ;-) Glad you can see Meghan and Harry, it’s glaring to me but so many think I’m crazy including my kids lol xoxo

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