Isabella and Gabriella Shipley were born in 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia, to Clementina and Michael Shipley. Their parents come from African-American families with mixed heritage: the mother has light skin, the father dark.

The girls were born just minutes apart, but already at the hospital doctors noticed their skin tones were different.

Isabella was born with light skin and chestnut curly hair, Gabriella with darker skin and thick black hair.

When the girls were about eight months old, their mother posted some photos on social media. The images spread quickly, and the sisters attracted international media attention.