Born on April 9, 1915 in Bath, England, Grace and Hope Holloway, conjoined twins joined at the pelvis, lived a life that was both unique and heartbreaking.
As children, they were taken away from their mother, Lillian, a poor seamstress.
They were handed over to Vernon Carr, an unscrupulous fairground manager, who turned them into an act called the Harmonious Hollows.
By the age of four, they were performing all over Europe – exploited, beaten, deprived of their childhood.
Their fate changed when American philanthropist Eleanor Grant came across an article revealing their light.
She brought them to Boston and finally gave them a life of respect and freedom.
Grace immersed herself in literature, and Hope found herself in jazz and dance.
Their new show, The Holloway Sisters’ Twilight Revue,became a huge hit in the US in the 1940s.
And love did not pass them by. Grace fell in love with an artist named Thomas, with whom she had a quiet, deep relationship.
Hope married Laila, a jazz singer – a bold move at the time. In 1951, they published their autobiography, Side by Side: A Story of Courage, which became a bestseller.
A few years later, they opened a coffee shop and bookstore in Charleston called Forever Connected.
What inspires me to this day is not their physical connection, but their resilience, free love and strength of spirit.
One body. Two free souls. A lesson in humanity.
