The Untold Story: 7 Shocking Facts About Abby Hensel’s Secret 2021 Wedding To Josh Bowling (And Why Brittany Is Single)
Abigail and Brittany Hensel: Complete Biography and Profile
Abigail Loraine Hensel and Brittany Lee Hensel are American dicephalic parapagus conjoined twins, meaning they share a single body and bloodstream but possess two separate heads, hearts, stomachs, and spinal cords. They are celebrated for their remarkable coordination and determination to live a full and independent life.
- Full Names: Abigail Loraine Hensel (Abby) and Brittany Lee Hensel (Brittany).
- Date of Birth: March 7, 1990.
- Age: 34 (as of late 2025).
- Hometown: Carver County, Minnesota, United States.
- Parents: Patty Hensel (Registered Nurse) and Mike Hensel (Carpenter/Landscaper).
- Condition: Dicephalic Parapagus Twins (Two heads, two separate necks, one torso, two arms, two legs).
- Shared Anatomy: They share a liver, large intestine, bladder, and reproductive system. Their nervous systems are separate, but they share a small area of the nervous system where their spinal cords meet, allowing for coordinated movement.
- Education & Career: Both graduated from Bethel University and are currently employed as fifth-grade teachers in their home state of Minnesota.
- Fame: They first gained widespread attention in 1996 on *The Oprah Winfrey Show* and later starred in their own TLC reality show, *Abby & Brittany*, in 2012.
The Secret Wedding: Abby Hensel and Josh Bowling
The biggest news surrounding the Hensel twins in recent years is the revelation of Abby’s marriage to Josh Bowling. The couple managed to keep their relationship and wedding private for a significant period, a testament to their desire for normalcy away from the glare of the media.
The news broke in March 2024 after public records confirmed the union. This revelation sparked a massive reaction globally, as the public grappled with the complex and unique nature of the marriage. Abby and Josh were married in 2021 in a private ceremony.
Josh Bowling is a U.S. Army veteran who now works as a hospice nurse, an entity that highlights his compassionate nature. The couple has since shared stunning photos and videos from their wedding day, showing the twins in a beautiful white wedding dress.
The wedding footage, which was shared on social media platforms in 2024, shows the twins and Josh dancing and celebrating. The Hensel family has been incredibly supportive of the union, with the twins' parents, Patty and Mike Hensel, always prioritizing their daughters' happiness and right to a full life. The fact that the wedding was kept a secret for so long underscores the twins' desire for privacy, especially given the intense public scrutiny they have faced since childhood.
The Complex Question: Is Brittany Hensel Married?
A central question that arises from this news is the marital status of Brittany, Abby's twin sister. Public records and reports confirm that Abby Hensel is the one legally married to Josh Bowling, while Brittany Hensel remains single.
This situation highlights the extraordinary personal and legal challenges faced by dicephalic parapagus twins. While the twins share a body, they are two distinct individuals with separate personalities, dreams, and, in this case, separate marital statuses. Brittany is considered a separate legal entity, and her status as single is an important detail in understanding the Hensel family's current dynamic.
The twins have always maintained a clear distinction between their individual lives and their shared existence. They have two separate driver's licenses, vote in separate elections, and have distinct academic majors. This sense of individuality extends to their love lives. Brittany's single status confirms that the marriage is specifically a union between Abby and Josh, with Brittany acting as the sister and co-pilot in life.
Life as Fifth-Grade Teachers and Topical Authority
Beyond their personal lives, Abby and Brittany continue to lead professional careers as fifth-grade teachers. This profession, which requires immense coordination and communication, is a powerful demonstration of their unique abilities and their commitment to a normal life.
Their work as educators in Minnesota provides them with a stable and fulfilling career, allowing them to inspire young students. The girls have stated that they are paid one salary because they perform the work of one person, but they negotiate their contract based on their unique skill set, as they can offer two different perspectives and teaching styles simultaneously.
The twins have successfully navigated the challenges of living as conjoined twins, from learning to drive a car and play sports to now managing a classroom and a marriage. Their story is a powerful testament to human adaptation and the strength of their bond, both as sisters and as a teaching duo.
The public interest in their lives, which first peaked with their TLC show *Abby & Brittany*, has continued well into 2024 and 2025, driven by their major life milestones. Their ability to manage their high-profile status while maintaining a private, professional life is a key aspect of their topical authority and continued relevance in the media landscape. Recent sightings in August 2024, which included photos of them with a baby, further fueled speculation about their family life, though no official confirmation of parenthood has been made.
Navigating Life as Dicephalic Parapagus Twins
The Hensel twins' existence as dicephalic parapagus twins is medically rare and complex. While they share a single body from the waist down, they each control one side of the body—Abby controls the right side, and Brittany controls the left.
This requires constant, intuitive communication and cooperation for even the simplest tasks, such as walking, driving, and now, being a wife and a sister simultaneously. Their shared nervous system allows for this incredible coordination. However, they experience separate hunger pangs, separate urges to sleep, and have distinct personalities, which often leads to minor disagreements over clothing or food choices, as documented in their reality series.
The decision by their parents, Patty and Mike Hensel, not to attempt surgical separation when they were infants was based on the low chance of survival for both girls, as they shared vital organs. This choice has allowed them to reach adulthood, pursue careers, and achieve major life milestones like marriage, proving that a shared body does not preclude a complete life.
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