Daisy and Violet Hilton were pygopagus twins – conjoined at the hips and buttocks. They shared blood circulation and were fused at the pelvis but shared no major organs. Born in England in 1908, they were adopted two weeks later by their mother's landlady and midwife, who toured them around the world as a circus sideshow act while she went on an international manhunt, eventually settling down with husband #6 and the twins in San Antonio, Texas. In 1931, Daisy and Violet sued their management, won their freedom, took their original father's name (Hilton) and joined vaudeville. In 1932, they appeared in the movie Freaks, as themselves. They had an active love life, and Daisy dyed her hair blonde when she got sick of being called by her sister's name.

After a short-lived attempt at running a hamburger stand in Miami called The Hilton Sisters Snack Bar, they went back to Hollywood to star in the film Chained for Life. In the 1960's, there was a renewed interest in Freaks, so the sisters went on a publicity tour. Their last stop was Charlotte, North Carolina, where they were ditched by the tour manager and left stranded. They managed to find work and lived here for several years until their death in 1969.

David Moore, editor of Charlotte's Q-Notes, wrote about them for Charlotte Magazine, then later did a short version of the story for QZ. Click on thumbnails to view the pdfs.

see their Charlotte grave
Daisy and Violet's San Antonio days