BY GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Kimarsh (left) and Kimberley (right). - Goerge henry

malvern, st. elizabeth

If one does not take a good look at Kimarsh and Kimberley Bellanfante who are 18-year-old twins, one would be unable to tell the difference between them.

However, there are exceptions. Kimarsh appears to be the bigger of the two and has a mole on the upper right side of her forehead. The girls, who are the pride and joy of their parents, Rose Lee Anderson and Baldwin Bellanfante, were born on September 13, 1989, at the Mandeville Public Hospital. Kimarsh wore a wide grin, while telling Life and Times that she was older than Kimberley by five minutes, and that she still had her 'twin one' anklet to prove that she was the first to be born.

Student teachers

The twins are originally from Warminster in St. Elizabeth, but they now live in Nain. They attended Manchester High School in Mandeville and are currently in their first year as student teachers at the Bethlehem Moravian College in St. Elizabeth. Kimarsh is pursuing studies in primary education, while Kimberley is being trained to be a literacy studies specialist.

The girls admit that being twins, sometimes, has its advantages. Kimarsh said apart from them sharing everything, and having to wait on each other at times, there are fun days, despite occasional disagreements.

Kimberley, who prefers to make Kimarsh do most of the talking, said being twins is fun for her. She said she gets the opportunity to do things with Kimarsh, and that when her parents shop for them, they cannot purchase items for one, but for both.

Kimarsh added that although they were not always together, if one got into trouble while at home, the other was always there to play a 'back-up' role. Apart from the fourth and fifth form at high school, they pointed out that they were always in the same class. However, the two still did similar subjects, and were taught by the same teacher in some classes.

"I like to play around dirt. I like agriculture", said Kimarsh. Kimberley, however, hates dirt but loves painting. "I like to play around with my paint brush. I can draw a little, and I like to work with clay. I did a little ceramic art," said Kimberley, who added she did not really want to become a teacher, as her plan was to become a doctor, since her academic strength was tilted towards the sciences.

The two confessed that they used to play tricks on persons who had a difficulty identifying them. However, according to Kimberley, she was the one to trick the boys, while Kimarsh was the one who tricked her mother sometimes, as she (mother) did not do well in identifying them, especially if their backs were turned towards her.

Tricked the boys

Kimberley explained that she tricked boys, while pretending to be Kimarsh. She said she did this, especially, to boys who said they liked Kimarsh.

"If somebody is interested in me and I send my sister to that person, and that person is acting as if it is me who he is talking to, then that is not good. If they have that problem now, then, what will happen later?" questioned Kimberley.

Though they both love music, Kimberley's preference is dancehall, while Kimarsh likes soul music. The two say they will be getting married the same time.

Asked if they would marry twin brothers, the girls emphatically said "no". They said getting married to twins would be boring.

Kimarsh wanted twins to know that being born almost together is a blessing, and as long as they stick up for each other, they can get almost anything. She added that it does not make sense for twins to keep malice, because that cannot last long. She noted that whenever she and Kimberley had disagreements, it didn't last for more than a minute or two.

Kimberley and Kimarsh said they were not the only set of twins in their family. They also had two sets of twin cousins from their father's side of the family.