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Nicole, Erica, and Jaclyn Dahm are identical triplets.
Seeing identical triplets isn’t a very common occurence in any case, but the Dahm Triplets are extra special, and not just because of their striking blue eyes and golden hair.
They grew up in a small Minnesota town, but since then they’ve broken through and became something of a celebrity trio.
But their celebrity status and sororal connection aren’t the only things that set the Dahm Triplets apart.
One day, on nationally syndicated television, the triplets made an astonishing discovery about their genetics that baffled doctors and genetic experts alike.
So who are the Dahm Triplets – and how did their genetics confuse experts?
Read on to find out.
Image by @Jaclyn Erica Nicole Dahm / Facebook
Identical
When Nicole, Erica and Jacklyn were born, their parents knew that it would take them time to learn how to tell them apart. In order to distinguish between the three in the meantime, their parents had to tattoo small dot marks on their bottoms.
Nicole, the firstborn, has one dot. Erica, born second, has two. The youngest triplet, Jacklyn, has no dot at all. This was necessary as they not only looked identical but also were inseparable all the time.
The Doctors
A Triple Threat
They Dahm triplets grew up in Jordan – a small town just outside of Minnesota’s Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul.
With less than 6,000 people in their town, the triplets received quite a bit of attention as they were growing up – attention that only grew as they began to attend the local public high school.
Their tripled striking looks obviously drew a lot of stares, so by the time they reached college, they were quite used to it.
Image by @Jaclyn Erica Nicole Dahm / Facebook
Everything Times Three
The Dahm girls stayed together whenever they could. They shared toys, clothes and friends – but their own friendship was the most precious thing of all. They held together through thick and thin, and were always there for each other to offer comfort and support. It’s the kind of relationship no one except other sets of identical triplets could truly understand. Many years later, in an interview with Playboy, Nicole said: “We rarely held our own identity. We were always known as ‘You three’ or ‘The Triplets.’”
The Doctors
Model Behavior
Modeling agencies are always searching for the next beautiful girl. Imagine the interest they had for these three gorgeous ladies! Aged 16, the triplets were featured on the cover of Teen Magazine after they won the magazine’s nation-wide “Great Model Search” competition. But this was only their first foray into the world of modeling. Over the years, they would land countless modeling contracts and opportunities – all of which would eventually create a path towards a cover photo in one of the biggest magazines in the world.
They Never Expected This
While the Dahm sisters’s careers as models were taking off, they had other professional aspirations in mind when they graduated from high school: the triplets wanted to become nurses. All three of them were attending the University of Minnesota with one goal in mind – to work as nurses one day (perhaps in the same hospital?). But while they were in college, they noticed an ad on campus looking for new models to feature in Playboy‘s “Girls of the Big Ten Special Edition,” which was to feature girls attending the Big Ten universites.
Image by @Jaclyn Erica Nicole Dahm / Facebook
Easy Access
With the encouragement of their father, who believed this could help them later on, the triplets applied. They never expected it, but this decision would turn their lives upside down. The casting agent got them a test shoot. It was time for a big decision – will they participate in a Playboy photoshoot? Naturally, the decision had to be a joint one. After some debate among the three of them, they decided to go for it, and became the first triplets in Playboy‘s monthly centerfold.
Image by @Jaclyn Erica Nicole Dahm / Facebook
They Would Have Never…
Since Nicole, Erica, and Jaclyn didn’t have a modeling career as their priority, this was a risky decision. In 1998, Jaclyn told Playboy Magazine that they “would never have done this as individuals.”
As a group, however – it was a different matter altogether.
What they didn’t know at the time was that this step would open many doors for them – and that it would eventually lead them to a surprising DNA test.
Image by @Jaclyn Erica Nicole Dahm / Facebook
The Centerfold
The PLayboy feature opened a lot of opportunities for the Dahm triplets.
Erica once said that the Playboy issue was what started the lives for her and her sisters. She speaks of it as an “amazing experience,” something she wouldn’t ever change. Eventually, the three of them decided to leave nursing school in order to pursue careers in the entertainment industry. To do so, they packed their bags – and left for Los Angeles, California.
Triplets Meet World
When the Dahm Triplets arrived in Los Angeles, it seemed like Hollywood had just been waiting for them to appear. They had opportunities everywhere. Soon, they landed appearances on popular, nationally syndicated shows like Boy Meets World and Family Feud.
The world was their oyster, and the entertainment industry was eager to cast them and showcase the unique look they brought with them.
But even though they had multiple appearances on television, it was one role in particular would help change their lives forever.
Boy Meets World
Famous Bodies
The triplets were cast in an episode of House Wars, where they had to renovate a house as part of a competition. After winning, they got to both keep the house – and were hired by the Fox network as renovation experts in the show Renovate My Family. That’s where their personal lives started changing too. The show was hosted by Jay McGraw, Dr. Phil’s son, who fell for the middle triplet, Erica. She admitted what she felt for him as he got to her trailer and asked her out to watch a movie was “love at first sight.”
Image by @Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock (655811au)
Triplets and Doctors
It was Erica’s relationship with Jay McGraw that led the triplets to eventually take a shocking DNA test. McGraw’s father, Dr. Phil, is one of the executive producers on the show The Doctors, where a panel of doctors discusses various medical issues. In addition to simply answering health-related questions, from time to time the show features celebrities, who discuss their own medical issues with the show’s experts.
It was one of these panels that ultimately led to a shocking reveal about the triplets’ genetics.
Image by Peter Brooker/Shutterstock (999545a)
Health Issues
McGraw had an idea to feature the Dahm triplets on The Doctors ever since he met Erica back in 2006. He wanted to discuss the details of the sisters’ lives as triplets. The show’s viewers loved the Dahm sisters, and Jaclyn, Erica, and Nicole started appearing on the show regularly. They talked about everything, including their medical similarities as triplets. That gave the producers an idea – a really good one, something that’s never been seen on a television show before.
The Doctors
Adding Three More
While they appeared on The Doctors, the triplets helped the show’s ratings rise, but one particular happening helped boost the show even more than anything else: amazingly, all three sisters got pregnant around the same time. People went crazy about that, not believing they had to do everything together, even get pregnant together. As for the producers of The Doctors, they saw this as the perfect opportunity to feature the girls even more – and to do a crazy experiment with them.
Image by @Jaclyn Erica Nicole Dahm / Facebook
An Investigation
In 2010, within weeks of each other, Nicole, Erica, and Jaclyn gave birth. What’s more incredible, they all welcomed beautiful baby girls! As Jaclyn said, “it must be that triplet bond”, as she explained how lucky they’ve all been.
Following the birth, the triplets began to wonder about their own heritage; what was the lineage that they would be passing on to their daughters?
In March 2017, the producers of The Doctors called the triplets up with a unique idea.
Image by @Jaclyn Erica Nicole Dahm / Facebook
A Strange Request
The Doctors‘ producers approached Nicole, Erica, and Jaclyn with a strange request. Jay McGraw and the rest of the crew wanted to introduce them to Lisa Guerrero, a journalist from Inside Edition, who was investigating the reliability of DNA and ancestry tests. Thanks to the fact that they were genetically identical triplets, they would serve as a perfect way to test just how reliable, and how accurate, these tests really are.
Image by Jean_Nelson / Depositphotos
DNA Chocante
The popularity of DNA tests you can do at home has risen dramatically over the past couple of years. Many people are willing to pay a fee in order to learn more about their ancestors and ethnic heritage, and DIY DNA kits have become increasingly common – and increasingly inexpensive. The leaders in the industry, 23andMe and Ancestry.com, provide people with the opportunity to see where exactly they come from – at a reasonable price.
Image by @Jaclyn Erica Nicole Dahm / Facebook
Willing to Bare It All
So how are DNA tests done?
The process is fairly simple. The customer receives a saliva kit. They then use it to secure a small sample of their DNA, which is sent to the DNA sequencing companies. The tests can reveal interesting and shocking results – and often, can even lead to the finding of long-lost relatives. The Dahm triplets did the test, and waited for the results to arrive. Little did they know that the results would shock the world.
The Doctors
The Big Reveal
After a few weeks, the results finally arrived. The idea was that, in theory, as identical triplets they should all have the exact same DNA sequence. From a genetic standpoint, they are after all, essentially, clones of each other. However, Lisa Guerrero, the Inside Edition journalist, had her doubts about these at-home kits and was very curious to see the results of the triplet experiment.
Would their results all be identical, or would there be discernable differences? And if so – what might cause them?
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A Long Way
It goes without saying that Jaclyn, Nicole, and Erica never expected to end up in this situation when they first applied for a modeling gig back in high school. But there they were, taking a DNA test for a TV show and waiting to see if they were really identical. The three young girls from a small Minnesota town were now grown up celebrities with a national viewrship of the popular show, all holding their breath and waiting impatiently to learn more about their ancestry.
Image by s_bukley / Depositphotos
Surprising Results
Growing up as triplets, biology and genetics are subjects that are more present in one’s life than with children who have no genetically identical siblings. Back when they wanted to be nurses, this subjected fascinated the triplets, and they had a special affinity for biology and genetics. They were grateful for the opportunity to help improve the genetic testing system, but the end result shocked them. A special episode of The Doctors was scheduled for March 2017 in which the results would finally be revealed.
The Doctors
How Could This Be?
The initial results surprised nobody; they showed the girls were completely identical, from a genetic standpoint. How identical are they? Erica can open Nicole’s safe, since their fingerprints are as identical as possible in two human beings. This makes sense, since all three sisters developed from the same fertilized egg, which means they share the exact same genetic code. Ok, so the first test told them something they already knew – that they are completely identical. There’s no big surprise here – so what shocked the experts on the show?
The Doctors
A Second Test
With the first test behind them, it was time to take another, more in-depth DIY test.
The second test was more comprehensive and detailed. It showed each of the girls’ ancestry, and allowed them to trace their ethnicity back through the generations. Needless to say, since their genetic code is identical, the Dahm sisters expected to get the same results.
But something was off. The test results they received showed something else entirely.
The Doctors
A Strange Breakdown
So what did the triplets’ results look like?
Well, at first, everything seemed logical; all three of them were 99% European, as far as their DNA was concerned. That’s a good start, but when the results were broken down further, the differences started emerging. Erica was said to be 16% Irish and British, while Nicole was 2% more Irish and British. As more results were revealed, the triplets and the audience grew more and more confused.
The Doctors
A Bizarre Discrepancy
As the results continued to come in, more and more differences began to emerge. All three of the Dahm sisters had different percentages of German and French heritage in their DNA – Erica had 22.3%, Jaclyn 18%, and Nicole 11%. Strange! Both the girls and The Doctors’ panelists were very confused with the data they just read. This made no sense. The twins were proven to have identical DNA sequences – so how could their ancestry be different?
The Doctors
Scandinavian Genes
Of all the discrepancies, the Scandinavian part of the test was the most shocking. Erica and Jaclyn were identical here, with their genes showing a 7.4% Scandinavian ancestry, while Nicole was found to be 11.4% Scandinavian. Nobody knew how any of this was even possible. They were supposed to share identical results – what on earth could warrant such a huge difference?
Something simply didn’t add up.
The Doctors
Something Doesn’t Match
The girls admitted they were surprised. Who wouldn’t be? They were born from the same egg and clearly have the same DNA, according to everything we know about biology and genetics. In fact, didn’t the first test prove that? The Doctors’ host, Dr. Travis Stork, had his opinion about this type of test. He said that they shouldn’t be taken too seriously and that they are more of a “home entertainment” kit than a real tool for finding evidence about your heritage.
The Doctors
The Big Surprise
While the sisters sat on the live set of The Doctors, they could not control their reactions to the shocking results. Nicole was first to admit to the audience, “I’m surprised because we came from the same egg and we have the same DNA.” Dr. Travis Stork, The Doctors’ host, chimed in about the results too. The physician told the Dahm triplets and the audience that these types of genetic tests should be used for “entertainment” instead of as the real evidence of DNA heritage.
The Doctors
How is it Possible?
Dr. Stork explained that home DNA tests are still not developed enough to be 100% correct. You can always expect some flaws in the results. As he said, “You can’t just spit in a cup and have every single answer that you are looking for,” the tests are simply not evolved enough for something like that. But does this mean that the doctor and Lisa Guerrero, the journalist, disapprove of these tests?
The Doctors
Where Do We Come From
While Guerrero had some doubts about the reliability of these tests, she admitted it would be fun to take one herself at some point in her life. She knew she had a Latino heritage on her mother’s side, and English genes from her father’s, but it would be fun to know how much of each she got. “It’s piqued my curiosity,” she said. And while the tests are not 100% accurate, they still provide some fun insights into DNA, ancestry, and genetics.
The Doctors
Doctor Recommendations
Lisa did admit that she’d prefer to do a more advanced test with a doctor instead of with an over the mail kit. Getting tested with a doctor is more expensive, but provides much more accurate and detailed results. The journalist and the doctors agreed they understand the craze for these at-home tests – they provide interesting results at an acceptable rate, and allow people a glimpse at their heritage in a way that was never before possible.
The Doctors
After the Test
Though the triplets were shocked by the test results at first, they are now glad they are helping raise awareness about these kinds of DNA tests. Since their appearance on the show, their lives have drastically changed. They started out at a small town in Minnesota, had their pictures taken as models for various magazines, and took part in several television shows, including the popular The Doctors.
That’s a lot!
But what are they up to these days?
Image by @jaclyndahmdolan / Instagram
Where Are They Now?
The triplets have been through a lot throughout their lives. From nursing students to models, and from models to television personalities. With so many changes, one thing hasn’t changed – their beauty. They are still as identical and as beautiful as they always were. Their daughters are growing up into happy kids, and the three of them are happily married and enjoy family lives. You don’t really need a DNA test to prove they are truly identical – at least, not in that respect.
Image by @jaclyndahmdolan / Instagram
Rumors of a Breakup
Being in the spotlight has its downsides sometimes. Erica and Jay McGraw, being a public couple, had their fair share of rumors and hurtful news stories. But one set of rumors seems to persist; rumors about their breakup appear all the time – that’s why tabloids exist. Sadly, that’s a price public personalities seem to have to pay. Sometimes, it seems like living a private life is an impossible mission.
Image by @jaypmcgraw / Instagram
An Emotional Ceremony
On the other hand, being rich and famous comes with its fair share of perks.
In August 2006, Erica and Jay got married at a gorgeous wedding ceremony in Beverly Hills, at the property of Jay’s father, Dr. Phil, and his wife Robin. The couple exchanged their vows in front of 400 guests, and there was not a dry eye to be found in the entire room. Robin, Dr. Phil’s wife, remembers the ceremony as especially emotional and beautiful.
Image by @Erica McGraw / Facebook
Asking the Big Questions
Jay shared the details about how he proposed to Erica on an episode of Dr. Phil. The two of them went to Dallas, Texas, and while there, he got down on one knee and asked her to spend the rest of her life with him. It doesn’t get much more classic or romantic then that. The five-carat platinum ring he gave her was studded with diamonds and two green emeralds. Not every girl is lucky enough to get such a giant rock!
Image by @edahm0021 / Instagram
Bridemaids
Probably the most special and unique thing about Jay and Erica’s wedding was the fact that Erica had her sisters as bridesmaids. Their dresses were designed by Bradley Bayou and the girls looked stunning. Erica wore a Chado Ralph gown, specially made for her, and blew everyone away with her beauty.
Having two identical bridesmaids sure is striking, and having them be identical to the bride herself is nothing short of surreal – but also very touching and beautiful, if you ask us.
Image by @Erica McGraw / Facebook
The McGraw Kids
It may sound incredible, but all three sisters have one daughter and one son!
And while their daughters were each born a month apart, their sons were each born a year apart!
Erica and Jay are parents to Aver Elizabeth and London Philip. They share plenty of family photos and pictures of their children on social media, and it seems like the family life is more than good for all of them.
Image by @edahm0021 / Instagram
Dr. Phil’s Involved
Jay’s father, Dr. Phil, has been involved with Erica and his son’s romance practically from the very start. He was thrilled when Jay decided to propose to Erica, and when the happy day came, he agreed to serve as Jay’s best man. There’s hardly anything more special that a father and a son can share! Jay once said that his parents love Erica “almost as much as I do.”
What a wonderful family!
Image by @edahm0021 / Instagram
Jaclyn’s Main Man
As for Jaclyn, she married the man of her dreams, Billy Dolan. The couple can’t resist sharing beautiful pictures of their family on their social media accounts and profiles, and they often hang out with Erica and Jay, often even going on vacations together. The four of them often post pictures of themselves hanging out at the beach or going to a concert. It’s pretty amazing that the two sisters can still maintain such a close relationship, well into their adult lives.
Image by @jaclyndahmdolan / Instagram
A Return to Modeling?
The girls consider themselves blessed for all the opportunities they’ve had over the years. They like to remember when they were young girls growing up in Minnesota, but everything that’s happened since is amazing. “It’s something you never experience when you’re from a small town of 2,000 people, and all of a sudden you’re in a magazine all around the world,” they said. And the best part is, as Erica said, that they stayed together all this time.
Image by s_bukley / Depositphotos
Reality Stars
Readers and viewers had loved the Dahm Triplets ever since they debuted on the cover of TEEN Magazine. This popularity translated to television; whenever they appeared on TV, people would tune in and watch them. And once you get in the spotlight, there’s no running away from it. They recently appeared on Relic Hunter, a Canadian thriller TV show starring Tia Carrere.
As for going back to their roots? The triplets agree they would love to feature in Playboy again if they were given the chance!
Image by @Jaclyn Erica Nicole Dahm / Facebook
They Have One More Skill!
And since they love being on camera so much, but also have other skills than modeling, the triplets started their own YouTube channel about cooking. So there you have it… Three identical sisters, gorgeous, blonde, with blue eyes, who know how to cook. Sorry guys, they are taken! But you can still watch them cook on their YouTube channel, TripletsGourmet.
The Doctors
Happily Ever After?
So what are Erica and Jay up to these days? Recently, the former model and Dr. Phil’s son have celebrated their 10th marriage anniversary! After a decade together, they look just as beautiful and happy together as they did when they first met – despite the malicious rumors about breakups that seem to plague the two from time to time.
But how did the two originally meet?
Erica owes her family to the same set of circumstances that led her to TV fame.
Image by @Erica McGraw / Facebook
A Renovated Family
Jay and Erica first met on Fox’s reality TV show,Renovate My Family, way back in 2004. McGraw was the host, and Erica and her sisters were featured as renovation experts, following their success in House Wars. The two were immediately smitten, and after dating for two years, they decided to seal the deal and celebrate their love with a beautiful wedding.
Image by @Erica McGraw / Facebook
The Elizabeths of January, February, March
The fact that all three of the Dahm sisters got pregnant within months from each other and had their babies nearly at the same time was interesting for the whole nation.
Nicole gave birth to her daughter, Charlize Elizabeth Kelly, on January 14, 2010.
Jaclyn had her daughter, Chanel Elizabeth Dolan, on February 3, 2010, and Erica gave birth to her and Jay’s daughter, Avery Elizabeth McGraw, on March 18, 2010.
Born one month after the other and all given the middle name “Elizabeth,” the triplet’s daughters are almost like triplets themselves!
The Doctors
Getting Ready Together
Naturally, the Dahm triplets went shopping together as they were getting ready to welcome their daughters into their families. Picking the cute little details for their babies’ rooms was exciting enough, but considering Erica, Nicole and Jaclyn’s record with home design it was even more of an interesting experience. They made sure that their daughters’ nurseries were nothing short of perfect.
The Doctors
Pink or Blue?
Given that they were all having baby girls, numerous decisions needed to be made. Pink, not so pink, traditional, modern… The choices were endless, and unlimited. And what about the storage? And did you see that gorgeous crib? Even Erica, who was still pregnant at the time of the shooting, admitted this shopping day made her feel more realistic about her baby coming up soon.
The Doctors
Before
As usually happens when you move into a new home, a lot of things had to be fixed to achieve the perfect result. The ‘before’ versions of the rooms the triplets were hoping to turn into nursuries didn’t look appealing at all. Luckily, the creative triplets took matters into their own hands, and set out to transform them into perfect little chambers for their daughters.
What would they manage to do with the rooms, once they were done with them?
Read on to find out.
The Doctors
After
When the triplets were done with their nursuries, they looked nothing like the original rooms at all! Pink! Pink all around! This room certainly belongs to one lucky girl! A comfy crib and a cute chair for mommy provide a great environment for many happy moments to come, and the cute pink color scheme ensures that growing up in a room like this will be an amazing experience, full of great memories.
The Doctors
Incredibly Lucky
The triplets grew up together, studied together, modeled together and became famous together – and are now lucky enough to be able to be mothers together, as well. They realize how fortunate they are to have an opportunity to raise their children together, and the happiness can be seen on their faces; it would be nearly impossible to hide it.
The Doctors
Another Pink Nursery
It’s not just a pink nursery that the triplets decided to have. They also chose to decorate another room in the house with a pink palette in mind. The lovely striped wall looks like it came out of a candy store – sweet and delicious!
This home is truly built for a princess – and the triplets are fortunate to be able to provide that for their children.
The Doctors
Not All Pink
Although they’re genetically identical, not all three sisters decided to go with the pink color scheme. One of the sisters decided to go with a color palette that leans more towards beige and champagne – a classy, regal scheme. Add in the crystal chandelier, and this room makes for a truly noble upbringing for the baby from day one – and hopefully, for many years to come.
The Doctors
The Triplets as Babies
When Nicole, Erica and Jaclyn were born, they had to share everything from day one. This made for an incredibly close knit and intimate relationship between the three, and their parents were there every step of the way to nurture them and help them grow.
It’s amazing to think that today, each one of the sisters has a baby girl of her own!
Image by @jaclyndahmdolan / Instagram
A Happy Childhood
Today, Nicole, Erica and Jaclyn can provide just as happy a childhood for their daughters, Charlize Elizabeth, Avery Elizabeth and Chanel Elizabeth. The three cousins are almost like half sisters, especially considering their mothers all share the exact same genetics.
But the three Elizabeths are growing quickly, and have already outgrown their cribs and pacifiers. What do the three young cousins look like today?
Image by @Jaclyn Erica Nicole Dahm / Facebook
The Elizabeths Today
Today, the three Elizabeths continue to grow side by side, with their mothers staying close to them and fostering their close friendship.
The three young girls are smart, beautiful and happy, and with their successful and loving parents, it seems like the world is truly their oyster. We’d keep an eye on these three – we have a feeling they’re destined for greatness at least as great as their mothers’.
Image by @jaclyndahmdolan / Instagram
A Big, Happy Family
The Dahm Sisters familial bond is a strong one, and thanks to their love and upbringing, they’ve managed to lead successful, full lives without giving up on staying close – and keeping their families close together, too.
There’s nothing but joy in their family lives, and this big family photo is a beautiful testament to that.
With everything Nicole, Erica and Jaclyn have done together so far, we’re sure that these three capable sisters know just the right way to raise their kids, and ensure the Dahm family stays happy and beautiful for years to come.
