Identical Triplets Take DNA Test and Receive Unexpected Results

"I'm... surprised," Nicole confessed. Sure enough, after taking an at-home DNA test along with her identical sisters, the results may have revealed a little more than expected. Here's her remarkable story...

Something's Not Adding Up

On a fateful day in March 2017, 3 identical sisters sat down in front of the camera to learn more about their mysterious past. Only what they soon discovered left their live audience speechless.

As an investigative journalist began to read the results of their DNA tests out loud, the Dahm sisters were left with even more questions than before. From their life-changing discovery to the events that led up to it, hang on while we rehash their journey to online stardom...

Meet Bob and Donita

To understand the events that eventually transpired, let's go back to the very beginning: On a cool winter day in 1977, a Minnesota couple rushed to the hospital as they braced for their latest chapter together. Only things wouldn't go as they'd planned.

Bob and Donita Dahm were supposed to leave their Minneapolis delivery room with two healthy babies - twins, as their doctors had predicted. Only fate had other plans. And the events that transpired that chilly December evening left the expecting parents - and medical professionals - completely stumped.

Welcoming Triplets

What happened? To put it simply, Mr. and Mrs. Dahm wanted a son and ended up with more daughters - 3 of them. "I'm a dog, and I'm having a litter!" the expecting mother cried as she, her husband, and daughter Lisa welcomed perhaps the biggest surprise of their lives: Identical triplets.

As the piercing cries of Nicole, Erica, and Jaclyn Dahm began to fill that delivery room, nothing would ever be the same. After all, Bill and Donita had never dreamed of leaving that hospital as a family of 6. They were overwhelmed, and then some. But perhaps the most shocking part?

They Were Identical

Their babies were identical - eerily identical. How would they manage to tell their little girls apart? After weighing all their options, the parents took a doctor's advice and marked their infants with ink: Nicole, one dime-sized tattoo on her rear, Erica, two, and Jaclyn, none. But their concerns were still far from over.

The truth was that Mrs. Dahm thought she had only made room in her heart for 2 new babies - not 3. "She was terrified she didn't have enough love," Nicole explained. What if she'd never be able to love her 3 new babies like she had her firstborn? Safe to say, those fears vanished the moment Mrs. Dahm brought her little girls home…

Their Striking Bond

What happened? To put it simply, the triplets had become inseparable - with more love to go around than fathomable. "The bond that triplets have is definitely different than regular siblings," the Dahm triplets proudly explained it. And to the naked eye? They were right.

The sisters did everything together. From their very own language (which lasted until they were 2 years old) to the very same nightmares, the triplets were practically one and the same. As they put it, "We went through every milestone together." It was truly a sight to be seen. And it wasn't long before people took notice...

They Became "the Triplets"

In a small town like theirs, news travelled fast. And when it came to the identical triplets? Erica and her sisters soon became the talk of the town. "We rarely had our own identity. We were always known as, 'You three' or 'The Triplets,'" the girls reflected.

As the Dahm sisters continued to grow, it wasn't just their parents left startled by their striking similarities. After all, the blonde hair and bright blue eyes were pretty hard to miss. But soon, the halls of their public school wouldn't be the only place they turned heads...

The Start of Their Modeling Career

At just 16-years-old, the Dahm triplets got their very first taste of fame. And to think, it all started with a local talent competition. Sure enough, the sisters knew how to turn heads - 3x more than anyone else. And as far as casting directors were concerned? It put them ahead of the game.

After winning the "Great Model Search," Nicole, Erica, and Jaclyn had landed themselves a spot on the cover of Teen magazine. Sure, it wasn't Vogue or an exclusive spread for People. But the triplets didn't see it that way. "Modeling started my life," Erica gushed. "It started all three of our lives."

Their Plans for College

But we're not there just yet. And in the years that followed, Erica and her sisters led a seemingly normal life. As their high-school graduation date continued looming closer and closer, they were met with the same, familiar dilemma as most teens: What next?

Would they say bye to Minnesota and head out for college? Or perhaps would they swap school for a shot at fame and fortune? Sure enough, after endless deliberation, the girls came to a decision. They packed up their bags as they headed towards the University of Minnesota to complete their studies. Or so they thought...

They Stumbled Across a Casting Call

They were sure they had their lives figured out: They were going to obtain a degree in nursing, something they'd always dreamed about. Only as the Dahm sisters came across the campus bulletin board one fateful day, everything they thought they knew was about to change.

No, they never considered pursuing a career as Playboy models. Only the ad on that bulletin board had officially left them questioning everything. The casting call for the magazine's "Girls of the Big Ten" 1997 issue had officially caught their eye. But there was still lots they had to consider.

Stuck in a Standstill

After all, a potential feature in the magazine spread would look very different than their time in Teen magazine. Would they be willing to bare it all? Or perhaps more importantly: What would their family and friends think if they did? But on the other end?

Landing the potential feature had the ability to propel the triplets' careers in ways they couldn't even imagine. From the financial incentives to the modeling doors that would likely open, Playboy would be like nothing they'd ever done before. Was it a risk worth taking?

Making It to Playboy

Sure enough, it was. As October '97 came rolling around, life as the Dahm sisters knew it was about to be changed - forever. After meeting with casting directors, the identical triplets landed a slot in the magazine's special college feature. But that's not all they did.

"After the shoot... Playboy had us do a test shoot," explained Jaclyn. And just 365 days later? The triplets landed themselves a new title: Playmates. "We are very proud," Nicole gushed of their latest endeavor. "Only 12 girls are Playmates each year." But where would they go next?

Dropping Out of College

With their latest accomplishment soon came a new thought. After all, the Dahms had another big decision to make - one that would directly impact the course of their lives: School. Would they stay at the U of M and finish their studies? Or perhaps would juggling their degree prove to be too much?

After much deliberation, the triplets decided to make perhaps their riskiest move yet. They packed up their bags and said goodbye to the University of Minnesota. "We're just putting school on hold for right now," Nicole explained. "We'll see how things go." Little did they know they'd never be going back…

Making It to Hollywood

As they soon found out, their latest leap of faith brought them to the most unimaginable of places: Hollywood's doorstep. "It created the journey that we're on," Erica gushed. "I would never change it for the world." After dropping out of school, their career took off at record speed.

From guest appearances on TV shows like Boy Meets World and Family Feud to exclusive fashion shows, the Dahms were officially a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, the sisters' newfound fame would eventually lead them down a very slippery slope...

Their Eerily Identical Families

As for what came next? As the identical triplets continued to navigate their way through Hollywood, they were soon met with a remarkable new chapter; something they'd always dreamt about: Parenthood. "It's weird how fortunate and lucky we've all been," Jaclyn gushed.

As fate would have it, all 3 sisters started families at nearly the same time. First, it was Nicole, with her baby girl Charlize born January 2010. Then, it was Jaclyn, with her daughter Chanel. But just one month later? All 3 sisters were officially proud parents to baby girls. "Must be that triplet bond," they gushed.

They Received a Special TV Offer

But come 2017, that same triplet bond was about to be put to the test like never before. Sure, they'd already had their fair share of television stints. But as executives from The Doctors came knocking at their door, the Dahms' time on our screen was about to be met with a startling discovery.

It all started with Erica's husband, Jay McGraw - an executive for The Doctors. He came to his wife - and in turn, sister-in-laws - with an exciting offer: Their very own segment, alongside investigative journalist Lisa Guerrero. Of course, the sisters were intrigued. But what exactly would they be investigating?

How Reliable Are Home DNA Ancestry Tests?

As Lisa proudly put it, their segment would be like nothing they'd ever done before. The journalist, along with the help of the identical triplets, would take a deep dive into the world of science - more specifically, genetic testing: How Reliable Are Home DNA Ancestry Tests?

Just how accurate were such tests? Were they exactly as advertised? Lisa was determined to uncover the truth - and so were the Dahm sisters. After hearing Lisa's proposition, the answer was obvious: Yes! The triplets couldn't wait to be a part of the experiment. If only they knew what that'd call for...

"How Would You Feel if Your Ancestry Was Different?"

On a fateful day in March 2017, as Erica, Nicole and Jaclyn took a seat on The Doctors couch, they had no idea the curveball headed their way: They knew exactly what the results of the 2 at-home DNA tests they'd done would read - they were sure of it. But the truth was that they had no idea...

"How would you feel if your ancestry was different?" Travis Stork, the host of The Doctors, suddenly asked the sisters. It was a rhetorical question - or at least that's how the triplets saw it. "I don't know how that could happen," assured Nicole. "We're one egg that split."

The Results Are In

Sure enough, they were about to find out the answer to that one for themselves. After endless anticipation, Lisa Guerrero joined the girls on stage, a massive envelope in tow: The results were in. The journalist took a deep breath as she began to open the sealed document.

As Guerrero revealed, the results of their first DNA test were exactly as expected: The sisters were indeed identical. But as the reporter continued to dive deeper into their genetic history, things were about to take a sudden turn. Lisa began to announce the results of their 2nd test - and that's when things got weird.

The Results of the 2nd Test

"Nicole, you're 18% British and Irish," Guerrero told the eldest sister. Only as she turned to Nicole's younger siblings to reveal their results, suddenly the audience went silent: "Erica, you're 15% British and Irish. But Jaclyn, you're almost 19% British and Irish," Lisa announced.

It couldn't be... could it? The sisters were stunned, at a loss for words. "We came from the same egg... we have the same DNA," a baffled Nicole muttered. How could their results be so different? Something wasn't adding up. But their confusion was far from over.

Their Shocking Differences

As Nicole and her sisters continued to digest the shocking news, Lisa continued to unveil her findings. Only the surprises kept on coming. First, it was their French/German ancestry: Where Erica clocked in at 23%, Nicole's results showed only 11%. But that wasn't all.

The final part of the DNA test came with even more discrepancies, something the sisters simply couldn't make sense of: Erica and Jaclyn's Scandinavian heritage was about 7.4%. But when it came to their sister, Nicole? Her results read 11.4%. What was really going on here?

The Tests Were "for Fun"

While viewers and doctors alike tried to make sense of the latest findings, the host of the talk show already had a theory of his own. Only what Travis Stork soon suggested left audience members even more disturbed. As he put it, perhaps these at-home genetic tests weren't as truthful as we thought.

"I'm not a geneticist," Stork began. "But I love the idea of these at-home tests for fun." Were such genetic tests simply for users' entertainment? Lisa's investigative report had left viewers with endless questions. But as Stork continued, "you can't just spit in a cup and have every single answer that you are looking for."

23andMe Speaks Out

As rumors continued to swirl, viewers began filling in the missing pieces themselves. Was Stork right about the entertainment factor? Were we being duped all along? Sure enough, it wasn't long before 23andMe sat down to set the record straight. As for what they had to say for themselves?

To put it simply, "It's a misleading story," a spokesperson assured Healthyway of the "misleading" rumors. "We've done a comprehensive evaluation of our algorithm and reference datasets and are confident in the accuracy of the results we report for customers." But not everybody felt that way.

Going Viral

From the shocking DNA results to the surprising choice of words from Travis Stork, nothing about the Dahm sisters' time on our screen was ordinary. Perhaps that's why it soon found its way onto our feeds. Safe to say, it took the online world by storm.

In the blink of an eye, the triplets' segment had gone viral. Titled, Different DNA Results for Triplets Using At-Home Tests? the minutes-long clip racked up over a million views on YouTube. But as the sisters were about to find out, their price of fame was about to come with a steep cost...

The Segment Was Met With Accusations

After all, the more their viral clip continued to get shared, the more the comments multiplied. And not everybody had approving words for the sisters. "I don't get why they didn't get a geneticist on the panel?" one user soon pointed out. Was there more to the story?

"Why a show called The Doctors would have on someone from Inside Edition to talk about DNA tests, instead of, hmmm....idk...a geneticist, is beyond me," another chimed in. Was the Dahm's segment truly meant to uncover the truth? Or perhaps was their latest endeavor purely for entertainment purposes?

The Plastic Surgery Rumors

Unfortunately for the Dahm triplets, that's not where the suspicions ended, though. And as users continued to inspect the identical blondes on their screen, they soon came across another puzzling realization. Only this one was actually hidden in plain sight.

Had the identical triplets secretly altered their looks with the help of plastic surgeons? "Identical triplets? Wow. They all look different… Maybe identical pre-surgery," one of many users shaded. Had there been more to the story behind their famous looks?

Their Net Worth

Safe to say, the triplets' viral fame had put them on the map like never before. But in doing so, the Dahm sisters went on to gain a whole lot more than just supporters and skeptics. The truth? From the looks of it, they've also earned quite a pretty penny along the way.

According to various sources, the Dham triplets have quite an impressive savings account tucked away in the bank. As several sites explained, the sisters have a combined net worth of about $13 million - as of 2019. And with their time in Hollywood just getting started? We've got a feeling that number is only going to grow...

The Truth About Mr. Dahm

When Erica and her sisters set off for the University of Minnesota, their lives were changed forever. But while their decision to drop out of school and pose for Playboy propped them front and center, how did their parents really feel about their journey to Hollywood?

"Our parents couldn't be any more supportive," the 3 Playmates gushed. In fact, it appears they've actually got Mr. Dahm to thank for their time at the Playboy Mansion. "Our father actually showed us the ad for the 'Girls of the Big Ten,'" the triplets confessed.

Where Are they Now?

Clearly, the Dahm sisters' time on our screens (and centerfolds) has been nothing short of striking. But where does that leave them today? Do the former Playmates still have their eyes set on modeling? Or perhaps have they since closed that controversial chapter?

Fast forward to today, and it appears the Dahms have swapped modeling for motherhood. Each sister, along with their respective husbands, has since welcomed a 2nd child. "They're not just cousins - [they're] all extremely close," they gushed of their little ones. "It's almost like... built-in… brothers and sisters."

Moving Forward

Well, what next? What do the 43-year-old triplets go from here? While we guess only time will tell, there is one thing we do know: Whatever the future has in store, they'll be riding out their latest chapter like they've done every other - right by each other's sides.

"This "DREAM"… I did not ask for…. not sure how I was so blessed but, certainly don't wake me!!!" Erica gushed of her and her sister's road to Hollywood. Despite the scandals and struggles they've faced along the way, they can't wait for what adventures await them next. And neither can we…

3X the Love

Back in the '90s, as 3 identical triplets from a small town in Minnesota packed up their bags and headed for nursing school, they had no idea what awaited them. Safe to say, nothing has ever never been the same. But despite their newfound fame and fortune, there's still one thing that remains priceless: Family.

"I can't imagine not having my wing girls by my side for the past 43," Jaclyn gushed of her 2 partners in crime. "2/12/77: Words can't describe the connection we have, the moments we've shared, the dreams we've conquered & the memories we've made…"