There’s nothing unusual about moms and daughters spending a lot of time together; after all, mothers play an important role in their children’s development. With their caress and guidance, there’s no doubt that kids would grow to be wise and empathic members of society.
But as the teenage and adolescent years hit, children start to swim in the ocean without assistance. However, this mom and daughter duo in the story proves that they are a formidable duo who are often mistaken for being twins:
Making Waves On Social Media
Nowadays, many people find social media an integral part of their lives. Some even go as far as making a living out of this tech advancement. According to Statista, nano-influencers can earn as much as $195 per post!
Macro-influencers, or those with a big, solid following, pocket over $1.2k per sponsored post. However, Joleen Diaz and her adult child Meilani didn’t make waves for their promotions, but rather about how they can fool anyone into thinking that they are twins.
Who Is Joleen Diaz?
There’s no wonder why the mom-and-daughter tandem in our story resembles each other so much–both of them won the genetic lottery! Joleen is a high school teacher, who originated from Guam and moved to the United States.
Joleen’s transfer to California meant bringing along her then-ten-year-old daughter, Meilani. We can only imagine how difficult the adjustment period was, especially since she had no partner to raise her daughter with. Many would experience "culture shock," which is the feeling of anxiety and confusion, leaving them disoriented, after moving to an unfamiliar environment.
Teaching As A Passion
Despite being in unfamiliar territory, Joleen found her footing in California and pursued her passion for teaching. In fact, she was often rewarded because of her dedication, revealing in her Instagram account that she was given Teacher of the Year once.
She also has a dedicated Instagram Story Highlight for her life as an instructor and often shares her outfits of the day whenever she goes to work. The National Center for Education Statistics noted that there were 3.3 million teachers in the United States in 2017.
Meilani’s Road To Success
More than being a teacher, Joleen is most proud of being a mom to Meilani, who inherited her mom’s good looks and hourglass physique. But that’s hardly the only thing that she got from her mother because the younger woman also exemplified determination.
Meilani was into gymnastics when she reached 13, but had since set her eyes on entering and graduating from the University of California, Berkeley. In June 2022, Joleen’s daughter revealed on social media that she finished her studies at the prestigious school.
Mom And Daughter Relationship
Like many other moms and daughters, Joleen and Meilani enjoy a close relationship with each other. In fact, the fresh graduate often goes to her mama for love advice, and thanks to the older beauty’s experience, she gets to impart valuable knowledge.
To be fair, Joleen has been single for a long time after having separated from Meilani’s father for over a decade. Experts advise providing wisdom on love with tenderness, gentleness, and subtlety to make them feel that it is OK to open up to them about this matter.
Role of Mother In Daughter’s Life
While having both parents by a child’s side is ideal, this doesn’t happen most of the time. It has been found that moms do have an important role in a daughter’s life because they have a great impact on the kid’s development.
According to India Parenting, a mother is the first to connect with their child from the moment she gives birth to the time she cradles the baby for the first time. In the same way, bonding with the little ones during infancy and childhood also fosters an environment where they are welcome to trust.
Role of Father In Daughter’s Life
Although Joleen didn’t dish on the reason she and Meilani’s father didn’t work out and even though the mom has done an amazing job raising her daughter solo, it is also crucial to have a father figure growing up.
"Fatherhood–Philosophy for Everyone" editor Michael Austin noted that fathers need to show that they have integrity and promote honesty so that their daughters would know what to expect from the real world. These days, dads have become more hands-on with child-rearing, smashing old-fashioned stereotypes that they should be breadwinners.
Joleen And Meilani’s Hobbies And Interests
Still, even without her partner by her side, Joleen has done an amazing job of teaching Meilani a lot about life. They share the same interests in staying fit and exploring the world without hesitation.
In fact, Meilani decided to move out of California and into Texas because she wanted to see many places before settling down. Surely, Joleen is supportive of whatever her daughter decides to do, especially since they are both keen on prioritizing their inner peace.
Raising Adult Children Is Not Easy
Even though Joleen doesn’t share much about their relationship, it is safe to say that raising adult children is not an easy feat. It is expected that they don’t see eye to eye all the time but it is important to acknowledge that both the parents and the kid have differences.
The Hartford noted that it is also important to give them space and the freedom to explore, be it with friends or their significant others. This said, Joleen probably understood how it was crucial for Meilani to get out of her comfort zone.
Dream Team On Social Media
Joleen and Meilani seemed to be the dream team, more so because they are both successful social media stars who collectively boast over 1.2 million followers on Instagram. For years, they have become a formidable duo known for their ideal relationship and for looking like twins.
At first, people thought that they were siblings but when they revealed that Joleen was Meilani’s mother, their story got picked up by The Mirror, The Sun, DailyMail, and New York Post. This helped boost their social media status.
Looking Like Twins
Even "American Idol" alum Kelly Clarkson was also in awe of how they didn’t look like they have two decades in between them. Joleen and Meilani both have sleek, long black hair and share the same facial features such as the nose and eyes; so it isn’t surprising that people usually mistake them.
However, the looks are probably far from the only thing that Meilani inherited from Joleen. A University of Minnesota study conducted for 20 years found that genetics play a role in the variations.
Joleen’s Fountain Of Youth
One thing is for sure: people expect Meilani to also look as youthful as her mom when she reached her 40s. Everyone is baffled by how Joleen seemed to appear half her age, but there was no magic or fountain of youth involved.
This may come as a surprise for those who believe that science is the only way to have age-defying features. We can’t blame them though because people have resorted to leeches to suck blood on their faces, cat litter sand to scrub the skin, and eating only purple food.
Mom’s Secret To Youthful Glow
Luckily, Joleen is too secretive when it comes to her tricks about her undeniably youthful glow. But as it turned out, there’s nothing that we don’t know about looking ageless because she revealed that she is old school when it comes to this matter.
Women in their 40s typically notice some changes in their skin’s firmness. According to Real Simple, this is the time when the elasticity and volume begin to lose, which means they face sagginess. As such, dermatologists advise changing the beauty products to a line more suitable.
Joleen Follows A Balanced Diet
Just like what most trainers and nutritionists would tell us, one of the keys to a healthy life and lean physique is a balanced eating program. Joleen understands this and only consumes whole foods, avoiding pork and red meat and sticking with vegetables as much as possible.
According to Healthline, red meat pertains to non-fowl mammals, like pork, beef, lamb, and venison. While they are known for packing nutrients like zinc and vitamin B12, studies have linked them to an increased risk of heart disease.
Changing Eating Habits Is Tough
Although Joleen is mostly vegan, she sometimes consumes eggs or fish and would even eat chicken when cooked in the dish she loves. Her diet is also gluten and dairy-free but being a sucker for desserts, she often breaks this rule.
Joleen’s last meal for the day is consumed at 5:30 pm and she doesn’t eat beyond 7 pm. Changing her eating habits was tough for the teacher but once she saw how much her health had improved, she knew she needed to stick with them.
No Vices, No Problem!
While fame and fortune are often associated with vices, Joleen rarely drinks and doesn’t smoke, proving that what doctors tell us about the side effects of these things is true. But a cigarette and skin seem difficult to connect, right?
As per Mayo Clinic, nicotine, one of the chemicals in a stick, has been found to narrow blood vessels, thereby reducing oxygen supply. This means that even the nutrients become difficult to travel to the skin, causing wrinkles and fine lines.
The Only Guilty Pleasure
But Joleen is human, after all. She admits that she can’t resist sugar, confessing that she eats a cookie or a slice of cake now and then. The Instagram star even dished that she indulges every day, albeit in small amounts.
This is what she believes makes life more fun. It’s good that Joleen knows that moderation is the key when it comes to satisfying her sweet tooth. But for a healthier snack, dark chocolate has been found to have high levels of antioxidants, which are great for combatting free radicals.
Active Lifestyle Is The Way To Go
As expected, Joleen also maintains an active lifestyle to maintain her killer figure. But she reveals she doesn’t really do something drastic all the time. In fact, she tries to squeeze in five to six sweat sessions a week.
Moreover, the mom of one loves to keep her routines "super basic" so that she would be sure to follow them. Joleen does anywhere between 30 and 45 minutes of cardio a day and 20 minutes of stretching.
Cardio Now, Reap Benefits Later
Joleen’s dedication to fitness is admirable but more than this, she would reap rewards when she reaches her advanced years. According to UVA Health, people who don’t work out regularly tend to lose 80 percent of their muscle strength when they become senior citizens.
On top of this, maintaining a healthy weight can reduce one’s risk of cardiovascular diseases because regularly exercising lowers cholesterol and blood pressure levels. However, variety is the key to a sustainable routine so it is best to mix and match during sweat sessions.
Joleen Loves To Take A Rest
While most social media superstars love hustling, Jolee is a big fan of taking a rest, which is what people mostly forget. More importantly, getting enough sleep is ideal because it is when the body really slows down and recharges.
Experts advise eight hours of shuteye for adults, which would result in better performance at the office or school and a lower risk of gaining weight. According to Access Community Health Network, a good night’s sleep promotes brain function as a person becomes clear-headed and alert.
Staying Carefree And Laidback
Joleen also focuses on the present and has a laid-back personality. In fact, she doesn’t worry too much about what has happened already and what’s to come, and maintains a simple lifestyle. On top of this, she also believes that she is content with her situation.
There’s a common misconception that being content means being in the perfect situation. However, Clarity Clinic explains that one can find contentment even in the most difficult situation by understanding that there are still positive things that come from the experience.
Joleen’s Knowledge Of Skin Care
On top of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and having a holistic approach to self-care, Joleen also knows how important it is to understand her skin as well. Lucky for her, she started listening to her skin at a young age, and she is now noticing the wonders of following a routine.
According to The Standard, Joleen started her skin care routine when she was 12. At the time, she would secretly use the beauty products that her mom had at the time.
Importance of Having Great Skin
As a teen, Joleen got exposed early to skin care items, and she wasn’t blind to see how supple and smooth her complexion became when she started religiously applying the products to her face.
Indeed, Joleen continued to witness the wonders of religiously following her regimen. Having great skin gives her a boost in confidence, which she said was also the case during days when she doesn’t feel she looks her best. The mom also knows how to explore when it comes to products that work and don’t work for her.
Secret ‘Weapon’
As time passed by, Joleen also learned that what worked for her when she was young doesn’t necessarily become suitable for her current skin type. She now resorts to alpha-hydroxy acid glycolic acid, the most popular kind of AHA in the market.
According to Healthline, glycolic acid is derived from sugar cane and is considered the most effective in penetrating the skin. No wonder it is usually found in most anti-aging products as it exfoliates the dead layers, resulting in a supple complexion.
The Trend In Her 30s
On top of the exfoliator, Joleen also discovered a miraculous product in her 30s. She revealed that she uses a retinol serum called tretinoin to tighten her pores and seemingly hide her fine lines. In fact, she claims that it gave her "fresh" and plump skin.
While tretinoin is best known as an anti-acne, dermatologists have found a new purpose for this: as an effective anti-aging agent that addresses dark spots and fine lines. However, due to its concentration and possible adverse effects on the skin if wrongly used, a prescription is needed.
Vitamin C To Keep The Hyperpigmentation Away
People take vitamin C to support their immune system and other bodily functions like iron absorption and collagen formation. But in recent years, the serum form has been gaining popularity, and even Joleen swears by this because she uses it day and night.
Healthline notes vitamin C is one of the best additions to anti-aging products. The serum is ideal for all skin types and is known for rescuing hyperpigmentation or uneven complexion, hydration, helping sagging skin, and wound healing.
Sun Protection Means Better Skin
Living in California for a long time meant that Joleen also had to adjust the lineup of the products she uses. Apparently, her answer is sunscreen, which she applies not just on sunny days but also during rainy and cloudy moments.
Joleen is not mistaken at all. Science has repeatedly told us that sunscreen is essential even on cloudy days because lights and even gadgets in the house still emit rays. The Food and Drug Administration advises applying the product 15 minutes before stepping out.
Passing On Her Skin Care Knowledge To Her Daughter
Meilani is in good hands because her mom has a wide knowledge of skin care. In fact, Joleen introduced basic self-care to her child when the kid was just 12 because she wanted her daughter to have an immaculate complexion, too.
Teenagers have delicate skin because this is the time when most of them suffer from oiliness and breakouts, no thanks to hormonal surges. However, this may also be the prime moment to form a routine that experts advise should include careful cleansing, exfoliation, and sunscreen.
Two Peas In A Pod, Er, A House
At this point, we already know that Joleen and Meilani did things together. But fitness, social media, and skin care aren’t the only matters that they both love. They also share the same interest in mental health awareness.
Meilani has been open about her struggles on her Instagram, even going as far as revealing how tough her journey was when she was younger. Meanwhile, Joleen encourages her students to share their emotions in different languages through a bulletin board in the morning.
Joleen And Meilani’s Passion For Animal Welfare
Joleen is undeniably a dog lover, and this is probably why her daughter is one, too. In fact, Meilani has been using her voice to spread awareness of the harsh realities of unadopted canines in shelters.
Meilani encourages her followers to visit the Austin Animal Shelter and adopt or foster because of the overflowing number of dogs. Unfortunately, not everyone likes adult dogs and the NCPPSP notes that animals between five months and three years old are the most adoptable.
Close Enough To Discuss Love
In a Planned Parenthood survey in 2012, it was found that parents were more comfortable discussing sensitive matters like intimacy with their kids than the other way around. As such, researchers felt that there was a discrepancy in how children perceived the advice as a nuance.
In the same way, love isn’t always something that every child is fine talking about with their moms and dads. But Joleen and Meilani share a connection so deep that they often discuss relationships, even going as far as saying that she and her mom go on double dates!
Joleen And Dating Apps Don’t Go Well Together
After Joleen and Meilani’s father called it quits, the mom pretty much wasn’t lucky enough to find another man that she would spend her life with–but not to say that she didn’t try looking. In fact, she tried dating apps, too!
Joleen shared she signed up for Hinge, which is actually catered to the young generation. According to Best of Apps, there are 20 million users that pay for the premium in 2022. However, she faced one of the most interesting problems in the program!
Not Into Boy Toys
Despite being on Hinge, Joleen wasn’t looking for boy toys, a slang for attractive young men. But she isn’t alone with the same preference: ScienceDirect found that girls like boys who are around their age or ten years older than them at most.
Interestingly, as men grow older, they were found to prefer women younger than them. Still, Joleen’s intentions aren’t really to look for something short term and it seems that she isn’t in a hurry, too, because she knows what she wants.
Perks Of Using A Dating App
We can’t blame Joleen for using dating apps though because they are one of the most convenient ways of connecting with people. It has become easier to find individuals who share the same passion and hobbies, too, online.
According to Inverse, studies have found that couples who crossed paths through these programs were just as happy as those who met conventionally, smashing misconceptions that the former pairs don’t last long. Strangely, people on these apps were noted to link people from different geographical backgrounds.
Disadvantages of Dating Apps
While there are a lot of perks to using dating apps, there are tons of disadvantages, too. Unfortunately, stolen identities are quite common in the online world and it would be difficult to know if someone is really who they claim to be.
Studies have shown that negative experiences with an online search for a romantic partner do occur. This includes being harassed into doing something when meeting in person and mis- or over-representing one’s self on their profiles, creating confusion upon meet-up.
Looking Young Has Rewards
As much as it is unfair to say, people really do swipe left or right depending on what they see on one’s dating profile. Joleen definitely had a lot of interested men messaging her and expressing their emotions upon seeing her on the apps.
It is safe to say that a lot of people mistake her for being young but having an ageless beauty doesn’t always play in Joleen’s favor. In fact, this was the reason her account was deleted multiple times on the platform.
Joleen’s ‘Catfishing’ Title
Unfortunately, a lot of users thought Joleen’s account was fake, probably because she didn’t link her social media accounts. However, there’s a good reason for this: the mom doesn’t believe that her profiles wouldn’t reflect how down-to-earth and simple she really is.
Joleen wants to connect with people more before she shows her social media channels. Some users may have branded her as a catfish, pertaining to the fake persona specifically created to lure someone into a relationship.
All About Catfishing
These days, nobody is surprised that everyone is more than cautious about treading the online world. After all, dating apps are riddled with scammers who assume other people’s identities to fool people.
However, there are ways to catch a catfish. One of the tell-tale signs is having a limited selection of photos on their profiles. Most likely, they would also have perfect snaps uploaded, seemingly showing model-level poses and studio-quality pictures. Then, another red flag is not linking their social media.
Social Media Is Not The Window To One’s Soul
But Joleen has her reasons why she didn’t link her social media even though she is not a catfish at all. After all, online profiles don’t necessarily reflect a person’s reality, especially because of the distortion that happens with what we can see.
Plus, social media has become an environment that fosters unrealistic beauty standards. According to the Child Mind Institute, what teens see online can greatly affect their mental health and self-confidence so parents must always instruct them to be careful of the wide web.
Down Side Of Looking Young
Joleen’s account being taken down frequently may be the biggest disadvantage to her youthful looks but this was hardly the only downside to looking younger than one’s age. According to the BBC, people are mostly affected in the office setting.
The article even went as far as to say that this feature is an inconvenience because career-wise, workmates may not see someone young-looking as competent. This is a result of what is called the "babyface overgeneralization effect," which happens when people assume that a person has the personality of a young person because of his/her face.
Double Dates Are More Fun
No matter what, Joleen has her daughter by her side all the time. When the mom does find someone to go out with, she usually enjoys double dates with Meilani even with two decades in between.
In fact, Joleen, Meilani, and their respective dates have gone to spend time bowling, hiking, going to the beach, and watching movies. Not everyone favors double dates but science has found that couples who go on one tend to rekindle their passion for each other.
Cliche But Age Doesn’t Matter
They say "age doesn’t matter" when it comes to love and Joleen agrees with this, saying that it isn’t a deal-breaker. To some, being with a person who is n-years older or younger is taboo but many people, including celebrities Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, don’t seem to mind the stares and noise about their relationship.
According to the BBC, this may be a result of the evolutionary perspective that older people couldn’t raise their children anymore, which means this has something to do with longevity in caring for their kids.
But Dating Younger Men Is A Big No
Still, Joleen is particular about a few things, including how young the person she can date is. She will not go for someone who is around the same age as her daughter or a boy enough to be friends with Meilani.
It is not uncommon for a person to date someone with kids. According to Better Help, it is important to understand that the children would remain a partner’s priority even when they are in a relationship so it is important to be secure about one’s self before entering this kind of set-up.
Interesting Messages That Joleen Gets
During the times she was active on dating apps, Joleen got so many messages from men, including young ones. The majority of them have been polite despite what people assume of boys sliding in her DMs.
Some even asked her out on a date, a hike, or a dinner but Joleen believes these were just done out of curiosity and not to pursue the version that they thought of her. If any, she finds it flattering that young guys express interest.
Fantasy Of Dating A Woman Who Is Older
For Joleen, boys that approach her on the app fantasize about dating older women but men her age would be more pragmatic and tend to enjoy the simple things. Although it will all boil down to preference, there has been a pattern in this set-up.
Many men want to be with someone wise and experienced, so it is logical to be attracted to people who have accomplished and gone through a lot in life. They also associate older women with stability and self-security.
What Joleen Is Looking For
Instead of superficial desires, Joleen looks for someone confident, motivated, ambitious, and has a positive outlook in life. She also longs for a person who can communicate well, something that makes a relationship work.
According to Very Well Mind, communication avoids rumination and lingering negativity in one’s mind. Most importantly, it is an effective means of expressing emotions during conflicts and can help resolve problems. However, research found that this isn’t entirely the key to a strong and happy relationship–personality and interaction between the pair also play roles.
It’s A Yes For Emotional Stability
Joleen is also very particular about her future partner’s emotional stability. As per the "Development of emotional stability scale" study, this refers to a person’s ability to have a balanced process of perceiving problems and stresses.
Emotionally stable individuals tend to tolerate most minor daily issues and inconveniences without becoming anxious, angry, or tense. They usually show the ability to form deep connections, live in the present, and control negativity. On the other hand, instability can mean someone whose mood changes suddenly.
Financial Stability Is A Must, Too!
Meilani’s mom also wants someone who is able to financially contribute equally to the relationship, too. Joleen’s preference isn’t unfounded because even though money isn’t always talked about in partnership, it pays to understand what both parties think about finance.
This means that communication is again the secret, but it is easier said than done. As per NBC, this may involve talking about financial goals to see the couple’s alignment. Of course, this is also when set-ups like paying 50-50 for dates can also be discussed.
Dog-Loving Guys Only
Joleen’s Instagram account may be full of selfies that showcase her physique but it has a dedicated spot for her dog. She usually goes for a run with her golden retriever named Mase, which she often brings to the beach.
But who doesn’t love this breed? It is the most popular dog in the United States and for good reasons–they are best known for being obedient and friendly. But as per the American Kennel Club, Golden Retrievers were bred as hunting and working canines.
The Guy Should Be Outdoorsy
Judging from Joleen’s Instagram, we know that she loves the outdoors and often spends time swimming and traveling to other states. It makes sense because LifeHack.org notes a survey that showed that 63 percent of the 1,000 couples as respondents claimed that traveling had a positive impact on their relationship.
This also opens opportunities to get to know the other person more, especially when the couple is in unfamiliar territory. On top of this, isn’t it fun to experience and learn new things together with a significant one?
No Expensive Honeymoons Or Weddings
What Joleen has been reiterating is how she opts for what is simple. When asked whether she likes to have an expensive wedding or a pricey honeymoon, she admitted she didn’t like both. In fact, she is also not a fan of guys with muscles and abs.
Speaking of which, one of the most expensive nuptials in history was that of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana in 1981. In a fairytale fashion, the People’s Princess walked down the aisle in a puff-sleeve gown that cost thousands of dollars.
Loving Herself Is The Reason For Contentment
While Joleen admits she wants to find "the one" for her, she is also patient enough to wait for the right guy. The mom’s key to contentment even when she is single? Loving herself and being confident so she wouldn’t settle for anything less than what she deserved.
According to Insider, experts have advised staying single and building confidence before getting into a relationship because one might be dependent if their partners are the ones that give their self-worth and esteem.
Mom And Daughter Team For Life
Despite staying single for a long time, Joleen is happy and content with just her and her daughter. The gorgeous mom doesn’t mind being confused with Meilani, and the latter isn’t offended whenever people mistake them for siblings because she was used to hearing the sentiment while growing up.
When we think about uncanny resemblances, "Legally Blonde" star Reese Witherspoon and her daughter Ava Phillippe come to mind. They are often confused as siblings or twins but they say they don’t see it!
Celebrity Mom And Daughter Who Look Like Twins
When we talk about mom-and-daughter looking like twins, we also think about "The Cosby Show" star Lisa Bonet and Zoe Kravitz, whose father is musician Lenny Kravitz. The actresses don’t just have a striking resemblance, they also follow each other’s fashion statements.
Both of them usually rock dreadlocks that make them look even more identical. Lisa and Zoe also often lean toward unconventional pieces when choosing their outfits. The "Divergent" star’s 2021 Met Gala embellished gown was inspired by her mom’s 2019 Oscars attire.