Shane and Sia Barbi

Shane Barbi and Sia Barbi (born April 2, 1963, in San Diego, California according to their official website), popularly known as The Barbi Twins, are vegan identical twins, models, physical fitness authors, and animal rights activists.
Cosmopolitan UK described the twins' popularity during the 1990s as "Barbi Mania" due to their record breaking Playboy magazine covers and top selling calendars reported by E! True Hollywood Story."Barbi Twins" E! True Hollywood Story, 2001
==Career==
Shane and Sia began modeling at the age of seven when they posed for a layout in the Sears mail-order catalog. As adults, their career has included fashion and mainly pin-up modeling.
In the early '90s they modeled for Chanel, Thierry Mugler, Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano and others.Triumph Over Double Trouble, (March 27, 2001), Press-Telegram (Long Beach, CA)
The Los Angeles Times did a cover story about the Barbi Twins when their billboard went up on Sunset Boulevard in 1989 immediately catapulting them to world wide attention.p.1 “Billboard Art Takes On a Tamer Tint” (August 3, 1989) LA TIMES According to their 2001 E! True Hollywood Story, the billboard, and the press that came from it, caught the eye of Hugh Hefner. The twins were put on the cover of Playboy magazine in the September 1991 issue which broke records by selling out in less than two weeks. In an unprecedented move, Hefner erected a billboard to promote the Barbi Twins and their second Playboy issue (which also broke sales records).
USA Today said that the twins career brought them “caviar dreams and champagne life styles of the rich and famous”.“From the Mouths of Babes:– The Barbi Twins’ Diet”. (April 14, 1993), Katy Kelly, USA TODAY Playboy called their covers “legendary” and credited their subsequent television appearances with “the highest ratings,” remarking that the twins became Hollywood landmarks and global obsessions.p. 28“Playboy Afterhours - A Guide to What’s Hip And What’s Happening “, (December 2000) Playboy
The twins have also generated a degree of controversy - a Saturday morning cartoon and an MTV show were criticized for being “too sexy” or “too controversial"."Barbi twins trade naughty poses for animal rescue", October 23, 2009. Fox 411
Magazines and tabloids called them everything from "the sexiest twins alive” and "the best selling calendar models of the world” (Cosmopolitan UK) to referring to them as both “bizarre and bulimic” and “sexual icons and America’s cartoon sweethearts” (Entertainment Weekly) The London Sun said that the Barbi Twins “took the glamour world by storm”.“How sizzling Pair beat Bulimia”, (January 27, 1995) London Sun They were a favorite for cover models appearing on the covers and inside not only Playboy but mainstream national and international magazines like Cosmopolitan and Redbook. Newspapers, magazines and tabloids like USA TODAY, Sunday Magazine’s News of the World,Cover, (February 10, 1993) Sunday Magazine - News of the World and the Daily Star,Cover, (March 27, 1997) DAILY STAR were plastered with articles and pictures of the twins.
Shane Barbi was among the many notable quotables when Newsweek’s “Overheard” section (syndicated from the New York Post, Page Six) picked up a quote from her during an interview, "You can ask us about our cup size or favorite positions but please no personal questions.”p. 13 “Overheard” (January 4, 1993) Newsweek Stuff magazine gave the twins the title of “Sex Symbols for 1993” placing them in good company with other popular female icons such as Marilyn Monroe (1962), Farrah Fawcett (1977), Madonna (1991) and Sharon Stone (1992).p. 92 “Top Sex Symbols”, (March 2001) Stuff Magazine
Redbook magazine took excerpts from the book “Diana’s Boys” which reveals how Prince William had his first crush on the Barbi Twins.p. 149, “Exclusive books excerpts on Diana’s boys” (September, 2001) REDBOOK The London Sun passed on a poster to the young prince autographed by the twins,“Love and Kisses, Shane and Sia”.“Lust William, (March 20, 1995) London Sun
In the Caribbean, a riot ensued when inmates caught a glimpse of the twins doing a photo shoot nearby. Tourists were jumping out of ships yelling “Las Barbi’s”.“Las Barbis” (1993) "Stepping Out" Magazine (Grenich village, NY ) After four years of the “best selling calendars”, photographs from a photo shoot were stolen from a NY film lab and "held for ransom" but were later returned.“Ken-do Muscles Saves the Barbi”, (October 1993) New York Daily News, Hot Section
In 2011 were featured and voted as one of MAXIM's Hottest Famous Twins,“Maxim's Hottest Famouse Twins”, (August, 2011) Maxim Magazine were featured in numerous movie posters on behalf of animal causes (see Animal Activism below) and on covers and featured articles in True Cowboy Magazine.
==Merchandising==
Unlike most other models during that time period who posed for other products, the twins were the product. The London Sun credited the twins with starting the celebrity model calendar business. Shane and Sia posed together in several internationally-distributed Barbi Twins calendars from 1993 to 2007. After the success of their 1993 calendar the “Barbi Mania” continued with dozens of posters, a comic art calendar and two comic books. They were fantasy art fan favorites and appeared on covers such as Heavy Metal and Entertainment Weekly put them on their “Top 15 Hot Sheet” for their Barbi Twin Comic.
Other merchandise such as promotional trading cards, postcards, gift cards, gift wrap, mugs, lighters and just about any product that could have their images (or more specifically bodies) stamped on it were for sale. The Daily Star UK ran a comic strip called “The Barbi Twins, featuring the twin models with psychic abilities.“The mission” by Matthew Sweet (October 3, 1998) The Independent Gift shops world wide contained Barbi Twin products and every Spencer Gifts had dedicated a corner to Barbi Twin merchandise as E! True Hollywood Story reported.
==Film and television==
48 Hours did a special on the Barbi Twins in 2002 on their eating disorders, and the E! True Hollywood Story did a biography on the twins in 2001. They also had several guest appearances on talk shows for television and radio, such as The Geraldo Rivera Show and The Howard Stern Show. The twins made several appearances along with William Shatner, John Landis, and many others in the American animated series Eek! The Cat playing twin rocket scientists, "Dr. Shane and Dr. Sia". In 2007, they received an associate producer credit on Curt Johnson's animal activist documentary titled Your Mommy Kills Animals, which received highly acclaimed reviews from Variety, Hollywood Reporter and LA Times.Variety.com July 19, 2007
In 2010 the twins again showed their support for the animal community and were featured in the movie Skin Trade, IMDB.imdb.com February 21, 2010 
In 2012 the twins announced their first feature documentary called I HAVE A DREAM about breed discrimination. Breed discrimination was at the root of the recent death of Lennox, a dog that was destroyed just for being a breed to similar to a pit bull. (ExtraTV) ExtraTV.com July 10, 2012
==Personal health==
The twins struggled with bulimia. According to their E! True Hollywood Story and a candid interview in USA TODAY"Beauty Taken To Extremes" by Nanci Hellmich,(September 13, 2000) USA Today, Life Section their bulimia and insecurities caused them to be obsessed with crash-dieting, bingeing and purging, abusing laxatives and destructive exercise routines for up to 10 hours a day. Their disorders manifested into agoraphobia preventing them from attending the Hollywood major premieres and invitations they received, causing them to cancel events, and to turn down offers for their own television shows and movies, and even dates with their high profile suitors.
During their recovery, the twins armed themselves with degrees in health and nutrition, and began lecturing in 2000 on “How to eat to live, not live to eat”. They lectured at the Learning Annex, universities and high schools as well as on radio, television and on-line. In early 2001, they came out to the nation on the CBS television program 48HRS in a piece about eating disorders, entitled “Slim Chance.”“Slim Chance” May 21, 2002, CBS 48 hours They also shared their recovery story in a chapter in a celebrity addiction book called Feeding the Fame.“The Barbi Twins (former celebrity models, animal rescuers)” Feeding the Fame: Celebrities Tell Their Real-Life Stories of Eating Disorders and Recover, by Gary Stromberg, Jane Merrill, published by Hazelden Publishing (2006) ISBN 1-59285-350-1
The twins first health and fitness book, Dying To Be Healthy: A Breakthrough Diet, Nutrition and Self Help Guide (1999), tells the story of their struggles with eating disorders and how they overcame it. Their second book, The Eco Anti-Diet, Plus Confession (2006), helps people understand how to be “eco and animal friendly” while being healthy and fit. 100% of the proceeds of the books go to animal charities.
==Barbi v. Flynt==
In November 2003, the Barbi Twins sued Larry Flynt and Hustler magazine for shots taken at Playboy studios that found their way to Hustler without permission. The twins had a vitamin line they were promoting to be introduced in 2004 and the pictures were never meant to be published. They sued for both the pictures and a fictional story that appeared in Hustler as the Barbi Twins claimed it ruined their health image."Barbi Twins Sue Flynt" by Tina Reilly, (November 14, 2003), XBIZ NEWS REPORT
==Personal lives==
The twins are the daughters of property developer Bob Carlson (d. October 2001), a devout Christian and Marsha Barbi, a former Miss Ohio, but their parents divorced when the twins were just two. The twins believe that their mother was always a lesbian and when she left their father, she and they travelled to West Hollywood where Marsha became an "outspoken lesbian feminist". According to the twins, Marsha had numerous lesbian lovers including some quite famous women. Then she met closeted singer Dusty Springfield in 1975 and the two women lived together for two years."We were 12 when they got together and we lived in this fantastic three-storey townhouse in West Hollywood. She became our unofficial godmother and every night she'd sing us to sleep," Shane told journalist Caroline Graham in 2002. "Dusty Springfield was our Dad" - Caroline Graham, The Mail on Sunday 9 June 2002 
Shane married Ken Wahl in 1997. Sia is single as of at least 2012, according to their official website. 
By the year 2000 the twins began using their modeling career to help show support and draw focus on other issues they felt important, including publishing books on fitness and health issues, showing their support for the military with their patriotic images and words of support,“Barbi Twins Give Troops A Lift" (April 19, 2003) National Enquirer and animal rights.
==Animal activism==
The twins participate in animal rescue projects, including major national disasters such as such as Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita and the California fires over the last few years (USA TODAY)."Crews go after pets left in fire evacuation",(October 25, 2007), USA TODAY They physically go and help rescue the animals from the waters and fires and also help instruct people on national disaster rescue tips for domestic and wild animals.Models Share Tips On Helping Animals During Natural Disasters, (September 1, 2009), The Strategy Room, Fox News The twins founded a website for animal activism called TheKittyLiberationFront.org which has now become TwinBunnies.com, and help animal charities and rescue groups worldwide, volunteer with shelters for walking and rehabilitating dogs, participate in the TNR (Trap, Neuter and Return). They made calendar featuring shelter animals, called “Pinup Pets” which was to support the hurricane animal rescue efforts (as seen in their documentary Your Mommy Kills Animals).
In a 2009 article by Fox News called the twins "the Willie Nelson of pin-up girls interviewing the twins where they spoke of how they (the twins) use their “seven and a half minutes each of fame” to speak out for animals."Barbi Twins trade naughty poses for animal rescue" (October 23, 2009) Fox News They participate in animal protests, such as anti-pet shops, anti-puppy mill, anti-circus, and anti-animal experimentation (vivisection) and are vegan. They held a vigil for pets lost during the pet food poisoning that occurred that same year."Twins Drag Out Dead Cat”, (July 14, 2007) TMZ They also help lobby animal bills, such as the pet food safety bill. In 2009 they became very active in lobbying against the ROAM bill for wild horses along with Willie Nelson,"Willie Nelson joins Barbi Twins in Effort to Save Remaining Wild Horses", (December 23, 2009) Fox News and continued their support speaking openly about the horse slaughter ban, the ban on de-clawing“Playboy’s Barbi Twins Target GOP Rep. Hastings Over Wild Horses” (July 24, 2009) The Huffington Post and the fight against factory farms and animal cruelty.
In 2010 they helped bring public awareness to the ban on seal hunting in Canada by doing a media blitz to help end the brutality of seal hunting,“Barbi Twins Want Seal Hunt Banned” (March 15, 2010) Toronto Sun the dangers to the sea turtles and other endangered species affected by the BP oil spill,"Barbi Twins Battle BP to Save Sea Turtles", (July 6, 2010) ExtraTV and helped lobby and pass HR5566, the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act Bill (banning violent images against animals on websites)."Playboy Twins Get Political", (November 17, 2010) Politico The Twins use their celebrity status in every way they can including offering their images up in posters displaying their "wacky humor and good looks" (Fox News),"The Lovely and Talented Barbi Twins", (December 23, 2009) Fox News such as their 2010 posters to support causes such as the Anti Fur movie "Skin Trade""The Barbi Twins Make a Statement with 'Skin Trade'", (February 24, 2010) ExtraTV and the cruelty that happens in the dairy industry in the documentary 'Earthlings'."Barbi Twins Milk 'Earthlings' Spotlight in Australia", (May 26, 2010) Huffington Post and their 2011 Covers and featured articles in True Cowboy Magazine and their continuing fight to save the wild horses (February and April 2011 issues)."Saddle Up With The Barbi Twins", (February 21, 2011) True Cowboy Magazine
2011 ends with the twins ramping up their efforts to support the ban on horse slaughter by actively recruiting people to support the 6 year ban that was lifted on horse slaughter“Barbi Twins: Obama Abandoned the Horses", Patrick Gavin (December 01, 2011) Politico and also being in a documentary, 'The Petition', which supports the end of horse slaughter.“Ken and Barbi's Helping the Horses" (December 05, 2011) ExtraTV In 2012 the twins were interviewed by National Geographic Society Contributing Editor Jordan Schaul about horse slaughter legislation. 
Due to their campaigning for the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act in 2010 many people turned to the twins for help in finding someone torturing and killing kittens on a video. In 2010, Sia Barbi stated of the person suffocating the kittens in the video; "this teen that did this is extremely likely to progress to a human." (Examiner)"Rescue Ink is searching for the killer of the two vacuumed kittens", (December 28, 2010) Examiner In 2012, according to the Toronto Sun, "The legendary twins, who once graced the pages of Playboy, spearheaded the movement to track down a person posting on line videos of killing kittens believed to be alleged killer Luka Magnotta"."Barbi Twins are naturals: Warmington",(June 5, 2012), Toronto Sun In an interview on CNN (HLN with Jane Valez-Mitchell), the former Playboy models, now dedicated animal rights activists, state they have been looking for Magnotta for years, stating that he was the man behind numerous videos uploaded to YouTube that showed the killing of kittens."Alleged porn star killer's violent past", (June 4, 2012) CNN, HLN with Jane Valez-Mitchell The twins would like to see animal abusers that torture and kill animals be listed on a national violent offenders registry. Sia Barbi said; "Make them (animal abusers) register, just like child molesters." (Sun News) "Animal rights groups alerted police of Magnotta's alleged kitten killing videos", (June 9, 2012) Sun News
==Publications==
===Books===
*Barbi, Sia and Greg Gorman (photographer). Dying To Be Healthy: Millennium Dieting and Nutrition. Pentimento Entertainment, 1999. ISBN 1-892676-11-7
**Reprinted as: Dying To Be Healthy: A Breakthrough Diet, Nutrition and Self-Help Guide. 2nd Edition. Triumph Books, 2001. ISBN 1-892049-42-2
*Conte, Robert. History of the Barbi Twins. Studio Books, 1998. ISBN 1-890313-01-7
*The Barbi Twins. The Eco Anti-Diet, plus confessions AuthorHouse, 2006 ISBN 1-4259-2722-X
===Calendars===
*Barbi Twins: Shane and Sia – 1993 Calendar
*The Barbi Twins 1995 Swimsuit Comic Art Calendar Topps Comics, 1994
**Artists include John Byrne, Adam Hughes, Julie Bell, Miran Kim, Linser, et al.
*Best of the Barbi Twins 1997 Calendar. H & H Global Inc.
*Barbi Twins 2000 Health & Fitness Calendar. Pentimento Entertainment, 1999
*"Barbi Twins" calendars for the years 2002 through 2007
===Comic book===
*Conte, Robert, Peter Hsu, Matt Haley, Fastner and Larson. The Barbi Twins Adventures. 1. Topps Comics.
==See also==
*List of people in Playboy 1990-1999
*List of twins
==References==
==External links==
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*Twin Bunnies Official Animal Activist Website Founded by the Barbi Twins formerly The Kitty Liberation Front
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*Barbi Twins Chat Transcript from CBS News
Category:1963 births
Category:Identical twins
Category:Living people
Category:Twin people from the United States
Category:American vegans
Category:Animal rights advocates
Category:1963 births
Category:Identical twins
Category:Living people
Category:Twin people from the United States
Category:American vegans
Category:Animal rights advocates