Dancing with the Stars twins Emma and Kelly Slater
Get to know Dancing with the Stars twins Emma and Kelly Slater
We here at Twinning Store love getting to know to fellow twins and this is our latest interview in our twin interview series.
What do you get when you mix a super talented dancer with an uber talented costume designer and stylist? The Slater twins. And lucky for us all, the gifted twin sisters have brought their talents to ABC's Dancing with the Stars (DWTS).
Born in the UK, Emma and Kelly Slater have become fan favorites for the DWTS audience all across the US. Emma as a dancer on the floor (with previous celebrities partners such as fellow twin, Property Brother Drew Scott, Hayes Grier and Rashad Jennings who she won the show with) and Kelly as the awesome creator of Emma's amazing looks (that makes us dream of becoming competitive dancers and gives us serious wardrobe envy). Emma is also married to the fellow DTWS dancer, Sasha Farber.
We have been fans of the twin sisters for a long time and wanted to learn more (Side note - how cool is it that we have the same initials?). Their story shows how twins can start at the same place, go in different career directions and still find ways to work with each other. The twin bond has its magic ways <3
Read on to be inspired by how the Slater twin sisters found their passion and harnessed it early on, their favorite sides about being twins and the supercute ways they would style a Twinning Store t-shirt.
WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU DO?
E - I am Emma Slater, I’m a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars. I film the TV seasons on the show and in-between seasons I travel the US with my cast mates for the DWTS Live Tour.
K - I am Kelly Slater and I am a costume designer and stylist in Los Angeles. I have worked in film and TV, most notably with my twin Emma on Dancing with the Stars!
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
E - I started dancing when I was 10 years old. Actually Kelly and I started together! We learnt the same routines at a local dance studio. It all started because we had way too much energy and we also loved the costumes!
K - I started making clothes from a very young age, about 5 years old. I’d make them out of anything I found! Emma became my muse around the age of 11 and I made her dance costumes of sequined fabric and Christmas decorations I’d steal off our parents Christmas tree! I went on to do my degree and pursue a career from it.
DO YOU SEE BEING A TWIN AS A STRENGTH OR WEAKNESS IN YOUR INDIVIDUAL SUCCESS?
E - Being a twin is all I know, so I don’t know any other way. I totally believe that we never had a lonely moment in our upbringing, we had a best friend right next to us every single step of our lives so there’s nothing you don’t share and have support in. Having that constant love and twin bond made me more confident I believe because I knew I was never alone.
K - No question about it, it’s 200% strength! Having Emma to confide in about absolutely everything is something I’d never be able to have in anyone else. We can also make each other cry with laughter with just eye contact as many of our colleagues would tell you!
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TWIN MOMENT?
E - We have so many moments I remember! Kelly was sick one day and our Mum kept her home instead of going to school. So I asked Mum if I couldn’t stay home too, fully expecting her to say no but she said yes! It was the best day ever! Kelly’s ‘Barbies’ rode my ‘My Little Ponies’ all the way down the stairs. I remember there was 13 Ponies and it took us a while but we still did it stair by stair. I think also being out from school together was the best!
K - My favorite moment would be when we were about 21 and living in London. Emma called me one day and said I had to go to an audition with her for identical twins, which we are not! I am not a performer and get a little shy. But we went anyway, had an absolute blast and smashed the audition but sadly didn’t get the part because they definitely did not believe we were twins! They did however believe we were crazy.
WHEN YOU ARGUE, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR YOU TO BECOME FRIENDS?
E - We don’t argue AT ALL! I mean, I don’t even think we used to that much when we were kids, maybe just the normal amount. We just know there’s nothing more important than each other, we stand up for each other in every situation. If anyone ever upset her I would go Liam Neeson crazy on them!
K - There are no arguments whatsoever! Not even as kids. We played with different toys so never argued over them. We have different style and so we never argued about clothes either and we were in the same friendship groups all through school!
WHAT DO YOU THINK EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BEING TWINS?
E - I don’t want to make people feel jealous but it literally is the COOLEST thing! I personally loved sharing everything with Kel, especially now and I know she’s the same. We’d get the same presents on our birthday and the same attention from family members. Just don’t treat twins the same just because they’re twins. And definitely don’t be mean to one twin unless you’ll wanna make two enemies. Grrrrrrr..
K - I think people should know that twins can be like a compass. Joined in their center, but have arrows free to look in different directions. Emma and I definitely do with our interests and careers, but as twin sisters I can’t deny we both have arrows in the same direction!
IS THERE ANY ADVICE ABOUT BEING TWINS YOU WISH YOU HAD GROWING UP?
E - There is no advice really that I feel we needed. Our parents are the best and brought us up to always have each other’s backs and love each other no matter what. And we did that. Our lives are so much better when we live in the same city and see each other. Kelly is my best friend! And now I really wish I can have twins but I don’t think I will and that upsets me so much!
K - We didn’t have any hurdles so that’s hard to imagine any advice. I suppose I’d tell young Kelly that it was ok to be a little introverted next to extroverted young Emma! You’re expected to be the same person and it’s absolutely not the case.
HOW YOU WOULD STYLE A TWINNING STORE T-SHIRT?
E - Kelly is the best person to ask, she’s the wonder stylist and has a degree in atelier so is all things fashion related. For me personally I would twin (see what I did there!) the Twinning Store t-shirt with a funky pair of retro jeans and some court heels, a tailored blazer and big smile. And my Twin!!!!!
K - You’ll see Emma in some ripped denim, maybe a punky ankle boot and sunglasses. She’s always got 90s vibes. I’m maybe a little more 80s. I’m doing a Twinning Store tee tied at the waist with a printed midi skirt and ankle boots. And whatever jewelry I steal from Emma’s closet...
TWIN RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS:
WHO IS THE BOSSIEST?
E - Ermmm none of us really but maybe Emma. Oopsie.
K - Emma, but she’s really not!
WHO IS THE MESSIEST?
E - Emma. Again oops.
K - We can both be messy. When we lived together, ooh boy.
WHO IS MOST ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA?
E - Emma.
K - Emma
WHO IS THE MORE SHY TWIN?
E - Kelly!
K - Kelly!
WHO IS THE MORE ADVENTUROUS TWIN?
E- Equal parts. We are fairly adventurous I feel!
K- Both for sure! We adventure a lot together. Home away from home.
LASTLY, IS THERE AN EVIL TWIN?
E - Negative ghost rider. We only practice good in the world!
K - Emma thought when we were kids that she was the evil twin because she had brown hair and I had blonde! But now she’s angelic!
Thank you for sharing your twinsights, Kelly and Emma! We are even greater fans now <3 We are so inspired by you conquering the DTWS franchise together. Truly twinspiring! And we have already used your styling tips! To stay tuned on the twin sisters, follow them at Instagram @kellydslater and @theemmaslater.
We love getting to know to fellow twins and this is our latest interview in our twin interview series (check out the others, including with twin interior designers the Design Twins here and twin artists Megan and Liz here)
Twinning Store was established by twin sisters K & E in Los Angeles in July 2017. We sell clothing, gifts and accessories for twins, because twins rule! We have quickly become the #1 choice for twins worldwide and have shipped to over 20 countries in over 5 continents. (P.S. We have also have made a collection for twin dad and twin mom).
