Conjoined twins Carmen and Lupita Andrade: Twins and husband discuss how they manage intimacy and respect

Conjoined twins Carmen and Lupita Andrade are sharing how they set boundaries within Carmen’s marriage to Daniel McCormack, whom she married in October 2024.

Carmen and Daniel, who met on the dating app Hinge in 2020, say their approach is rooted in constant communication. “I don’t know how else to put it,” Carmen told People, adding “we just respect that” whenever Lupita isn’t comfortable with something, whether it’s cuddling or another intimate moment.

Lupita, for her part, is unfazed: “I have headphones and a phone. I don’t care.”

Carmen also noted she isn’t someone who needs constant affection, saying, “there’s a certain societal expectation that there needs to be affection the entire time within a relationship. All we do is joke around a lot of the time.”

Carmen and Daniel acknowledge feeling guilty at times about the time they have together but work hard to balance it.

The couple also faces frequent questions about their private life, which Daniel finds intrusive. “People are obsessed with sex, you know? And it is just like, frankly, it’s none of your f****** business,” he says.

“I don’t understand why people need to know about my private parts in order (to) humanise us,” Carmen adds, while Lupita insists, “I don’t like being asked if I am ever going to love (Daniel). I love him as a brother. That’s about it.”

Born in Mexico and now 25, Carmen and Lupita defied the odds by living well beyond doctors’ initial expectations. While they share some organs, each twin has her own heart, lungs and stomach. Doctors warned them that separation surgery could be highly risky, and they chose not to proceed.

Carmen and Daniel’s relationship began with a conversation about their dog, a standout moment for both.

Lupita was the first to support Carmen in pursuing the relationship, though she joked about their first date: “They were really boring and they talked for hours and they were both very sweaty.” Carmen laughs, “It was summer, man. I don’t know what to tell you.”

The couple does not plan to have children. “No kids, never plan on it,” says Daniel. “I kind of like the aunt/uncle idea—you get to give them back at the end of the day.” Carmen agrees: “I never saw myself being a parent.”

Despite a strong social media presence, the sisters say their content is not a source of financial stability.

“We don’t want to take advantage of our supporters,” Carmen says, explaining that brand deals are rare and only accepted from companies they trust. “We still have to work 50 hours a week to make ends meet.”

In addition to work, Carmen and Lupita find time for personal projects, including a recent role in “A Night at the Park.”

Carmen says, “Even with our schedules being so busy, we love making time for projects like this. It was such a fun experience.”