It’s a dream for many women to be asked if they and their daughter are sisters and for one woman that happens nearly every day.
Mum-of-two, Georgie Smedley, 42, and her daughter Jazz, 19, look so alike people have to do a double take to make sure they’re speaking to the right person.
“It’s pretty clear that I am the older one,” said Georgie, “although sometimes people might mix us up when we walk into a room.”
The pair, who work together at the family business, Gelish, in Hillman Close, Hornchurch, have a very close relationship which has only become stronger since Jazz joined the company.
“She never showed any interest in the nail industry until she came to see us at a show once and even though she was 14 she asked if she could help out,” explained Georgie.
“Then when she was old enough she joined the company working in the office with me and her dad, Jason.”
In 2012 Georgie decided to travel to Belgium to have a gastric band fitted privately and she said it “was the best thing I’ve ever done”.
Since then, as the weight fell off, people have been surprised to hear she is Jazz’s mother.
“It will never get old,” she laughed. “I am sure it probably gets embarrassing for Jazz from time to time and it will only be when we are in a shop and she’ll call me ‘mum’ when the person serving us will say ‘I thought you were sisters’.”
Jazz, who is due to get married next summer, disagrees.
“I think it’s great,” she said.
“My mum used to feel really ‘mumsie’ and since she had the operation and lost the weight her confidence has gone through the roof and I think that’s brilliant.”
Despite looking like sisters, the pair still have a very strong mother-daughter relationship and Jazz will always go to Georgie for advice.
“She says I am always right, which is nice to hear,” said Georgie.
“Even if she doesn’t think it at the time she will eventually realise I am right in the end.”
Georgie has also now cut and dyed her hair and is a little more distinguishable from her daughter, but that doesn’t stop them being compared as sisters when they are out.
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