People think my 56-year-old mom is my TWIN because we look identical and we’re always together… but our ultra-close bond is RUINING my love life because it scares potential dates

A woman who looks identical to her mom admitted the two are often mistaken for twins – despite a 33-year age gap – and claims the resemblance is affecting her love life.

Daughter Gabriella, 23, and mom of three Catherine Galasso-Vigorito, 56, boast uncanny physical similarities, and have further bonded over matching their outfits, wearing similar makeup and even entering the same beauty competitions.

But their ‘inseparable’ connection has caused issues within their own family, with Gabriella’s siblings, Lauren, 24, and Sophia, 18, often feeling less than enthused about their mutual ‘copycat’ style. 

It’s even created problems for the Gabriella’s love life, with many suitors ‘intimidated’ by her and Catherine’s closeness.

‘My mom is very protective over me, so it’s caused some problems [in relationships] because she wants me to always be hanging out with her – no one else,’ Gabriella, a cosmetologist and content creator, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.

‘My mom only wants me to love her,’ she explained.

‘When I have boyfriends, mom says we are in the “love triangle” … So the relationship is with me, my mom and my man.’

Gabriella conceded, ‘It’s very unconventional, but this is how it is with us.’

‘Boys have no idea what they are in for … Luckily, my ex-boyfriend was very accepting of our similarities and close relationship.’

She recalled of a lighthearted moment with her ex: ‘Once, he popped over to see me and had to do a double take when mom walked in wearing the exact same outfit as me, which was really funny.’

‘My siblings don’t like it and they won’t join in at all – we call them the “simple sisters,”‘ Gabriella continued of the interpersonal conflicts resulting from her closeness with her mom.

‘My mom and I like to stand out, but [my sisters] don’t like pageantry and instead, try to blend in with everyone else.’

The middle sis clarified, ‘They don’t support mom and me matching, but they do support my social media endeavors and modelling career.’ 

The mother-daughter pair often go viral twinning for TikTok, where Gabriella has a 375,000-plus-strong following.

One of their most popular posts has racked up more than 17 million views.

In the clip, Gabriella can be seen dancing and squatting down, before she appears to transform into Catherine.

Viewers regularly flock to the comments sections to share their reactions, often expressing shock.

‘She could be your sister! You are both gorgeous!!!’ one wrote.

‘Oh my gosh… Mother daughter Twins !!’ chimed in another.

A third observed, ‘Omg! I love this it’s like you are looking at your future self.’

‘Your mom looks so young,’ echoed someone else.

Others expressed a touch of envy, with one writing, ‘I’m so jealous of how you and your mom are so close and cute.’

‘When the mama shows up the numbers go up,’ offered one keen observer.

Gabriella reflected, ‘We are excited when our videos do so well … and brands often ask my mom and I to model for them.’

Now, Catherine, a former Miss Connecticut, is training her daughter to follow in her footsteps in hopes she’ll be one day be crowned Miss USA and Miss Universe.

While she’s eager for her daughter to win the crown, she’s also hoping that competing in pageants will teach Gabriella persistence in never giving up on her dreams and goals.

Gabriella, who has been crowned Miss Shoreline in her home state of Connecticut, emphasized, ‘I hope to follow in her legacy.’

‘I have been competing since I was 19 and I’ve placed as a top five finalist, but I’m not giving up on my dream to follow in mama’s footsteps and bag the same title she landed,’ she elaborated.

‘I was thrilled when mom became my coach and used her experience to help me prepare,’ she continued.

‘She was such a great support and gave me lots of tips … She is so beautiful and I look up to her – she’s my biggest inspiration.’

Catherine loves their special bond. She further confessed, ‘I find it very complimentary, being confused as her sister.’

The mom noted, ‘We are both curly-haired girls and when we do photo shoots together, Gabriella always does my hair and makeup for me.’

On her mothering strategy, Catherine declared, ‘I’ve always matched outfits with the girls since they were born and it’s helped build our bond. It brings us closer together and I would recommend it for any mother and daughter.’

She added of Gabriella, ‘She’s my twin and my best friend.’