The twin sisters who share a HUSBAND (and he’s also married to their cousin)

From their brunette hair to their dress sense, twin sisters Vicki and Valerie Darger have a number of things in common.

But the 42-year-olds share more than just their looks - they are both married to the same man.

The sisters are in a polygamous marriage with Joe, 43, who is also wed to a third woman - their cousin Alina.

The Dargers, who are fundamentalist Mormons from Salt Lake City, Utah, live together in a large family home and have 24 children between them.

 Mutiple marriages: Joe Darger poses with his three wives, twin sisters Valerie (centre) and Vicki (right), and their cousin Alina (left)

 Awful lot of offspring: The quartet have 24 children (pictured) between them, from one-year-old Victoria to 18-year-old Tavish


Vicki, currently a stay-at-home mother, has been married to Joe, who runs a construction company, for 22 years.

Valerie joined the family as his third wife in 2000.

In the eyes of their Fundamentalist Mormon religion, all three women are equally married to Joe.

They each have their own bedroom, and Joe alternates between the three rooms each evening.

Valerie, who works in the family cleaning business with Alina, 43, said: 'The fact that Joe was married to Vicki didn't bother me at all. I took it as a sign he would be a good husband for me as well.

'As teenagers, Vicki and I liked some of the same guys. I thought it might even be good if we married the same man.'

 'I was attracted to both girls': Joe with Alina (centre) and Vicki (right) while courting together a year before they were married at a joint wedding ceremony in 1990

 'Vicki opened my mind to it': Joe smiles for the camera after his marriage to Valerie (centre) in 2000, which was happily attended by his other wives Alina (left) and Vicki (right)

Vicki added: 'I know that some people are uncomfortable at the thought of two sisters sharing a husband.

'But there's a good chance if a husband is compatible with one sister, he'll be well matched with another.'

Brave Joe was just 18 when he began dating Vicki and her cousin Alina at the same time and married them in a joint Mormon ceremony in 1990.

The following day, Alina became his legal wife when they married again at a ceremony under state law, while Vicki acted as witness.

'Even in our community joint courtships are rare,' said Vicki. 'We knew we were taking on a huge challenge and responsibility.

'The accepted pattern in our culture is for a couple to prove themselves first in a monogamous marriage, before taking on the challenges of a second wife.'

Happy family: Alina and Vicki (left image) in 1989 and twin sisters Vicki and Valerie (right) in 1997. Vicki and Alina encouraged Joe to start pursuing Valerie, who had just gone through a divorce to  a man with six wives

 In love: Construction company boss Joe and Valerie during their engagement in 2000

 Willing wives: Joe and Valerie (pictured here, centre, in 2004) married in a service at their Utah home in 2000, with Alina (left) and Vicki (right) standing beside them

 Keeping them sweet: Joe Darger alternates between each of his wives' bedrooms every evening

Describing their joint dates, Joe said: 'Since Alina and Vicki were close friends and were interested in pursuing me together, the best thing I could do was to nurture that combined friendship.

'I was attracted to both girls and knew that individual relationships would develop in time.'

Vicki and Alina had been married to Joe for ten years when they both encouraged him to start pursuing a relationship with Vicki's twin Valerie.

Valerie had just gone through a divorce after her marriage to an older man Donald, who had six wives, broke down due to his gambling and abusive treatment.

One evening, while Valerie and her five children were staying with the Darger family, she felt a sudden spark of chemistry with Joe.
J
oe admitted: 'I had a connection with Valerie, but the fact she was Vicki's twin was weird - they both had the same mannerisms. But Vicki opened my mind to it.'

Alina added: 'I was excited at the prospect of Val becoming part of our family. I had a genuine love and concern for her and wanted her to be the happiest she could possibly be.'

Joe and Valerie married in another Mormon service in their home, with Vicki and Alina standing beside them, and celebrated with a family meal.

The Dargers were investigated by state authorities several years ago for their beliefs and attempted to keep their plural marriage secret for many years.

But two years ago, they decided to talk about their relationship to raise awareness, and to try to overcome prejudices against their religion and lifestyle.

Although polygamy is generally illegal in all 50 states, practitioners are almost never prosecuted unless there is evidence of abuse, statutory rape, welfare fraud, or tax evasion.

The three wives and their husband have co-written a book 'Love Times Three', and some of their adult children also contributed to the story.

'We hope that by talking about our way of life, polygamy will step closer to being an accepted lifestyle and the laws that criminalise it might change,' said Joe.

 Wants acceptance: Joe hopes that by talking about polygamy it will change attitudes and even the law