Would you dare to question who you really are?
67 strangers stepped up to the challenge when travel search site Momondo invited them to take AncestryDNA tests.
Their goal seemed simple: to uncover the truth about their ethnicities hidden in their DNA.
But their test results shook each of them to their core – and they will change how you think about race and ethnicity forever.
Do Your Genes Know Better Than You?
Aurelie, a spunky French woman living in London, was one of the test takers. Before the test, she was asked what she thought her results might show. Her response:
“It’s going to be quite a boring story. It’s going to be, “Oh yeah, you’re French. And your grandparents are French. And wait — your great-great-great-grandparents are French.”
Certain the results would show that she was French through and through, Aurelie spat in the test tube to provide her DNA sample. Weeks later she had her results —which left her completely shocked. Check out her emotional reaction.
Wow!! Right?? Just before she looked at her results, she was asked: “If you could be any other nationality except French, in your imagination, what would you like to be?”
She responded she quite liked Italians and would “also quite like to be British,” as she lived in London and had “a great love and respect for that culture.”
Spoiler alert for those who didn’t click on the video (you totally should btw):
“I’m 32% British. I’m 31% Italy-Greece. This is not me guys!”
Imagine growing up your entire life thinking you’re French for generations back, then realizing your DNA actually tells a different story altogether. Aurelie summed it up best:
“It’s almost like my genes know better than I do.”
What Happens When You Come Face-to-Face with Your Biases?
Jay was another test taker who, like Aurelie, was very proud of his country and felt 100% sure of his identity. He actually said point-blank,
“What could you possibly tell me that I don’t know? [The test] is going to tell me that I’m English, like I’ve told you.”
Well, Jay was in for quite a surprise! Take a look.
His DNA turned out to be from a half dozen European regions – including regions with the two countries he did not want to be from – Germany and Turkey.
“[I’m] German! I told you I didn’t want to be German or Turkish – and I’m both of them.”
Face-to-face with his own biases, Jay’s response reflected his new reality:
“I’m Jay from everywhere.”
This Video Will Change Your World View Forever
Momondo captured the rest of the amazing stories that came out of the 67 strangers’ DNA tests in this incredible video with over 16 million YouTube views.
Fair warning: It will likely give you goosebumps — and the surprise at the end will make you tear up. But it will make your day and you will never view race and ethnicity the same way again!
Ready to uncover your own DNA story? It’s just a click away.