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Two sisters who were torn apart in early childhood have revealed the moment they were reunited, after 25 years apart. 

A heartwarming video clip shows Brittanny Bigley, 31, from Saratoga Springs, Utah, embracing Amanda Stiles, 29, from Santa Rosa, California, during an emotional reunion in 2017 - after Brittanny managed to track her sister down on Facebook.

Mother-of-one Brittanny said she feared she'd never hug her younger sister again after their lives forked in different directions in 1993 when family difficulties split them up. 

While Amanda was adopted by the foster parents who had been caring for the sisters, her older sibling went to live with her father, who was a different man to Amanda's.  

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Separated sisters Brittanny Bigley, 31, from Utah, left, and her younger sister Amanda Stiles, 29, from California, after being reunited - the siblings were separated at the age of six and four

The sisters' lives were forked in different directions after Amanda, right, was adopted following family problems; her name was changed and she grew up in California

After giving birth to a daughter, Brittanny became more curious about the sister she'd lost and made a video explaining why she wanted to find her - the pair were reunited after Brittanny tracked down Amanda's new name and found her on Facebook

While both women had made attempts to find each other over the years, it was only after Brittanny tracked down her sister on Facebook and sent a message that the two made contact, with both left shocked by how similar they looked to each other.  

Brittanny, who works in management, said: 'When I was a baby my Mom took me to California and she met my sister Amanda's dad.

'When I was about two-and-a-half and Amanda was one, we got taken away from our Mom and her dad and placed into foster care.

'My Dad got custody of me, and the foster parents we were staying with adopted Amanda. It was a closed adoption, so they changed her name.'

She continued: 'Growing up, my Dad always told me I had a sister and I had some pictures with her and some vague memories. 

'My Dad passed away when I was 10 which lead me back into the foster care system.

'When I was about 17 I started thinking about her a lot more, but had no idea how to go about finding her.

'When I was 23 my Aunt brought me some paperwork and it had court files and information about me and Amanda, which helped my search. Then after I had my daughter, I got more of a push for wanting to make it happen.'

Similar: The siblings finally got to meet up in March 2017 in Laguna Beach, California

When difficult family circumstances hit in early childhood, Brittanny's dad got custody of her, while Amanda was adopted by the foster parents the siblings had been staying with

Likeness: With help, Brittanny tracked down Amanda's new name and looked her up on Facebook, saying she was shocked at how similar the family resemblance was. Right: the two girls embracing during childhood

After making a video on social media about her story, Brittanny received a message from her late father's ex-girlfriend who helped with her search. 

With new information, Brittanny - who was living in Oceanside, California, at the time before moving to Utah in September 2018 - was able to track down her long lost sister on Facebook.

She said: 'I made a video talking about my story, and my Dad's ex-girlfriend reached out to me.

'She works in the foster care system and was able to help me with a lot of information that I needed.

'I found out that my sister's name had changed when she was adopted, which was a huge fact.

'I looked her up on Facebook with her new name, and when I saw the first photo that popped up my heart stopped.'

Brittanny says she was stunned by their similar features, saying: 'She had the same big fake eyelashes, little button nose, lots of makeup. We looked so much alike.'

After posting a video on social media talking about her desire to be reunited with her sister, Brittanny was contacted by her late father's ex-girlfriend who helped with her search for Amanda

The similarities were remarkable, says Brittanny: 'She had the same big fake eyelashes, little button nose, lots of makeup. We looked so much alike.

'I recognised a picture of her dad. I screen-shotted it and sent it to my Dad's ex- girlfriend, and she confirmed it was her.

'I messaged her on both Facebook and Instagram, and she couldn't believe I'd found her. She said she did have a sister named Brittanny.

'I started crying because we had finally found each other.'

The sisters began talking almost every day and excitedly set a plan in place to meet.

But due to financial and life restraints, the two women did not get the chance to meet up until March 2017 in Laguna Beach, California.

She said: 'Finances weren't the best at the time, I had just had a baby and she was just graduating from college.

'We finally met in person one year to the day that I messaged her. The rest is history.

'We've been in each other's lives ever since. It almost feels like there was no time lost between us. The connection between us was instant. I am so happy to have found her.'

The girls have spent 25 years apart but say they're making up for lost time now and feel like 'best friends'

Amanda said she had nearly given up all hope of ever finding her older sister and now feels 'whole again' after being reunited with her.

She added that being able to wrap her arms around her sister again was 'magical'.

Amanda said: 'From as early as I can remember I knew I was both adopted and had siblings.

'My adoptive parents actually wanted to adopt the both of us together but Brittanny's father ended up getting full custody.

'I had always wanted to meet her. My adoptive Mom and I would at least a few times a year try to find her via the internet but we never found anything.

'I'll admit I felt defeated. I thought there was no chance I was ever going to see her again, but clearly life had other amazing plans.

'When I got her message, there were a million emotions running through my body all at once.

'But the biggest thing I felt was just an overwhelming sense of love and that the empty space in my heart was finally being filled. It was one of the most exciting days of my life.

'That first hug was something I never wanted to let go of and the tears were just endless.'

Both women say they tried hard to find each other during the last decade, but only Brittanny managed to get the key breakthrough of discovering her sister's new name

Back together: 'When I got her message, there were a million emotions running through my body all at once', says Brittanny

Both sisters say their lives have never been the same since they have found each other and both feel that a space in their heart has been filled.

Amanda added: 'We are best friends and talk all the time. It's nice that she's met all the important people in my life and I, in hers.

'We can tell stories and update each other and know exactly who each other is talking about.

'It really does feel like a big part of me that was missing for so many years is now finally whole again and that's an indescribable feeling.

'We have already gotten to make so many fun memories together as adults and I cannot wait to make more.'