It’s Paris Fashion Week. The city is invaded with stunning 6-feet tall models.
By chance my husband, Jim, and I are staying at a Paris Fashion Week hub hotel. We wear black, pretend we’re important, and walk right into the fray.
The models, while gorgeous, all have the same facial expression: miserable to catatonic.
Vanessa Friedman’s NYT article, “Why Do Runway Models Always Look So Grumpy?” explains, “it’s hard to maintain a believable expression of great joy and when a happy face is required, it turns, very quickly, into a frozen rictus that doesn’t reach the eyes.”
Vanessa – I disagree. Smiling is powerful.
6 benefits of smiling
Ground rule: Smiling does not mean grinning like the “village idiot”. Smiling means an open positive facial expression.
- Smiling is contagious – in a positive way.
- Smiling boosts your mood.
- Smiling makes you look younger and more attractive.
- Smiling is good for relationships by providing a nonverbal positive feedback loop.
- Smiling reduces your stress. It leads to the release of endorphins, the good chemical of the body which suppresses the effect of cortisol, the stress hormone. Even forcing a fake smile can legitimately reduce stress and lower your heart rate.
- Smiling suggests success. People who smile regularly often appear more confident.
Don’t look like a depressed runway model.
Do smile. It enhances your demeanor and your business deals.
I could never figure out why those runway models looked that way. Of course, when I see some of those outfits, I can understand.
I’ve always been self-conscious about my smile. I’ve gotten some better, but I still don’t think it’s great like others, such as yours, Karen. And I mean that.
Harry – you make me laugh! Thanks for putting a smile on my face. Yes, some of those high-fashion statements are mind boggling.
Thanks for the compliment regarding my smile. I challenge you to smile more when talking in non-stress situations. It takes discipline.
I naturally smile quite a bit and have been trying to smile less in a business setting. Thank you for reminding me to be myself and the other benefits of smiling.
Kathy – Yes – please be yourself. Don’t inhibit your smile. As I write in this post, you don’t want to do a huge grin all the time (or when unwarranted); but, a warm inviting facial expression enhances the interaction.
Thanks for your feedback!
I agree with Harry, you have it to share and make the rest of us smile more often. Way to go.
Hi Tom – Thank you so much! I try to smile authentically and to find the humor… even when that’s hard to do.
I appreciate your feedback.