The Return of the Smize

We often hear a smile is the prettiest thing you can wear. That advice is now irrelevant when half your face is covered.

In 2020, masks became a fashion statement and a political one. Once thought of as part of a surgeon's uniform, now the most noticeable style accessory to show off your personality or activism.

But beneath the mask lies an urgency for connection in a time of social distancing.

Back in 2009, Tyra Banks coined the term "smize" on America's Next Top Model. Teaching aspiring models and viewers alike - how to smile with your eyes.

Flash forward a decade, and this style-advice is replacing the focus on our pretty smile.

The best accessory in your style arsenal

Smizing used to be reserved for supermodels and those too cool to crack a smile for the camera. But when your mouth is hidden beneath a layer of protection, our smize becomes our fashion statement of expression.

We all tried to cover up our anxiety in an unprecedented time. We bought masks to match every outfit, ones that supported our political affiliations and beliefs, or, unwilling to believe the masks were here to stay we turned to disposables.

Whatever message you send with your mask, a universal thread lays beneath. We all feel a sense of loss.

Our ability to connect with the world around us, suddenly muted. With our mouths covered, we need another way to communicate beyond words.

Muffled behind the mask

A warm greeting from friends, family, or your favorite restaurant or retail store usually means being welcomed with a smile. Many brands even use taglines to the effect of service with a smile to mark their stance on hospitality.

Words and emotions now muffled underneath our masks. Without a smile, micro-expressions above the nose display connection.

Maybe we took for granted the ease of expressing ourselves with the curves of our mouth. It occurs without much thinking behind it. Subtle movements that can silently tell a story and give clues to others about who we are.

Curves up - Happy, warm, welcoming.

Curves down - Sad, disappointed, depressed.

Pursed together - Frustrated, mad, curious.

Sometimes we don't recognize how much the body speaks to the whole message we are trying to say. A nonverbal language allows us to communicate without ever saying a word.

A world of hidden emotions

Below, Tyra explaining the art of the smize:

“Think of someone you love...someone that fills your heart with joy. Now imagine they are standing in front of you. Begin to smile, and not a blank smile that only involves the mouth. Smile with your entire soul. Even though your mouth is covered by a mask, that person on the receiving end will truly feel your kindness through your eyes...and they just might smize right back at you. The synchrosmize.”

Smizing is not only about expressing kindness to others but tapping into our own emotions to convey a genuine disposition. Tyra coaches us to embody the feelings when thinking about someone we love and allow that to naturally reflect on our face.

It's about creating an authentic warmth within ourselves that presents an outward display of connection to others.

The real mask comes off

There is often a negative connotation for someone who wears their heart on their sleeve. Told by many, they are naive, an easy read, and don't have a good poker face.

Taught to hide our emotions and not let others see how they make us truly feel. Made to feel we must wear a mask in society. To be seen only as strong and resilient, even when we feel hurt and broken.

It becomes a false sense of protection, guarding our inner-selves against being perceived as weak. We bottle up our true feelings and act as nothing affects us, only to explode later on.

Smizing to breakthrough

We have all felt vulnerable over the last year. We all had fear in our eyes. And no one could be certain of anything.

Armed with a physical mask on our faces, the internal one started to break down. It allowed us to embrace our vulnerability while putting on a brave face. And conquer fears to continue with life, even though deep down we still felt uncertain.

With a common invisible enemy, we looked up from our phones and into each other's eyes for the first time. Forced to find a new way to connect.

We bonded over shared suffering, saying thank you and showing kindness to strangers around us.

Beyond fierce

Fierce may be fashion slang associated with a style icon who is ultra-chic

The smize goes beyond being just fierce. It is about breaking through the fear of emotions and vulnerability and showing empathy to those struggling alongside us.

Though we may not be through it yet, we all showed our fierce side this year.

Equipped with our masks, we acknowledged the fears, doubts, and insecurities within, and of those around us. We empowered ourselves to keep going despite them.

So, when you struggle at the thought of wearing a mask for one more minute, just remember Tyra's advice and smize.