Did you know that aspiring beauty queens undergo rigorous training – often considered more demanding than military drills – to boost their chances of bringing home a crown? Behind the glitz and glam seen onstage are months of prep to perfect a look, their walk, and, of course, their winning smile. Let this dedication inspire you to upgrade your own smile and enjoy its confidence-boosting benefits.
How to get a winning smile
Why is a smile so powerful? “The judges are looking for someone enthusiastic, energetic, and engaging,” shares pageant coach and former Miss California Crystal Lee. “And since you can’t have a conversation with every single judge while you’re onstage, [smiling] is your way to demonstrate that you are deserving of that crown.”
Having a great set of teeth can be a great confidence booster. So, if you’re eager to commence your smile makeover journey, learn the secrets of the trade from the pros.
1. Identify your sources of joy.
Think of happy thoughts! How about your crush? And that backyard barbie with the family at Christmas. Or, if you want to take a page from Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s book, think of your beloved puppies.
Your fears and anxieties can surface through your smile, so learn to bank on your sources of joy and smile from the heart.
2. Choose a smile that reflects your personality.
Authenticity is what you should aim for. Sure, you’re trying to manufacture a stage-ready smile, but it should still showcase the real you. Don’t pick a smile that will box you in. Instead, go for one that will shine the spotlight on your uniqueness.
Try these smile options and see which suits you best:
- Closed-mouth smile
- Slight or half smile showing some teeth
- Full smile with lots of teeth
- Big smile with an open mouth
Your winning smile should also accentuate your features. If you have narrow eyes, a full smile might make you look like you’re squinting. On the contrary, deep-set eyes matched with a closed-mouth smile can come across as stoic or unfriendly.
3. Play around with your facial expressions.
Variation can help you survive whatever social setting you find yourself in. No plastered-on smile, please! “It’s a little scary for the judges to see you onstage where you’re just smiling and keeping eye contact with them the entire time. It’s a little creepy,” advises pageant coach Dani Walker.
Smiling is a form of communication, so use it to convey your real-time emotions. Play around by raising an eyebrow, flexing some facial muscles (show off those dimples!), and switching up your smile style. Go for an ear-to-ear grin when you are first meeting someone, then switch to a sultry one for when you hit the town. Save your widest smile for your best moments. But remember – whichever expression you lean on, always have the corners of your smile upturned.
4. Establish and maintain eye contact.
“Mix up where your eyes go to look more confident and be more human – not a robot,” emphasises Lee. In any occasion, take the advice of beauty queens and recognise the other people in the room: family members, friends, and colleagues . Look out to make your presence felt.
5. Wear a complementary lipstick shade.
Choose a lipstick colour with a cooler tone, like true reds, mauves, plums, and berry shades. These bring out the blue in your teeth, making them look brighter. Avoid warmer tones, including coral and orange, because they highlight the yellow in your teeth. Also, exfoliate your lips (try it with brown sugar!) so your lipstick can lay flat and stay on longer.
Here’s another tried-and-tested tip that might surprise you: Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly on your teeth. This can help you avoid lipstick stains and keep your smile in place for hours.
6. Practise, practise, practise.
Practise enough times until smiling the way you want becomes muscle memory. Put in the hours to build stamina! Walker suggests doing it in the mirror to get immediate feedback and filming yourself to be more self-aware. Another terrific option, according to Lee, is to be generous with your smiles in everyday life: “The more you do it, the more organic and natural it becomes – and the happier you’ll be!”
7. Consider professional dental treatments.
Don’t hesitate to seek help from experts to bring your teeth to their optimal state. Consult your dentist for the most suitable treatments to address your concerns and to make you more confident about your smile. If discolouration or staining is an issue, ask about teeth whitening solutions. For a quick fix for cracks, chips, and misshapen teeth, veneers may be necessary – a solution acknowledged by Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and many other beauty queens.
And for misalignments, crookedness, overcrowding, and bite issues, you might need to explore teeth straightening solutions. Traditional braces are an option. But for something more discreet and comfortable, choose clear aligners from ClearCorrect. These are engineered for precision, comfort, and aesthetics thanks to a unique combination of patented ClearQuartz tri-layer material, high and flat trimline, and scientifically proven clinical features.
Yes, you can still talk, train, and smile while wearing them, and people around you won’t even notice you have them on. To know if you’re a candidate, take this online smile assessment.
A winning smile can be your most powerful asset in any situation. So, cover all bases and work closely with your dentist to get everything straightened out (excuse the pun). Come whatever occasion, take a deep breath and find the confidence in your dazzling smile.
References:
Bhagwandas, A. (2023, August 2). Can putting petroleum jelly on your teeth help you smile longer? The Guardian.
Jambora, A. (2019, October 24). The secret behind Pia Wurtzbach’s winning smile | Lifestyle.INQ. Lifestyle.INQ.
Sy, M. P., Martinez, P. G. V., & Twinley, R. (2021). The dark side of occupation within the context of modern-day beauty pageants. Work-a Journal of Prevention Assessment & Rehabilitation, 69(2), 367–377.
Tuazon, N. (2021, October 25). Catriona Gray says fake smiles in pageants are easy to spot. PEP.ph.
