Ta La La

Fashion world is not just a world of elegant clothing and extravagant jewelries. It is not just also a world of catwalks and runways. But for me, fashion is everywhere. Like what Coco Chanel reiterated, "Fashion is in the streets. It's on the sidewalks, tables, shops...everywhere." Coco was right. Eventually, when somebody says, "fashion", we think of runways, models, and brand tags.

Oh well, everybody wants to be called a "fashion trender". We need to make it sure that what we see on fashion magazines must also be present in our own dressers and closets. Though we need to break legs to achieve that mentality.

Meanwhile, some of us get insecure by the way models look. We go in front of the mirror and strike a pose. We try hard to let our knee caps face one another (and yet, they wobble). We tilt our neck, we raise some brows and pout our lips. And oh, Tyra said, "Smize!"


I was being fascinated by Tyra's strong pictures. She has been my beau ideal when it comes to striking a pose. She never fails to surprise me. Tyra and her America's Next Top Model give us a lot of tips on how to be a supermodel - in your own way. And one tip to be a good poser - the smize.

Smizing is Tyra Bank's secret to stunning photo. Smizing is considered to be a look that involves smiling not only with your mouth but through using your eyes - smiling with the eyes - hence, "smize". The term was coined by Tyra  on one of the episodes of America's Next Top Model.


Simizing became phenomenal. From Tyra's models to media people to Hollywood personalities. I admit, I tried smizing once, but I couldn't just get it. Yes, I've tried. I went in front of the mirror. I contoured some facial muscles.Yet, I still failed. But how does Tyra do it? If I see her on TV, she seems effortless when she does it. 


So, I took my time and I spent some hours searching the internet on how to smize. Fortunately, hundreds of lists on how to smize flooded my search engine. What I did was I took some tips and condensed them into simple forms.




So sit up, grab a mirror and start following these simple steps to stardom.




Step 1. RELAX. Chill. Make at least 5 inhales and exhales. Let your stiffness out of your system. Shake your body for a while to loosen up. If you're wearing tight dress or make-up, at least make a wiggle. Visualize calm scenes in your mind and think peaceful and positive thoughts.








Step 2. CHOOSE A FOCUS POINT. Setting a focus point will help you be more steady when you gaze at the camera. This will also help you feel certain and settled. Of course, here are the things that you can include as your focus points: the photographer, the camera, the person motivating you just behind the photographer, or an object just at the right height.






Step 3. LOWER DOWN/ TILT YOUR CHIN. Just a tilt down slightly so that you'll feel like a wolf, ready to devour - glaring out from under your eyelids. This will also help you achieve the smize look.






Step 4. SQUINT. This means, you partly close your eyes as when hit by a direct sunlight. Remember, squinting doesn't involve your cheeks. The only place that moves is just directly under your eyes. Imagine that your face is paralyzed except for the eyes. Remember, you need to hold your squint until a camera click is done.


Step 5. PART YOUR LIPS.  Focus your breathing through your mouth. Imagine that it's hot and your breathing like a dragon. And remember, avoid pouting. This isn't sexy if you don't get the right angle. After parting your lips, now we are ready to....


Step 6. SMIZE. After practicing all the previous steps, it's time for you to get a bigger mirror and start smizing. This time, think of yourself infront of a dragon, ready to slay it. Scare it with your smize. Take note, don't say cheese. Let your eyes say "smize".




Step 7. BE PLAYFUL. Though you won't look like a kitten rolling with a yarn, always smize in a playful way. Remember, being playful means going back to step 1, which is relaxing. In this way, you act playful to loosen up. Continue doing this until you reach perfection.










Sources and Citations:
1. http://www.wikihow.com/Smize
2. http://www.wetpaint.com/americas-next-top-model/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-the-perfect-smize