If you've ever wondered how beauty pageant contestants maintain those dazzling, unwavering smiles for hours on end, the answer might surprise you: Vaseline. Before stepping onto the stage at Miss USA, Miss Universe, or Miss America competitions, contestants often take a quick swipe of petroleum jelly across their front teeth. It's not glamorous, but it works.

The technique serves multiple purposes, all designed to keep that camera-ready smile intact under intense pressure. The slippery coating prevents lips from sticking to teeth during extended smiling—a real problem when you're holding a grin for what feels like an eternity. It also creates a barrier between teeth and lipstick, preventing that dreaded lipstick-on-teeth moment that could ruin a perfect photo.

The Psychology of the Slippery Smile

There's a clever psychological trick at play here too. The slippery, slightly unpleasant texture of Vaseline on teeth serves as a constant reminder to keep smiling. Your mouth naturally wants to stay open to avoid tasting the petroleum jelly or feeling its weird texture, which means your smile stays locked in place even during tense moments of competition.

Some contestants also report that Vaseline makes teeth appear shinier under stage lights, though this benefit is debatable and likely minimal compared to professional whitening treatments.

Not Just for Pageants

While this trick is most famously associated with beauty pageants, it's migrated to other industries where maintaining a perfect smile matters. Some models, news anchors, and public speakers have adopted the technique for photo shoots, broadcasts, and lengthy presentations.

The Vaseline teeth trick sits among a collection of other backstage beauty secrets that pageant contestants swear by, including:

Preparation H under the eyes to reduce puffiness
Body tape and adhesives for wardrobe security
Coping strategies for walking in 6-inch heels for extended periods
Quick-fix makeup techniques for last-minute touch-ups

A Time-Tested Tradition

The practice has become so well-known that it's entered pop culture. Media outlets now routinely ask pageant winners to confirm or debunk various competition myths, and the Vaseline question always makes the list. Behind-the-scenes observers at major pageants have documented contestants making quick passes of petroleum jelly across their teeth moments before stepping into the spotlight.

So the next time you watch a beauty pageant and marvel at those impossibly perfect, never-faltering smiles, remember: there's probably a little bit of Vaseline making it all possible. It's not the most appetizing beauty secret, but in the high-stakes world of competitive beauty, every advantage counts—even the ones that taste like petroleum.

Related Tags