Why Does Kanye West Stop Smiling?
/If you’ve ever scrolled through pictures of Kanye West on red carpet events, in interviews, or just out and about on the street, chances are you’ve noticed something—you never quite see him smile. While most celebrities smile for the camera, Kanye looks like he’s keeping a poker face on and having an air of being slightly bothered or just completely tuned out. As years passed by, this came to be one of the signature aspects people identify about him. It’s more than just an attempt to appear cool, however. Behind it are some genuine explanations, and believe it or not, this little quirk says more about who he is and how he operates in the world than you might think.
Kanye Decided That Not Smiling Was Part Of His Personal Style After Learning That Historical Icons Did The Same Thing
There were headlines in 2015 when Kanye announced that he deliberately ceased smiling in front of the camera. He mentioned reading an ancient celebrity book and discovering that there existed some who never smiled when posing for portraits or previous photos. Something just clicked in his brain. Not smiling to him equaled being hard and strong and focused.
And to be real, it stuck. If you think about influential people in fashion and in art—like Karl Lagerfeld and Andy Warhol or royals in ancient portraits—they used to be pretty stoic. Kanye took that same idea and made it part of who he is. It wasn't something he did out of habit anymore; he made it part of his brand.
The Fashion World That Kanye Is Deeply Part Of Rarely Shows Emotion Because It’s More About Image Than Expression
Kanye’s been doing fashion for years, and within that environment, not smiling is the norm. Models on the runway don't smile. Fashion designers themselves don't smile in campaign shots. Even during fashion weeks like Paris Fashion Week or his own Yeezy fashion weeks, everyone's about keeping it focused, cool, and controlled. In that environment, smiling is kind of out of place.
Kanye aimed to be taken seriously within fashion and played along with it. His serious expression became his signature outlook. His fans began to immediately identify with it and fashion brands knew that whenever Kanye arrived, he would come to dress like he meant it seriously. In some respects, the no-smile facial expression allowed him to exert greater control on how he perceived himself to others.
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Kanye’s Mental Health Battles And Personal Struggles Have Also Played A Role In How He Expresses Himself Publicly
Kanye has openly spoken about confronting mental illness throughout the years, including bipolar disorder. He has spoken about the highs and lows and how it launches into his creativity and behavior. Smiling is not one of the overt symptoms, although people going through emotional crisis quite often wear an emotionless visage as armor in some way.
He has experienced very public highs and lows—break-ups, Twitter scandals, show cancellations, and legal battles. All of that catches up with you. Part of the no-smile thing is certainly about fashion and persona, and part might be about being cautious. The public eye is not always kind, and Kanye is well aware of that.
Despite Rarely Smiling, Kanye Still Finds Ways To Express Joy Through His Art, Music, And Outspoken Personality
The thing is--just because Kanye does not smile so frequently does not mean that he is not happy or in touch with his feelings. He simply expresses that energy differently. His records are filled with emotion and passion, from the euphoric highs of Good Life to the brutal honesty on Runaway or Only One. His wild, uncensored outbursts on interviews and live performances are known to his fans and audience alike. While he does not smile, he radiates so much emotion in all else that he does.
He laughs and jests in more intimate moments as well. Paparazzi shots and press conferences don’t tell the complete story. People who’ve met him or viewed behind-the-scenes clips claim one can actually be humorous and easy-going when out of performance mode.
Kanye Turned A Simple Thing Like Not Smiling Into A Signature Look That Now Symbolizes Power, Control, And A Bit Of Mystery
Smiling does not come naturally to Kanye West—it's something he adopted and kept, and used to make a point. It's an intersection of fashion culture and personal conviction and emotional back story and branding. And when everyone else is smiling to get likes and followers, keeping up the opposite made them notice. Whether it's earnest or eccentric or just very Kanye, it's become one of the elements that makes him who he is.
Business Name: Sparkly Maid Chicago
Business Number: (224) 214-0145
Business Email: support@sparklymaid.com
Business Address: Chicago, IL
