Duckface

Back in May, Joy revealed to us that her 832nd Pet Peeve is the “Photo Arm”.  I discovered that my photo Pet Peeve (#2088) has a name.  It’s called “Duckface”, and it actually has a definition.  From “Antiduckface.com”:

you know that face you make when you’re about to take that perfect picture of yourself for the internet?
you know, the pose where you push your mouth out in that sort of pout / kiss face to make it look like you’ve got big pouty lips, a super-defined jawline, and model-quality cheekbones?
it’s called “duckface”
STOP DOING IT.
IT ISN’T SEXY.
YOU LOOK STUPID.
REALLY, REALLY STUPID

I see them all over the place.  Ok, I shouldn’t say that.  It seems to be more prevalent among the college-age set, and then on down through high school, middle school, etc.  God help me if I catch my kindergartner doing it.  And then God help him…

For those of you who are not familiar, here are some classic Duckfaces, which I’ve stolen from Antiduckface:

This is the “really shove them out there” duckface, where the lips are pushed hard enough for them to start separating.

The “what the hell are you thinking?” Duckface. Honestly, is she trying to look surprised?  Innocent? I don’t know, but all she’s succeeding in doing is looking stupid.  Also a double-whammy, as it is in concert with The Arm.

“Sweet Mother of…” Duckface.  Words can’t even begin to describe this category. (and it’s introducing my Pet Peeve #3842, which is the “victory hand” or the “gang sign”.  But that’s a post for another day.)

You get my drift.  What I would like to know is this:  Where did this atrocious trend start?  Who decided that sticking your lips out is attractive?  Is it supposed to be a sign of sexiness?  Attitude?  I went looking for some roots.  I found that there are celebrities who do it, too.  There’s the intentional:

For the record, that’s Miley Cyrus (I cropped the picture because she was in her underwear, and also because I didn’t want Joy to go ‘round the bend because of The Arm), Ben Stiller, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

There’s the unintentional:

Really not sure what Bush is doing here, but I don’t think it’s an intentional Duckface.

And then there’s the Natural:

I really think that Angelina is the only one allowed to get away with any kind of “Duckface”.  She doesn’t do it intentionally, she just has very, very full lips.

My informal research tells me that it may have started with Mary Kate Olsen, who was trying to starve herself and look as thin as possible during her transition from child star to fashion “icon”.  There are many, many pictures of her sucking in her cheeks and pouting out her lips, while wearing massive sunglasses.  I suspect people thought it was cool because, hey, here’s a celebrity doing it, it must be cool!  So they started doing it.  And of course, nobody could say, “hey, you look like an idiot,” because of course they must be wrong, because MK Olsen is doing it!  It must be hot!

Consider this my Public Service Announcement for the day:  Friends don’t let friends do Duckfaces.  Only YOU can prevent Duckface.

Stop.   Doing.   It!!!