Just doing my bit to spread awareness for this common, but little understood condition. Thousands around the world are affected by chronic bitchface, with sufferers having to endure being told to “SMILE” and “cheer up” by well meaning, but irritating strangers. There is no known cure.
Yup, yup. Same problem here until I started ‘fake’ smiling. Now everyone thinks I’m fake. I’m so f’d!.
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Mark Perry says,
March 30th, 2012 @ 8:03 pm
I think this is very funny and I needed to smile so I thank you. Women don’t have the market cornered on bitchface cause I’ve got it but maybe it’s more sadface. My response is “I’m fine” by the way, what’s to be really happy about….outside of life itself. :)
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I smoke pot. Can’t help but find everything fun, so I just have a huge grin from ear to ear.
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All my life people have told me to smile. Complete strangers walk up to me on the street and tell me to smile! When did commenting on a stranger’s face become OK? Its just rude.
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I have suffered with CBF for years and there must be another solution rather than adopting a super wide broadway musical smile. Maybe adding in some jazz hands?
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I think I will scream if even one more stranger rushes up to me and says, “My God! What’s wrong?” For example:
http://iwassaying.net/2008/10/26/game-face-part-two/
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I sent this comic to my boss, who has what we refer to as “the mean face”. People have stopped her on the street about it before! “Smile, lady, smile!” It’s become a running joke at work.
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[...] pregnant lady.” The nerve. Doesn’t he know there are those who suffer from this condition? But even though my face may not always show it, I glow on the inside. In fact, I [...]
I’m a male, born with bitchface and bloody proud! Cheer up?? How about FUCK OFF!
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I totally feel the same! Lol!!
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I heard the Doctors are looking for a cure for the “Bitch Face” disease…,
The problems now is that first have to help the Docs get rid of the Disease…, and then they can “Smiles- sly” continue to keep searching for a solution..
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Holy cat fritters!!!! I get that “are you okay” or “what’s wrong” or “smile” all the time. WTF?!? So now there’s a name for it, “Chronic Bitch Face.” I am so incredibly relieved to be diagnosed and I can tell people it is a disease. Has it been chronicled in any medical journals yet? Can I be cured with plastic surgery …. bwhahahaha!!!!
Thank you Kristina … and all those who replied … for making my day!
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[...] first heard of illustrator Kristina after seeing her ‘Chronic Bitchface’ print floating around the internet. And boy, are we glad we came across her! From posting about [...]
I scared someone away today…it was horrible! im a very nice person but my face just looks mean unless im laughing or with friends…meeting people is so hard to begin with. More so when i look like im about to kill someone…
i would hate to see what i look like when i actually AM angry…
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[...] too tall and 25 years too old to be called ‘cute’, especially with my mild case of chronic bitchface, if Americans wanted to squeeze my cheeks and pat my head and tell me I was cute, then that was [...]
This is hilarious- I think I have this.
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Love it. So happy my condition has a proper name now.
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[...] I had to laugh so much about this print! [Kris [...]
I swear I have this, unless I am actively smiling for a photo. I once told someone who completely ticked my off (when I was perfectly happy up til their entreaties to “Smile! It can’t be that bad!”) that my dog had just been hit by a car.
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Hahahaha. Perfect. Even the dialogue!!! It’s so appropriate.
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Oh my God, I am so happy I’m not alone! But, I also get told that everything I say is bitchy too and I don’t mean that either. I’ve tried for years to change or just accept myself, but neither has worked.
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[...] of people) here and her resulting resolution always seems to end in world domination or genocide – Chronic bitchface. This is SO me I had to show everyone I know when I first saw it. – Sheer horror on their faces if [...]
Ha! Maybe our moms were right…. “If you keep making that face it’ll stay like that!”
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I have lived with this all my life. I have learned to deal with it. I was walking down the street the other day and a homeless guy who seemed to be in good spirits told me to smile… I was like, wow… chronic bitchface happens again!
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Good to know there’s a name for this condition. I chalk my visage up to an engineering defect rather than mood when told to smile.
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hahaha! I love this. The sad thing is that even in several of my wedding photos–even in wedded bliss–I suffer from bitchface. Has anyone offered a cure?
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[...] illustrations by Kris Atomic, from Brighton, [...]
[...] So now, I’m trying to do it. I’m trying to be friendly, and say hi. Because I realize that my affinity for C.B.F. may give the illusion that I’m not friendly. [...]
I have chronic confused face. I think it’s because when I pay attention I open my eyes real wide so I either look wildly bewildered or confused. Once went to a counselor to ask about transfer credits and she repeated herself 3 times because I kept nodding and opening my eyes real wide. People always look at me like I fell from the sky.
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this is one of the most wonderful things i have seen on the internet in a long time.
so hilarious. so true. beautifully drawn.
so much love to you and to all the women out there (including myself) suffering from chronic bitch face.
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AKA “Angry Resting Face” or ARF.
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I think I’m okay with having bitchface. Kidnappers are least likely to go for someone who looks like they’re going to be trouble. Lemme gain a little more weight and I can travel in relative safety.
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I had no idea there were so many other people out there! I work at a university so CBF is really hard because even when I’m speaking nicely to people they still think that I’m being a bitch and yell at me… at least CBF isn’t as bad as just being a Chronic Bitch.
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Oh I feel like I’ve found the place where I belong!!! When we’re out at a bar or wherever I inevitably have someone say “why aren’t you having fun” “are you ok” or tell my friends “your friend doesn’t seem to be having any fun.”. SO annoying!! I Knox know I suffer from Chronic Bitch Face…and I shall embrace it!
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You’ve struck a chord here. I’d always thought of it as “Angry Resting Face.” I’m glad to know the true appellation! ;-) Thanks for sticking up for us!
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I have this affliction. I try to combat it by being extra friendly, but it’s exhausting.
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Daylight says,
May 23rd, 2012 @ 8:16 am
^ FUCKING EXACTLY
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SOoooooooooooooo glad to know that there are others out there like myself. I’ve lost out on potential friends, possible job promotions and invitations to social events because of my CBF……I’m REALLY a nice person and once people get past the CBF and get to know the real me, we’re friends for life. Wish I could wave a magic wand and remove my chronic wrinkled forehead and frown lines so that I could show the world to real me. My doctor told me that the frown lines come from concentrating too hard on my work. Nice excuse, but it doesn’t solve the problem.
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Finally. A place where I am understood! I, too, suffer from chronic bitchface and I don’t even wear glasses! It’s exhausting trying to always remember to keep my face “pleasantly neutral”! Thanks for the great illustration 😉
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So happy there’s a support group for this condition.
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Thank you for putting a name to this affliction! Everyone I’ve ever been friends with has told me that when we first met they thought I hated them. Sadly, this is when I hate my CBF the most. Alternately, when I’m out in public and I can tell that some creep-o jerk is about to hit on me, I know I can count on my CBF to make them go away. I love/hate my CBF. Thanks for raising awareness – now I just hope those creep-o jerks don’t find out my secret!
xoxo
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[...] of krisatomic’s amazing work here! My coin [...]
[...] ago, it was a problem that had no name, but the perseverance of its sufferers and the ingenuity of artist Kris Atomic have finally put a bitchface to the name of this crippling [...]
[...] I hung a couple of pieces of art, this food poster by What Katie Does is on the left and the Chronic Bitchface print by Kris Atomic on the right. I keep my cooking utensils in a jug that has been passed down to [...]
OMG i knw exactly what ur talking about!i always got guys coming up to me in clubs telling me to smile n i got soooo angry !my friends soon started grabbing guys when they heard what they were saying and warned them to go away because i would rip into them in the end.i try to do a pleasant neutral but too hard work unfortunately my face doesnt want to go that way when im relaxed.at least im not alone thanks guys!!!
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This is why i heart the internet – found you via Pinterest. I hereby nominate you as President of Chronic Bitchface International, so long as I can be Vice-President in Charge of Meeting Drinks, at which it will be understood that no one smiles.
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[...] I applaud lifestyle, fashion and other personal bloggers who do it every day. I also suffer from chronic bitchface (see above. I swear I’m really nice! Say hi if you see [...]
LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!! I get so sick of being told to “smile”!!!! I also have an 18 year old daughter whom I have had to coach on “puting on a fake smile” to help her get a job!! It is so tiring to have to put effort into a facial expression so people don’t think you’re a bitch!! So glad to know there are others out there with the same dilema!!
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Yes! Lovely illustration :)
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Oh my days; I’m not alone!!
I have loast count of the amount of times strangers have walked up to me to tell me to smile!!! It’s annoying, because most of the time I’m not in a bad mood, just deep in thought. My colleagues also have a go and make such a big deal about it. Ironically, I just wind up feeling self-conscious and less in a mood to smile!
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This is funny. Tavi actually has a step-by-step guide to bitchface that I think you’ll enjoy. http://rookiemag.com/2011/10/diy-bitchface/
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Kristina I love you
Seriously
oh god
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