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I had a love/hate relationship with my gap-toothed smile as a child. Though the spacing between my two front teeth wasn't as wide as my older brother Daryl's, this imperfection made me stand out among friends with perfect smiles. 

Over the years, I learned how to grin without drawing attention to my gap. I've got the jaw alignment down to a science so much that people who've known me for quite some time say, "I didn't even know you had a gap." 

Working as a beauty editor in an image-obsessed industry, of course, I considered closing the teeny tiny space between my teeth. Thankfully, my dentist Michelle Chan shut that thought down and motivated me to embrace having a gap-toothed smile.

Knowing that I'm not alone, I turned to the HuffPost Beauty Instagram community for more examples of #gaptoothedsmiles. Followers tagged me in photos that proudly showed off their gaps and shared what they love most about their unique smiles. Scroll down for these amazing images and uplifting stories. 

Mary, 21, New York:

"When I was younger, I was really embarrassed by my spacey teeth. I thought people would think I was ugly. But as I got older, I've had a lot of people tell me they wish they had a gap-tooth smile, which really surprised me. That was when I realized that the standard of beauty set by mainstream media isn't the only way to be beautiful."

Morgan, 28, California:

"As I child, I was constantly being asked when I was getting braces, and I would literally put aluminum foil in my mouth to make faux braces. So ridiculous! My older sister was the first child in our elementary school to get braces for an overbite and while I was only a tot at the time, I knew I wanted them too. Fast forward to middle school when everyone, I mean everyone, was getting braces and I felt left out. However, my parents continued to tell me that my teeth were perfect.

"My gap-toothed smile has taught me that you have to be comfortable with yourself as a beautiful human creation. If you don't believe it and own it, someone else can easily tell you what you should look like and who you should be."

Ryan, 30, California:  

"It has taken years for me to develop an honest appreciation for my smile, but as I got older, I have learned to see that it defined me and did put me up for ridicule from others. I think because I was so self-conscious as a kid (with a much larger gap), I tried to hide my smile and then one day I just realized I got to appreciate my smile.

"[I realized] that something I hated growing up helped me be a happier person, even if it felt like an imperfection."

Jen, 32, Ohio:

"I like the playful, unique vibe of gap-toothed smiles. Differences should be celebrated. I like to play with my look and try new things, but there are parts of me that I would never change, my smile is one of those things."

Stephanie, 29, Florida: 

"I have been made fun in school my whole life! It wasn't until about three years ago when someone asked me why I never smiled with my teeth showing that made me realize I need to embrace my gap."

 Joel, 33, New York:

"I spent years struggling with it, not smiling in public. But it forced me to look more inward, and to try and cultivate other things within myself, outside of my physical appearance. Now, I could never imagine myself without it."

Anca, 22, Romania:

"What I love the most about my [gap] is that I know it is rare, unique and I am not ashamed to show it in pictures or in real life. Having a gap-toothed smile taught me that beauty is subjective and doesn't mean just perfection. No matter if some people don't like the gap, I love smiling."

Anastasia, 28, Washington, D.C.:

"What I love most about my smile is the beauty in its uniqueness. My teeth aren't perfectly aligned but in a room full of straight smiles, people notice my gap-toothed grin and still say it's pretty.

"Every girl should embrace their flaws because it just might be what makes you stand out above the rest."

Pierra, 30, South Africa: 

"What I love the most about my gap-toothed smile is it really somehow reflects my personality, as I'm a bubbly, radiant, fun-loving spontaneous woman. 

"I love my gap tooth the most because I inherited it from my late mother and to be constantly reminded of her, I smile."

Preston, Nevada: 

"To be honest, up until lately, I was never a fan of my gap-toothed smile, until one day I finally embraced and said, 'Hey, this is me, like it or love it, but until I decide to do something with it, this is what you get.' After that, I found myself not hiding it, and having a lot more natural and genuine smiles.

"The funny thing is my insecurities were misguided because most people seem to like it. That's what having a gap-toothed smile has taught me about beauty as well, is that it's not always in the physical appearance of beauty, a lot of times it goes hand in hand with your confidence with it. And that true beauty comes in all different forms, types and shapes, and not everyone views it the same, and not everyone likes the same thing. Be who you are, and the people who will love you will gravitate to you effortlessly." 

Lisa, 28, South Carolina: 

"My smile hasn't changed since I was a kid really, even after having braces it went back to this. Growing up now I never realized how many other people deal with the same thing.

"I used to be embarrassed, but I see so many models now with it and it makes me feel empowered. I see what was once flaws in our society back then are considered beautiful now."

Laila, 27, London: 

"I love the quirky uniqueness that it adds to my crooked smile and I couldn't imagine myself without it. It's also something I share with my sister and now my nephew, it's part of our DNA. 

"I can't allow people to define what is and isn't beautiful about me. Growing up I was teased constantly about my gap-toothed smile and big eyes and now they compliment me. People's opinions change with time and with trends when it comes to beauty. I define my beauty, the world as I see it is a reflection of my thoughts, I choose to see my as imperfectly perfect. Yesterday, today and tomorrow."   

Christina, 46, California:

"[My gap] makes my smile unique! Beauty comes in all forms. What some may consider a 'flaw' can actually be beautiful. Work with what you have!"

Natallia, 23, London: 

"I love that it brightens up my face and mood regardless of the way I'm feeling, if I catch myself smiling it only broadens it. It makes me look beautiful, feel beautiful, and often incites happiness in those around me. One could say it's rather infectious!

"I'm not someone you'd find in Marie Clare or Vogue by any means! I'm not a conventional beauty. But I'm not not beautiful because of my gap tooth. I am beautiful and my gap tooth adds to that beauty, it doesn't take anything away."

Tisa Monét, 31, New York: 

"I wasn't always in love with my gap tooth. As I grew older, I learned to love my gap-toothed smile because it makes me authentic, sets me apart from the norm. I mean, who wants to have something everyone else has anyway... not one person I know. 

"My gap-toothed smile has taught me that beauty is found in your flaws. Those flaws are what make you stand out, they make you stronger and they make you see the beauty within yourself. Beauty used to be synonymous with perfection, but in 2016 teenagers with a gap tooth aren't being teased or forced to 'correct' their gap, they're being handed modeling contracts. BAM."

Theresa, 33, California:

"I used to be really self-conscious about my gap! As I've grown older, I have grown comfortable with it. I love the unique flair it adds to my grin. A perfect imperfection.

"My smile has taught me that you can still be beautiful, even if you don't fit into the standard image of beauty."

Reyna, 39, London: 

"I never used to like it as a child, but now, I love it. It's a part of who I am and apparently it's supposed to be lucky."

Idmantzi, 24, California: 

"I love that it's bold and fearless. It's taught me that beauty is about loving yourself and others for their differences, even in the face of adversity. That's what makes the world beautiful."

Whitney Q., 27, Ghana: 

"I believe it has given me good luck! And has given me such a dashing smile. People often compliment me and say I have a nice smile.

"If you accept the so called 'flaws'about yourself, everything about you is beautiful. There is only one you. So be the best version of yourself and don't try and be anyone else."

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Strong is sexy. 

Just ask the women featured in Elle India's recent photography feature, "These Muscular Women Are Overthrowing Every Feminine Stereotype." The piece features seven women of different professional backgrounds -- from a bodybuilder to a makeup artist -- who discuss the pride they have in their bodies. 

The women featured also address (and shut down) the idea that being visibly muscular is somehow in conflict with their femininity. 

“I have my curves, breasts and hips, and I’m still a woman — just a very strong one," says Natasha Noel, a 23-year-old yoga instructor who used to be chastised for not looking "feminine" enough. “My teachers used to tell me to be more delicate, ‘like a woman.’ Strength has always fascinated me more than flexibility. Being strong is sexy, it’s empowering.”

See the gorgeous photos below and read more over at Elle India. 

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Your beard can be divided into three parts: The mustache, the jowls and the neckbeard. Let's define the neckbeard as the section of your beard that starts under your jaw and ends where your shirt begins.

Here are some examples of a neckbeard:

As you can see, it's a really old way to keep your neck warm during the winter months. But come spring and summer, you've gotta shear thyself.

Left alone, your neck will grow an unruly, unkempt, unprofessional mess of fur, but with the right tools, it's really quite easy to trim your neck down. Once you do, your beard will look crisp and clean and ready for spring.

Here's what you need:

• a razor


• shaving cream


• maybe 5 minutes of your time


• aftershave

As the video from ASOS above shows, all you need to do is identify your jawline and work downward from there.

An electric razor works well for this particular part of your beard, because your neck's hair follicles don't all grow in the same direction. If you shave in one direction across your neck, you'll shave into, around, with and against your grain. Electric shavers can help buffer this, as seen in the video above.

But if you want to use a wet razor, the Art of Manliness recommends using a gentle razor with a high performance blade, as that will cause less irritation.

Men's Health recommends you not only shampoo your beard, but condition and oil it every day as well, so that it stays as soft as it ever will.

With practice and a steady hand, you too can trade your neckbeard for a jawline like Odell Beckham Jr.'s, just in time for training camp:

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We're sick of seeing adorable summer dresses that make it impossible to wear a bra. You know the ones -- with the super-low backs and the cut-outs that simply don't allow for any undergarments at all. It's annoying.

Whether you have a larger chest and need the support, or you're just not keen on wearing a flimsy dress without anything underneath, most women understand the struggle.

So, to help build your summer wardrobe and lessen the frustration, we've found nine cute dresses you can wear WITH a bra (whether it's a strapless, a cross-back or a conventional one). 

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As one of the "Original Supermodels," including Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and Tatjana Patitz, Linda Evangelista's ever-changing hair made her stand out among her '90s model contemporaries.

Her bold decision to have editorial stylist Julian d'Ys chop her shoulder-length strands into a boyish pixie in 1988 was risky. But as she told People magazine, "It quadrupled my rate." Evangelista went on to pose for the January 1990 cover of British Vogue, star in George Michael's "Freedom! '90" music video (with a new platinum blonde hair color) and proclaim in an October 1990 interview with Vogue, "We don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day." Total girl boss moves.

The Canadian-born beauty's ability to effortlessly transform made her one to watch on the runways. From blonde and black faux locs to cotton candy Afro wigs, Evangelista has donned many 'dos all in the name of fashion.

In celebration of Evangelista's 51st birthday on May 10, we take a stroll down memory lane with this photo retrospective of her wildest runway hairstyles.

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You've heard it all before. 

Jennifer Lawrence is walking in a gorgeous Dior gown at a crazy cool event like the Oscars when -- whoops -- she slips and trips. Well, ladies and gentleman, it's happened yet again. 

JLaw was attempting to say hello to some fans at the "X-Men Apocalypse" red carpet on Monday in London when she got tangled on her dress and nearly took a tumble. 

Let's give Lawrence some credit though, as her dress and sky-high heels don't look easy to maneuver in at all: 

If you're trying to keep track of the amount of times Lawrence has tripped over the years you're A) exactly like us and B) in need of a better hobby.

Aside from her fall at the 2013 Oscars, her trip-up at the 2014 Oscars and her tumble at "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2" premiere in 2015, this marks the fourth major JLaw fall in as many years. We can't wait to see what 2017 brings. 

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On a gorgeous, sunny day in New York City Monday, a group of fashionable men and women gathered on a roof deck at the United Nations to ogle Christian Siriano's latest collection. 

But the show was different than those Siriano has staged in the past. This time, the models sauntering down the runway in bold, bright colors and sexy silhouettes included Ashley Graham, Candice Huffine, and Precious Lee, to name a few. It was a who's who of the hottest plus-size models in the game right now. 

Siriano showed off his limited edition collection for Lane Bryant on this bevy of beautiful models, who are slowly but surely becoming household names. Graham famously covered the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, while Lee made history with a sexy inside-cover fold-out ad for Lane Bryant in the same issue. They were joined on the runway by bloggers and actress Danielle Brooks of "Orange Is The New Black," who serves as the face of the collection's ad campaign. 

Backstage, the mood was buzzy and exciting, as it is before any major fashion show. Looking around the room at the impressive roster of women, it seemed especially blasphemous that many designers claim there simply aren't enough plus-size models to hire. Then, right on cue, Lee raised an interesting point to The Huffington Post.

"Designers say the sample size is the reason you don't see larger women in clothing campaigns," she said. "Well, what's the point of that for beauty? For cosmetics, for accessories, for sunglasses, shoes?"

And it's a valid point. Christian Louboutin made waves when he cast plus-size model Clementine Desseaux as the face of the label's beauty campaign in Dec. 2015, but far and wide within the beauty industry, there's a disconnect -- perhaps an even greater disconnect than in fashion. Lee says designers need to own up to it. 

"If you're not going to use a plus-size woman, if you're not going to diversify, then just tell the truth and say you don't want to to use them. At this point, I feel like the excuses have run out," she said, adding, "Don't say it's the sample size, don't say there aren't that many girls, don't say there isn't a plus-size supermodel, that's all bull."

Lee, who called the runway show "a big step for Lane Bryant, to go out on a limb and do something that no other plus-size companies are doing," has been modeling for years. She told HuffPost that even people on jobs she is cast for sometimes need an education on working with plus models. 

"One of the most insulting things for plus-size models that I've discussed with some colleagues is that people are so surprised when a girl who isn't a size 2/4 knows how to move and doesn't need to be told exactly what to do. OK, I get it, it's flattering, but it's also like, there are girls who have been doing this for over fifteen years. Why would you be shocked that I know how to find good light and take a good selfie? Whoop-de-do, that's not the most amazing thing."

Of course, we can't talk about finding good light and knowing exactly what to do without mentioning Ashley Graham. The supermodel, who has had one hell of a 2016 so far, said Siriano's collaboration with Lane Bryant is important in the movement toward inclusivity.

"It was so important that Lane Bryant collaborated with someone so high-end, to prove that it doesn't matter what size or shape you are, you can still make clothes our size that are sexy and flattering -- everything any woman would want," she said. 

But for all the progress made in the past few years, Graham says the only real way to make change happen is to keep it going: "There is power in numbers." 

There's no denying that Graham herself has been responsible for a big part of the shift.

"Being on the cover of Sports Illustrated was a huge eye-opener, not only for myself, not just for the plus industry, but the industry as a whole. It was like, 'Hey guys, we're not kidding, we're not going to conform to what the beauty standards have been for so long. We are a part of the new beauty standards,'" she said.

If these are the new beauty standards, sign us up. 

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What you need:

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For a woman who's built her career on her enviable looks, you might think Pamela Anderson would be panicked about growing older and losing a bit of that youthful perkiness. But refreshingly, Anderson, who turns 50 next year, is taking the whole aging thing in stride.

“I actually like aging," the actress and model revealed in a candid interview with W Magazine. "I have great older female role models in my life, including my amazing mom, who have glitz, glamour, and all sorts of fun. Getting older isn’t the end. I know I have so much to look forward to.”

The 48-year-old hasn't shied away from talk of aging, instead tackling it head on. She stars in director Luke Gilford's short film, "Connected," playing a woman not too different from herself. A middle-aged empty nester, her character -- a spin instructor named Jackie -- grapples with getting older. She meditates, works out, drinks green juices and takes vitamins only to find there's still something missing in her life. 

Anderson says it was hard not to relate to the character. 

"You’re dealing with so much loss at this age," Anderson said. "It seems like everything is behind us, so what’s next? We took a lot of things for granted -- youth, beauty. But now what?”

The actress bravely appeared in some scenes bare-faced, showing her true, raw self. She says happiness is a bigger part of beauty than anything else. And it seems, after divorcing Rick Salomon last year, Anderson is focused solely on her projects and two children. She's even making an appearance in the upcoming "Baywatch" movie. 

"Calm, peacefulness and not-constant stress are very, very important to feeling beautiful and confident," she said. "And that comes across whether you’re wearing makeup or not."

Well said. 

h/t W Magazine

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Back in January, Australian photographer Erin Elizabeth Hoskins shared gorgeous viral photos of a mom named Kim Tucci, who was pregnant with quintuplets. Four months later, Tucci is the mother of five healthy newborns (in addition to her three older children), and Hoskins has released their adorable newborn photos. 

On Jan. 28, Tucci gave birth to her five babies -- Tiffany ("Tiffy"), Penelope ("Penny"), Beatrix ("Bea"), Allie and Keith. On April 7, she announced on her Facebook page, Surprised By Five, that the whole family was home from the hospital and settling in well. 

A month later, the photographer shared the family's newborn photos, writing in the caption, "Kim endured an extremely demanding pregnancy, never wavering in her strength and determination to bring these babies safely into the world. She is an inspiration, and it was an honor to photograph her journey."

Hoskins told The Huffington Post that Tucci's Perth community has rallied around the family, and her grandmother even launched a GoFundMe campaign to help them raise money for a nine-seater car.

"We’re all really trying to help her achieve her goal of purchasing a van that fits her entire family -- at the moment, they have to travel places in three separate cars!," Hoskins said. "Any help they could get would be much appreciated."

Keep scrolling to see more of the precious newborn photos and visit Tucci's Facebook page to learn more about their story.

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The Kardashians live by a few simple style rules: If you've got it, flaunt it; hair is meant for changing; and have no fear when it comes to sheer. 

Khloe Kardashian proved that point in Los Angeles Monday when she stepped out in a completely see-through brown turtleneck, ripped skinny jeans and sky-high boots.

Sheer turtlenecks have popped up in our world before to both confuse and delight us. Both Rita Ora and Halle Berry join Kardashian as fans of this trend, but we can't help but feel that wearing a completely see-through sweater kind of defeats the purpose of wearing a sweater in the first place.

But fashion always trumps function, right, Khlo?

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Say goodbye to eye bags and arm wrinkles: An invisible elastic film, developed by scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Medical School, could be headed to a makeup shelf near you. 

The second skin coating, which has been tested on the eye bags and wrinkled arms and legs of a handful of volunteers, is composed of commonly used chemicals deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration, reports the New York Times. So far, no one has reported allergic reactions and the results look pretty impressive.

The film is applied and when dried forms an elastic transparent layer that clings to the skin and seamlessly tightens wrinkles, the scientists claim. They say that when applied under one's lower eyelids, the film is able to reshape "eye bags." The product also may be beneficial in the treatment of skin ailments like eczema and other types of dermatitis while also protecting against the sun.

“It’s an invisible layer that can provide a barrier, provide cosmetic improvement, and potentially deliver a drug locally to the area that’s being treated. Those three things together could really make it ideal for use in humans,” said Daniel Anderson, an associate professor in MIT’s Department of Chemical Engineering, in a news release.

The formula contains a chemical structure called siloxane (silicon and oxygen) and a platinum catalyst that causes the siloxane to interlock with each other to form a thin, elastic sheet, according to Nature World News. 

Wrinkle solutions have been around for centuries with one problem: Many of them are just no match for gravity. But that hasn't stopped us from trying them. It's been estimated that the anti-aging market will be worth $192 billion globally by 2019.

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If you're anything like us, you start the summer off with a couple pairs of sunglasses, but somehow, by the time September rolls around, you have none left. Maybe you accidentally sit on them or lose them, or maybe one of the lenses falls out -- whatever happens, it's safe to say that sunglasses usually have a pretty short lifespan. 

So why shell out hundreds of dollars to buy something that will only last a couple of months, at best? The answer is, you shouldn't. 

We've rounded up 10 great pairs of sunnies, all for under $25, that you can break, sit on and lose, guilt free. 

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What Taylor Swift wants, Taylor Swift gets. And right now, it appears all Taylor Swift wants to do is have some fun convince the world she's single-handedly responsible for bringing back the '90s.

Swift hit up the BMI Pop Awards in Los Angeles Tuesday night in a choker (they're the "new flower crowns," she declared last month), a velvet Monique Lhullier gown with the most '90s spaghetti straps, and that bleached blonde bob styled to the side like a true punk rock princess. 

Swift was on hand to receive the world's most meta trophy, the Taylor Swift award, along with Songwriter of the Year.

But if you ask us, she also wins transformation of the year. After all, it was just a few short months ago our Swifty was showing up on red carpets almost exclusively looking like this:

Sigh. They grow up and bring back styles from former decades so fast.

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It's going to be one hell of a summer this year.

According to a long-range forecast by AccuWeather, much of the country is in for more 90-degree days than average in 2016, with more stormy weather in the plains and more droughts on the West Coast. Basically, it's going to feel like summer forever. Here's what that will look like:

Thanks to a strong El Niño that is now winding down, we're in for a series of heat waves throughout June, July and August.

Dr. Marie Jhin, a San Francisco/San Carlos-based dermatologist and author of "Asian Beauty Secrets," is here with a few tricks to keep up your sleeve when the temperature jumps (if you want to keep that sleeve as free from pit stains as possible).

• Clinical strength antiperspirant can work wonders, and you don't have to keep it relegated to your armpits. Jhin suggests using a separate stick on other parts of your body that sweat, such as your feet, hands and hairline.


• "If you know you're going to be spending a lot of time outdoors," Jhin said, "opt for a cool and breathable fabric like cotton or linen." Clothes that wick away moisture, such as synthetics, do well to keep you dry, also.


• And here's a bit of bad news: Jhin advises that you avoid drinking caffeine or eating spicy foods during the summer as they can activate neurotransmitters called acetylcholine, which can sometimes affect the glands that cause sweating.

And for some peer-tested and approved advice from long-term summer sufferers, we asked the folks in our newsroom how they deal with their sweaty selves, and here's what they had to say:

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