Avatar of the Week: All Smiles Edition

For this installment of Avatar of the Week we wanted to brighten the mood a bit and so looked for some of the biggest and brightest smiles on our site.

According to lyricist Martin Charnin, you're "never fully dressed without a smile." If that's so then the three AfterElton.com members featured here are not only dessed, but also have on overcoats and galoshes!

First up is john beene. John lives in Boulder, Colorado and, if Max Eastman is right that "a smile is the universal welcome" then Boulder has thrown out a great big welcome mat thanks to john beene's grin.

John lists as some of his favorite film and literary characters:

Captain Jack - Torchwood, Jack Twist - Brokeback Mountain, Alec Scudder - Maurice, Paul Denton - Rules of Attraction, Alec Lochka - Heights, Jonathan Kestler - Heights, Arthur Stewart - Velvet Goldmine.

Second up is Jason (aka jex_piperUK). Or as I like to call him, Mr. Winky. Jason is 20-year-old student from Birmingham, England, and he has a very saucy smile.

Keep smiling - it makes people wonder what you've been up to. ~Author Unknown

Jason is a frequent comment contributor and his across the pond perspective is much appreciated. Jason's bio lists his race/ethnicity as British Caucasian. (I know, those Brits really do seem like another race entirely sometimes.)

Finally, we come to this week's winner, Richard (a.k.a. blantonrk.) And even though we know darn little about Richard other than he's a US resident born in 1967, he had to get the nod this week for his irresistibly goofy grin. Richard, if you're reading this, share a little more info in your bio. With a smile like that we'd like to get to know you better!

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. ~Mother Teresa

So congratulations to runners up John and Jason and a big tip of the hat to our Avatar of the Week: Richard!

And hey, more great smile quotations after the break.

People seldom notice old clothes if you wear a big smile. ~Lee Mildon

The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. ~Author Unknown

Start every day with a smile and get it over with. ~W.C. Fields

A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks. ~Charles Gordy

The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief. ~William Shakespeare, Othello

Everyone smiles in the same language. ~Author Unknown

I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful. ~Author Unknown

She gave me a smile I could feel in my hip pocket. ~Raymond Chandler

Smile - sunshine is good for your teeth. ~Author Unknown

The shortest distance between two people is a smile. ~Author Unknown

Every day you spend without a smile, is a lost day. ~Author Unknown

Beauty is power; a smile is its sword. ~Charles Reade

If you would like to spoil the day for a grouch, give him a smile. ~Author Unknown

Smile - it increases your face value. ~Author Unknown

Most smiles are started by another smile. ~Author Unknown

A smile is something you can't give away; it always comes back to you. ~Author Unknown