These Photos Show You Can Sometimes 'See' People Smiling Underneath a Mask

When I first started seeing New Yorkers wearing masks, I noticed most people were looking down and not making eye contact nor smiling. I missed the social interaction and found myself trying to smile at people through my mask.

Once my masked smile was returned with a passing stranger’s smize (smile with your eyes!), I discovered that people could see my smile through the mask and moreover that I could see theirs. The MASK SMILE project was born! There’s something so sweet about walking down the street and exchanging a smile with someone through our masks. The brief connection affirms a deep strength and resilience. The whole project has helped me to maintain a positive attitude and to continue to be grateful for every day.

You can see some photos from Laura’s project below! To see more, visit her site.

As parts of the country open up, it’s still important to wear a mask. Find more stories about masks below:

• The Consequence of COVID-19 I Didn’t Anticipate as Someone With Hearing Loss
• What to Do If You Can’t Wear a Face Mask
• Why I Appreciate You Wearing a Face Mask as Someone With Chronic Illness
• Just. Wear. A. Mask.
• To the People Who Are Protesting About Being ‘Forced’ to Wear a Mask

What do you think about Laura’s project? Let us know in the comments below, and follow her on Instagram here.