A night out with your best friends, marrying your significant other, or the birth of your child can be some of the happiest moments of your life, but you'd never know with Tess Christian — she hasn't smiled in 40 years.

Since Christian, 50, was 10 years old, she's never laughed and has barely grinned. No, it's not because Christian has no sense of humor. Instead, she's trying to beat the hands of time and avoid wrinkles. "Everyone asks if I've had Botox, but I haven't, and I know that it's thanks to the fact I haven't laughed or smiled since I was a teenager. My dedication has paid off. I don't have a single line on my face," she said.

Her smile-free face was first a result of going to a strict Catholic school. "The joyless nuns there didn't like children to smile. I was always told to wipe the smile off my face so I learned to smirk instead," Christian shared.

Despite insisting she "loves life," she's kept a poker face through her wedding, the birth of her daughter, and every other cheerful moment. And although a dermatologist says her trick does make sense, a psychologist warns there are serious side effects to never smiling.

"A resting face with no emotion won't allow your brain to pick up the signal that you are happy. And just as smiling attracts people, looking miserable is likely to deter them — which obviously risks making you feel miserable, even if you were happy in the first place," psychologist Amanda Hills told the Daily Mail.

Either way, Christian doesn't regret her decision. "Yes, I am vain and want to remain youthful. My strategy is more natural than Botox and more effective than any expensive beauty cream or facial."

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This story originally appeared on WomansDay.com

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Marlisse Cepeda Web Editor Marlisse is the Web Editor of WomansDay.com, and she hails from Bronx, NY.

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