"Ken Hart" wrote

| The word used is not important; you are looking for a smile expression.
| The word "cheese" forms the face and mouth into an appearance of a smile.
|
| There are other words that work just as well. Try words with the long
| "ee" followed by a "Z": freeze, ease, wheeze, etc.


Have you tried it in the mirror? I only see my
lips part slightly. The lips have no role in
pronouncing eez, so the idea that it causes an
upturn at the sides makes no sense.