If you’ve spent more than five seconds scrolling through red carpet photos from the Stranger Things 5 premiere or the latest Electric State press tour, you’ve definitely seen it. Millie Bobby Brown stands there, draped in custom Louis Vuitton or Rodarte, looking every bit the Hollywood mogul, but her lips aren’t pressed together in a standard smile. Instead, there’s that slight gap. The "mouth open" look.
It’s a vibe. Honestly, it's become as much of a signature for her as the shaved head was back in 2016. But why does she do it? People on TikTok and Reddit have spent way too much time theorizing about everything from "mouth breathing" to secret dental work. The reality is usually way less scandalous and a lot more about how the high-stakes world of celebrity photography actually works.
The Strategy Behind the Millie Bobby Brown Mouth Open Look
Believe it or not, posing with a slightly open mouth is a classic "model trick" that’s been around since the days of Marilyn Monroe. When you’re standing in front of a literal wall of three hundred photographers screaming your name, your face tends to get tense.
When you clench your jaw, your face looks wider and your neck muscles tighten up. Not great for a 4K camera. By keeping the millie bobby brown mouth open pose—just a tiny bit—it relaxes the jawline. It makes the face look longer, slimmer, and more "editorial."
- Muscle Relaxation: Opening the mouth slightly prevents that "forced smile" look where the cheeks push up and make the eyes look smaller.
- The "Sultry" Effect: It mimics a look of surprise or effortless cool rather than the "I’m at my cousin’s wedding" grin.
- Lip Volume: Let’s be real—parting your lips makes them look fuller. In an industry obsessed with a specific aesthetic, this is basically free filler without the needles.
Why People Can't Stop Talking About Her Face
It’s kinda wild how much scrutiny one person can face for just existing. Lately, especially around late 2025 and early 2026, the internet has been on a tear about Millie’s "changing face."
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There’s been a massive amount of noise regarding whether she’s had work done. Every time a photo surfaces of millie bobby brown mouth open, commenters jump to the conclusion that she’s trying to hide or show off new lip fillers. While some cosmetic experts have weighed in on social media suggesting things like a "lip flip" or subtle injections, Millie herself hasn't confirmed a thing.
She’s actually been pretty vocal about how much it sucks to grow up under a microscope. Imagine being twelve and having the world watch you hit puberty, then being twenty-one and having people analyze your jawline like it’s a Zapruder film. It’s a lot.
The Aging Up Factor
People forget she’s not Eleven anymore. She’s a married woman now (shoutout to Jake Bongiovi). Her face has naturally lost that childhood "buccal fat" everyone is paying to get removed these days. When her face thins out naturally and she uses professional contouring, that "mouth open" pose just hits differently than it did three years ago.
The "Red Carpet Face" vs. Real Life
If you watch her interviews on The Tonight Show or her own Florence by Mills YouTube videos, she’s laughing, scrunching her nose, and being a total goofball. The millie bobby brown mouth open thing is almost exclusively a red carpet phenomenon.
Why? Because red carpets are a job.
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When you’re wearing a dress that costs more than a mid-sized sedan, you’re basically a walking billboard for a brand. Professional photographers want "high fashion." They don't want a "cheese!" smile; they want "smize" and "vacant-chic." Millie is just really good at her job.
How to Pull Off the "Millie Pose" Without Looking Weird
If you're trying to replicate the look for your own IG feed, there’s a fine line between "Hollywood Star" and "Caught mid-sneeze."
- Inhale through the mouth: This naturally parts the lips without making it look forced.
- Relax the tongue: If your tongue is pressed against the roof of your mouth, your jaw will still look tight. Let it sit heavy.
- Tilt the chin down: This creates that sharp jawline Millie is known for, even if you’re just in your backyard.
What This Says About Gen Z Celebrity Culture
Millie isn't the only one doing this. Look at any red carpet from the last year—most of the younger stars are moving away from the "perfect" pageant smile. There’s a shift toward looking "unbothered."
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The millie bobby brown mouth open pose is essentially the "Blue Steel" of the 2020s. It’s a way to maintain a level of cool detachment while being the center of attention. It’s a mask. And honestly? Given how much the internet picks her apart, can you really blame her for having a "work face"?
Better Ways to Follow Her Style
Instead of obsessing over why her mouth is open, look at how she’s using her platform. She’s moved into producing, she’s running a massive beauty brand, and she’s finishing up one of the biggest shows in TV history. The pose is just a tiny part of a much bigger business machine.
Next time you see a photo of Millie on the red carpet, notice the lighting and the angle. Usually, that open-mouth look is perfectly timed with a head tilt to catch the light on her cheekbones. It’s not a medical condition or a weird habit—it’s just a pro knowing exactly how to work a lens.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators:
- Study Lighting: Millie’s poses are designed to highlight her makeup brand's products, especially her lip oils and highlighters.
- Respect the Growth: Acknowledge that facial changes between ages 15 and 21 are statistically normal for literally every human being.
- Confidence is Key: The reason the pose works for her isn't just the mouth—it's the eye contact. If you’re going to try it, don't look shy; look like you own the room.