i bought this for the work out not for the grinnig girls...and no they were not smiling and who would be this is not a "keep on sliming gilrs" type of work out..you get in there you warm up and then you do you work out...no the girls do not smile..if i was there i would not be smiling either they are there to be serious and get he job done...if you need a video with people fake smiling to get you going you need help...who cares how they look as long as the work out works..and this one does..i swear by it...but to burn fat you are going to have to do that on your own as he clearly states in the dvd. i suggest a step work out or get a gazelle elite by tony litte to burn off the fat...good luck ladies!!!