They say good news doesn’t sell, but South Carolina resident Yvonne Millner garnered a great deal of national media attention after a local TV station ran a story about her and her 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage. It seems Miller has handpainted the car — which she has affectionately dubbed “Smiley” — with an assortment of lively designs using nail polish.

“I decided to paint my car to bring lots of smiles to the community,” she says. “I chose nail polish because I wanted to use all different colors and I wanted something that would not wash off. One of the most important things on Smiley is an American flag, which is in support of United States troops and my son Antonio who is now serving in the Navy.”

Despite being a wife, mother of three, and a hospital worker, Millner managed to put in three to four hours a day on the car over a period of four months. Thus far, she has used 147 bottles of polish, though the car remains a work in progress. “Smiley always needs a touch-up,” she says. “I’m continually adding things.” .

If you would like to help her efforts, Millner is accepting donations of nail polish. Mail polish to Yvonne Millner, 113 Starling Goodson Rd., Hopkins, SC 29061.

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originally published January 2006

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