Dubai mall store uses woman as live mannequin, ignites outrage: Watch
In a surprising and controversial marketing move, the Manto Bride store in Dubai Festival City Mall has come under fire for using a live model as a mannequin.
image for illustrative purpose
In a surprising and controversial marketing move, the Manto Bride store in Dubai Festival City Mall has come under fire for using a live model as a mannequin. The model, identified as Angelina, stood still at the front of the store, dressed in one of the store’s gowns and stiletto heels, mimicking the poses of traditional mannequins.
Viral Video and Public Backlash
A video capturing Angelina's performance quickly went viral on social media, garnering both awe and outrage. While some viewers appreciated the creativity, many netizens were appalled, describing the act as "inhuman" and "modern-day slavery."
One Instagram user, Shruti Chadha, voiced concern, "This is inhuman. I’m sure her feet hurt like crazy, and when we have regular dummies, why do we even need this?” Another user echoed the sentiment, labeling it as "slavery."
Diverging Opinions
The marketing stunt attracted mixed reactions. While some saw it as a bold and innovative move, others criticized it as degrading. A user named Vlada Bulhakova commented, “Someone has a lot of money for marketing," implying that the display was a costly promotional strategy.
Contrarily, public figure Ghazi Al Yaman praised the initiative, calling it “next-level marketing.”
Broader Reflections on Work Discomfort
Amidst the heated debate, a more balanced perspective emerged from another social media user. They compared Angelina’s discomfort to the everyday struggles many workers face, noting, “We all have our own discomfort at work, whether it's on foot, back, hands, whatever. She’s getting paid just like we get, plus think about the security guards in the malls who stand all the time too. We all are struggling and that's what makes us strong."
Conclusion
As the debate continues, the incident at Dubai Festival City Mall raises questions about the ethics of extreme marketing techniques and the boundaries of creativity in advertising. Whether a sign of innovative marketing or a step too far, this live mannequin stunt has certainly ignited a conversation on social media and beyond.
