I know what you're thinking... An inanimate, plastic object can't be influential?! Read on and you too will discover that such presumptions pay a disservice to this band of distinguished dummies. From feminist icons to political powerhouses, this lot prove there's more to the job than just looking pretty:
1.Marionettebot Mannequin
In a move that will almost certainly change the face of mannequin retail displays forever, a Japanese retailer named United Arrows dreamt up the Marionettebot; a motion sensored mannequin that imitates the movements of passers-by. Incorporating Microsoft's ground-breaking Kinect technology, this outstanding example of ambient marketing looked great and drove sales by encouraging passing couples to test their 'motion chemistry score' in return for store discounts. That's one well Kinect-ed mannequin!
You can watch the Marionettebot strut its stuff here.
2.Election Candidate Mannequin
Adding new meaning to the term 'plastic politics', a certain 'Helena Torry' took the Aberdeen council elections by storm in April 2012. Billing herself as 'the voice of the silent majority', Helena was a political firebrand, fearlessly contesting issues of local importance such as the slashing of youth work budgets and the closure of community centres.
Indeed, her campaign seemed unstoppable until, on April 2, Aberdeen City Council Officer Valerie Watts released the following statement:
"It has been brought to my attention that Helena Torry, for whom a nomination paper was submitted for the Hazlehead, Ashley and Queens Cross ward, does not exist."
In a political scandal that rocked Aberdeen to its core, it was revealed that Helena Torry was, in fact, a mannequin entered as a candidate by disgruntled local resident Renee Slater. Aberdeen City Council swiftly pressed charges. Ms. Slater faced trial and was subsequently acquitted.
To this day, however, Helena Torry remains incarcerated due to her far from 'model' behaviour.
3.'Cynthia'
Talk show host, film actress, red carpet regular; Cynthia was all of the above. Courted by the world's finest fashion houses, engaged to one of America's household names, issued with a credit card by Saks of New York and lavished with expensive jewellery, she had it all... except a pulse.
Created by master sculptor Lester Gaba, Cynthia stole the hearts of America for a brief, and bizarre, period pre-WWII before Gaba was sent off to join the army.
No one really knows quite how she became such a big deal, but one thing's for sure; Cynthia was a super 'model' that lived the supermodel lifestyle.
4.Plus-size Mannequins
A clothes shop in Sweden was the toast of normal women the world over as images of their 'fuller-figured' mannequins went viral. With consumers being bombarded with unrealistic images of 'size zero' models on a daily basis, the move came as a refreshing change to the depressing norm. Collecting over 50,000 Facebook likes in just a matter of days, the market for 'fuller-figured' mannequins could be set to expand - just like their waistlines...
5.Urinating Mannequin
One delinquent dummy found itself at the centre of a police investigation after being caught with its pants down...
Prudish members of the public reported menswear store Philip Browne after taking offence to the mannequin spelling out the world 'sale' in the shop front with its own 'urine'.
On being informed that the incident could be a potential breach of the 1986 Public Order Act, owners removed the display and the mannequin was instructed to mind his pee's and q's in future...