A woman standing alongside mannequins in a Dubai clothing store has sparked controversy after a video of her went viral, drawing social media backlash and accusations of “modern world slavery.”
The video, initially posted on Instagram by the model herself, Angelina, captures her posing in a dress and stiletto heels at Manto Bride’s store in Dubai Festival City Mall. Positioned on a platform at the store’s entrance, Angelina changed poses frequently to catch the eyes of passing shoppers.
The clip quickly gathered traction on Instagram, collecting over 13,000 views and hundreds of likes. However, it gained significant attention when Lovein Dubai reposted it, escalating views to 559,000 and likes to nearly 10,000.
The store’s marketing strategy has divided opinions online. While some commend it as clever, others criticize it as degrading and in poor taste. Social media users have expressed strong opinions, with one stating, “This is inhuman. I’m sure her feet hurt like crazy. Why do we need this when we have regular dummies?” Another commented on the broader implications of using humans for challenging tasks while machines handle simpler ones, suggesting a need to reconsider these roles.
Further criticism came from a user concerned about the appropriateness of her attire, noting, “Why was she dressed like that? Families and children are around; this is not a nightclub.” This incident has ignited a broader discussion on the ethics of such marketing practices.