Natalie DiBlasio, and Shannon Rae Green

USATODAY

What happened to mannequins that were just plastic molds used to display clothes? Now they're taking on a life, and a controversy, all of their own.

The growing trend to make mannequins seem more real may have gone too far with an Instagram shot from American Apparel in New York City. The photo shows a mannequin in a window display that has pubic hair and nipples, and it's literally stopping people in the streets. See it in the video above.

The Huffington Post spoke to an associate at the store, who said the mannequins, which went up at 3 a.m. Thursday, were meant to convey the "rawness and realness of sexuality." It's not the first time American Apparel has pushed the envelope: It released a T-shirt designed by an artist that showed a graphic line drawing of a vagina.

Other retailers have tried to make their mannequins more realistic. A Swedish department store was applauded on social media after a picture of its mannequins, sizes 8 and 12, went viral. Most mannequins in the USA range from a size 2 to a size 6.

What do you think? Should mannequins reflect typical bodies or stick to simple plastic molds without too many controversial features? Tweet using #USANOW. Follow @shannonraegreen on Twitter.