J.C. Penney showcases unique mannequins in New York City store windows

New York -- J.C. Penney has teamed up with NBC’s “Today Show” to display five mannequins created in the image of real Americans in the windows of its store in Manhattan. The mannequins, which include a model of woman in a wheelchair and a male double-leg amputee, were made by Fusion Specialties, Broomfield, Colorado.



“We are committed to fitting our customers just as they are – all shapes, sizes and styles,” said Penney in a post on its Facebook page. “That's why we're proud to have teamed up with the ‘Today’ to display these ‘Perfect The Way They Are’ mannequins.”



The Today Show commissioned the mannequins as part of its “LoveYourSelfie” campaign, designed to encourage greater acceptance of all kinds of bodies. In its windows, Penney provides information on the person who inspired each mannequin: Dawna Callahan, who uses a wheelchair due to incomplete paralysis; Neil Duncan, a former Army paratrooper who lost parts of both of his legs in an explosion in Afghanistan; Ricardo Gil, who has dwarfism; Desiree Hunter, a 6-ft.-1½-inch college basketball player; and Beth Ridgeway, who is plus-size.



The mannequins are on display in Penney's Manhattan Mall store through the end of August.