Manufacturers of store mannequins are taking a full-hip swing –— not to mention a first step — in the right direction. Their latest models will strongly resemble entertainers Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce and lesser-knowns such as, well, most American women. The new mannequins have become what Reuters refers to as "bootylicious figures" with "well-rounded backsides." Since Macy’s of Manhattan placed the new mannequins in their juniors’ department almost two years ago, sales have tripled. We’ve had reality checks in the news and reality TV shows. It was only a matter of time before realism would affect the way we buy clothes. We apparently like seeing possible clothing purchases stretched out over 38-inch, plastic hips. Let’s face it. The average clothing size for women in our country is a size 14, not the tiny size one worn by some emaciated store mannequin. We are real women, not models, and we do enjoy eating. The new trend in mannequins might explain why young women feel good about themselves as they proudly appear in public with sausage-skin tight low-rise jeans and what appears to be excess sausage stuffing and a pierced navel overflowing their waistbands. It’s definitely a different look and one that would have sent earlier generations reeling. As a direct result of the new, full-figured store mannequins, we should expect to see many changes. Most noticeably, store display windows, which formerly could showcase four or five of the plastic models, will now only have hip room for one or two. Instead of the plaintive looks on yesterday’s rail thin mannequins — starving looks that said, "I would do anything to be left alone in a room with a Krispy Kreme" — the new mannequins might actually have contented smiles on their faces. Salespeople in clothing stores will no longer have to bite their lips and try to stifle their laughter as they did when we asked, "I would like to try on what that mannequin’s wearing, but in my size." We will be the same size as the mannequins, and what we see will be what we get. The new mannequins might eliminate much of the fitting-room anguish for women trying on clothes. There will be fewer surprises. For the first time in our lives we will be able to say, "Hey, if those jeans look that great on the mannequin, imagine how wonderful they will look on me!" Personal confidence and self-esteem will soar to new heights. Perhaps shoe stores will follow suit and display shoes in more realistic, larger sizes. They might stop using infinitesimally small, size five shoes and instead show what the styles look like in size 11 or 12. They should realize that the few women wearing tiny shoes are either real-life Barbie dolls, modified through drastic surgery, or unfortunate women who have had all of their frozen toes amputated following some freakish snowstorm. If it’s realism they’re after, the window people preparing the new, full-bodied mannequins for display could go a few steps further. A piece of french fry might still cling to the corner of one mannequin’s mouth. A dab of ketchup or fryer grease might be applied, tastefully of course, to another mannequin’s chin. An extra grande Mocha latte with whipping cream, artistically dribbled down the front of a mannequin’s outfit, would provide an exquisite, finishing touch of realism. Prepare yourself for a brave new world of clothing store mannequins.