Meet Sandy Monica – Jetsetting British socialite who is currently in California enjoying a one month vacation in Santa Monica.

Sandy Monica

Sandy Monica is, however, not a real British tourist. She is a life-size mannequin created by the Santa Monica CVB as part of a social media campaign. 

The campaign is pushing Santa Monica as a fun destination for visiting shopaholics, in order to generate some buzz for the Aug 6 re-opening of the Santa Monica Place shopping mall.

Sandy Monica has her own microsite, and the CVB is uploading daily pictures of her activities on to their facebook page. The mannequin is actually being hauled around to visit one new attraction in Santa Monica each day for a month.

As of now, Sandy has already enjoyed nine famous attractions, things to do and places in Santa Monica, including a bike ride from Santa Monica to Venice and a segway ride around Santa Monica, visits to the Santa Monica Visitor Center and the west end of Route 66, lots of shopping, al fresco dining and sunbathing on the beach.

Sandy Monica takes a bike ride and visits Route 66

Santa Monica tourism experts and residents are being asked for suggestions on facebook to decide which place Sandy should visit next. The most creative suggestion submitted before July 30 will receive a $500 gift card to shop at Santa Monica Place.

After Sandy Monica has enjoyed her 30 days in the spotlight, she will be put on display as part of the Mannequin Collective art exhibit, a community arts program developed by Santa Monica Place in partnership with Otis School of Design.

Sandy Monica’s website: www.santamonica.com/sandy-monica 

Contest page: www.santamonica.com/sandy-monica-contest

SMCVB on Facebook: www.facebook.com/visitsantamonica