Gardner posed in a bikini but the drape of the top seemed wrong to the sculptor , so Gardner removed her bikini top and Nicolosi continued with his sculpture .
To achieve a realistic - looking living statue , the studio sent Ava Gardner to sculptor Joseph Nicolosi .
Ava Gardner posed in a bikini but the drape of the top seemed wrong to the sculptor , so Ava Gardner removed Ava Gardner 's bikini top sculptor Nicolosi continued with his sculpture .
To achieve a realistic - looking living statue , the studio sent Ava Gardner to sculptor Joseph Nicolosi .