Body Of Top Model Katoucha Found In Paris

March 3, 2008 4:58 a.m. EST

Paris, France (CNS) - The body of former model Katoucha Niane, known as Katoucha, was found in the Seine River near the Garigliano Bridge on Thursday, police said on Friday.

Katoucha, 47, disappeared on January 31 as she returned to her houseboat that was moored near the Alexander III Bridge in central Paris. The police said the autopsy performed showed no signs of foul play and think that she may have accidentally fallen into the river. She was last seen returning home from a party.

After quitting modeling in the 1980's, Katoucha started actively speaking out against female circumcision and began writing her own book "Katoucha, In My Flesh". The book described her own personal experience at age 9 with female mutilation. The book was published last year.

Katoucha, born in Guinea, was one of the first African women to achieve international stardom on the runway. She was a former top model for designers such as Yves St. Laurent, Christian Lacroix and other top designers until she stepped down to launch a campaign against female genital mutilation.

Katoucha recently starred in her first movie role directed by Leandre-Alain Baker, director of "Ramata". Filming has been completed, but no release date has been set for the film.