2017.09.11 New York Post
This pyramid scheme landed a nude model in an Egyptian slammer.
Marisa Papen found herself in hot water after being photographed at some of the most famous landmarks of ancient Egypt, Central European News reported.
“The last two years I have walked wild and free in at least 50 countries. Rarely do I end up in precarious situations. Until April this year in Egypt,” the sexy Belgian model said.
Papen met up in Cairo with Aussie photographer Jesse Walker for the risqué photoshoot in Egypt despite being aware of the country’s conservative cultural norms.
At Giza, they reportedly bribed a security guard before two men showed up.
“I was suddenly completely awake, like a cold shower at 5 a.m. in the morning. We tried to explain to them that we were making art with the highest respect for Egyptian culture, but they could not see a connection between nudity and art,” Papen told CEN
“In their eyes it was porn, or something like that,” she added.
Papen and Walker ended up bribing the two officials with $20 and continued their shoot before heading to Luxor, where she planned to pose for pictures “making pirouettes in Cleopatra’s footprints.”
But this time, they were busted at the Karnak temple complex.
“Without being able to share words, I made it clear to Jesse that he had to delete the images if he saw the tiniest opportunity. Otherwise we would be screwed — big time,” she said.
They told cops that they were just testing the light and hadn’t shot any pictures yet, but authorities scoffed at their tale and strip-searched Papen.
Despite finding no incriminating evidence, the two were thrown in jail.
“The first cell we encountered was packed with at least 20 men. Some were passed out on the floor, some were squeezing their hands through the rails, some were bleeding and yelling,” she said.
After several hours, Papen and Walker were brought in front of a judge.
“Our judge was browsing with his big thumbs through these books that looked as old as the pyramids did. Eventually, he gave us a warning and told us never to do something so foolishly shameful ever again. We nodded simultaneously,” she said.
Walker eventually recovered the deleted pictures off the SD card with special software.
“I do think we created something Cleopatra would have been proud of,” Papen said.
