Europe's Missing Models

model Katoucha Niane and Waris Dirie — AP

Two fashion models turned women's rights activists; two mysterious disappeances; two very different outcomes. All of Europe's catwalks are abuzz with talk of the disapperances of models Katoucha Niane, left, and Waris Dirie. Niane disappeared in late January and was found dead in the Seine River Feb. 28. Dirie disappeared March 5 and was found alive in Brussels March 7.

Walter Lutschinger, manager of women's rights campaigner Waris Dirie, shows a picture of her during an interview at a hotel in Brussels, Friday, March 7, 2008. The former model went missing in Brussels and was not seen from early Wednesday morning until late Friday when she turned up, in good health, hours after police announced a nationwide search for her.

Waris Dirie poses at the "Women's World Awards" in Hamburg, Germany, Jan. 9, 2004. A former model turned women's rights campaigner, the Somali-born Dirie gained international fame as a model posing in Chanel ads and acting in a James Bond film before launching her campaign against female genital mutilation 1996.

Waris Dirie smiles after receiving the "Prix des Generations" award of the World Demographic Association at the 3rd World Ageing & Generations Congress in St. Gallen, Switzerland, Sept. 8, 2007. Dirie, a former model turned women's rights campaigner, was being questioned by police about her two-day disappearance.

Fashion model model Katoucha Niane, from Guinea, embraces French couturier Yves Saint Laurent at the end of his show in Paris, March 22, 1989. Katoucha was found dead in the Seine River Feb. 28, 2008 in Paris. Katoucha, who lived on a barge, had been missing since Jan. 31, 2008. Her handbag was found on the boat.

In this July 9, 1997, photo, Katoucha Niane poses during the presentation of the Yves Saint Laurent collection in Paris. Katoucha was found dead in the Seine River Feb. 28, 2008, in Paris. While police have said her death was accidental, her family belives she was murdered and has requested a homicide investigation.

British supermodel Naomi Campbell leaves the main mosque of Paris, March 7, 2008, after paying tribute to Katoucha Niane, former supermodel, whose body was found Feb. 28, 2008, in Paris. The Guinea born French model was one of the world's first models to have come from Africa.

French model and actress Noemie Lenoir leaves the main mosque of Paris, France, Friday, March 7, 2008, after paying tribute to Katoucha Niane. The body of the Guinean-born former model for Yves Saint Laurent was found in the Seine River Feb. 28, 2008. Her family has filed a legal complaint with an investigating judge saying they suspect her death was a homicide.

Pierre Berge, founder and entrepreneur of the Saint Laurent fashion house, arrives at the main mosque of Paris, France, Friday, March 7, 2008, after paying tribute to Katoucha Niane. After quitting the runway, Katoucha turned to speaking out actively against female circumcision, describing her own experience at age 9 in a book, "Katoucha, In My Flesh," published last year.