Guide Note

Former top model Katoucha Niane was a spokesperson for Yves Saint Laurent. Niane was found dead in the Seine river on February 27, 2008, after she was missing for nearly a month.

Fast Facts

1. Born: December 30, 1960
2. Birthplace: Conakry, Guinea
3. Died: February 27, 2008, age 47
4. Lived in a houseboat on the Seine river
5. AKA: The Black Princess
6. Three children
7. Retired from modeling in 1994

Niane began modeling in the 1980s, working for Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Lacroix among others. She retired from modeling in 1994 to focus on fighting female genital mutilation. She had been excised at age nine and talked about the experience in her book, In My Flesh.

Niane and her three children lived on a boat in Paris. She was last seen on February 1, 2008 when she attended a party and reportedly consumed a large amount of alcohol. She was reported missing three days later, then her body was found on February 27, 2008. Her death was ruled an accidental drowning with the belief that her intoxication caused her to fall into the river.