A nude photo model ended up in prison after she was caught doing a secret photoshoot inside one of Egypt's most ancient temples. Belgian nude model Marisa Papen, who describes herself as a “free-spirited and wildhearted expressionist”, travelled with photographer Jesse Walker to Egypt for a spectacular photoshoot inside and outside some of the most famous landmarks of ancient Egypt. Papen said: “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 nude photo model, from the Flanders region of Belgium, met up in Cairo with photographer Walker who flew in all the way from Australia to do the shoot. And even though the duo said they were aware of the cultural, political and religious differences between Egypt and the West when it comes to nudity, the adventure ended differently than they both expected. Already during a first photoshoot near the famous pyramids of Giza, the two got into trouble. They reportedly bribed a security guard to start the photoshoot when suddenly two young men showed up. Papen said: “I was suddenly completely awake, like a cold shower at 5am in the morning. We tried to explain them that we were making art with the highest respect for Egyptian culture, but they could not see a connection between nudity and art. In their eyes it was p*rn, or something like that”. In the end, Papen and Walker managed to stay out of trouble by bribing the young men with 20 USD (15 GBP). After Giza, the two travelled to Luxor to visit the vast temple complex of Karnak to shoot pictures with the theme of “dance”. But as Karnak turned out to be even more thoroughly guarded than the pyramids at Giza, Papen and Walker had to think of another plan for their photoshoot. Here: Marisa Papen's Egyptian photo shoot. (Photo by Jesse Walker/Marisa Papen/CEN)





The nude model jailed for a photoshoot inside an Egyptian temple has caused outrage once again after posing naked in front of the holy Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Belgian model Marisa Papen became the centre of a worldwide controversy when she was imprisoned for the night after posing naked in the vast temple complex of Karnak near the Egyptian city of Luxor. Here: Marisa Papen in front of the Wailing Wall. (Photo by Mathias Lambrecht/Marisa Papen/CEN)





The nude model jailed for a photoshoot inside an Egyptian temple has caused outrage once again after posing naked in front of the holy Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Here: Marisa Papen straddling an Israeli flag pole. (Photo by Mathias Lambrecht/CEN)





The nude model who caused a worldwide stir after a secret photoshoot inside one of Egypt's most ancient temples landed her in jail has now appeared naked among one of Africa's most colourful ethnic tribes. Belgian nude model Marisa Papen, who describes herself as a “free-spirited and wildhearted expressionist”, became the centre of a worldwide controversy when she ended up in prison after a spectacular photoshoot in the vast temple complex of Karnak near the Egyptian city of Luxor. Now Papen shares another epic story of her African trip with Australian photographer Jesse Walker as she walked naked among the members of an isolated Ethiopian tribe and tells some remarkable stories about how beauty and nudity is seen by them. Papen said: “They have their own customs and believes, their own beauty-standards, their own religion, living life in harmony with nature and the spirit world. You may say, they are totally different then we are. But to me they are, what we once were. In touch with nature, a part of nature, immensely grateful and respectful towards it”. Papen travelled with Walker to the isolated Omo Valley in south-western Ethiopia, where she lived for a week with the Surma tribe. Here: Marisa Papen among members of the Surma tribe in Ethiopia. (Photo by Jesse Walker/Marisa Papen/CEN)





Marisa Papen among members of the Surma tribe in Ethiopia. (Photo by Jesse Walker/Marisa Papen/CEN)





Marisa Papen among members of the Surma tribe in Ethiopia. (Photo by Jesse Walker/Marisa Papen/CEN)