PARIS — A postage stamp depicting France's cultural symbol, Marianne, has touched off a flurry of controversy after one of its creators revealed it was inspired by a topless feminist activist who hacked down a Christian cross in Kyiv last year with a chainsaw. The new stamp depicts a youthful Marianne, a symbol of the French republic, wearing a Phrygian conical cap but does not show her topless. It was unveiled by French President Francois Hollande on Sunday as part of Bastille Day celebrations. Photographer and designer Olivier Ciappa said on Twitter that he was >>>

PARIS – A new stamp emblazoned with the face of Marianne, France’s revolutionary symbol, has caused a stir after its creator said it was inspired by a Ukrainian feminist known for topless protests. The stamp, unveiled by President Francois Hollande on Sunday’s national day, shows the face of a youthful, dewy-eyed Marianne from the shoulders up, her long hair flowing down and her hand raised. “For all those who ask who the model was for Marianne, it’s a mix of several women, but particularly Inna Shevchenko,” Olivier Ciappa, one of the stamp’s designers, said >>>

"For all those who ask who the model was for Marianne, it's a mix of several women, but particularly Inna Shevchenko," Olivier Ciappa, one of the stamp's designers, said on his Twitter account. The 23-year-old Shevchenko, who has been granted political asylum in France, is the leader of the French branch of Femen, a group which began in Ukraine and describes itself as "radical feminist". It is best known for topless protests and frequently targets Catholic or Muslim religious authorities. Most of its activists are in their twenties and some older feminists dismiss Inna Shevchenko as >>>

PARIS (AP) — The new face of France — or at least the official postage stamp for the President Francois Hollande era — is modeled after a Ukrainian woman who takes her top off to defend feminist causes.Not everyone thinks that's appropriate, and some are calling for a boycott.Hollande on Sunday unveiled the new stamp, meant to represent Marianne, a symbol of France since the revolution and French youth. Afterward, artist Olivier Ciappa said the image was modeled largely after Inna Shevchenko, an activist with the group Femen who received political asylum in France.Hollande's office >>>

PARIS (AP) — The new face of France — or at least the official postage stamp for the President Francois Hollande era — is modeled after a Ukrainian woman who takes her top off to defend feminist causes.Not everyone thinks that's appropriate, and some are calling for a boycott.Hollande on Sunday unveiled the new stamp, meant to represent Marianne, a symbol of France since the revolution and French youth. Afterward, artist Olivier Ciappa said the image was modeled largely after Inna Shevchenko, an activist with the group Femen who received political asylum in France.Hollande's office >>>

PARIS (AP) — The new face of France — or at least the official postage stamp for the President Francois Hollande era — is modeled after a Ukrainian woman who takes her top off to defend feminist causes.Not everyone thinks that's appropriate, and some are calling for a boycott.Hollande on Sunday unveiled the new stamp, meant to represent Marianne, a symbol of France since the revolution and French youth. Afterward, artist Olivier Ciappa said the image was modeled largely after Inna Shevchenko, an activist with the group Femen who received political asylum in France.Hollande's office >>>

15 July 2013 Last updated at 17:30 GMT Francois Hollande unveiled a demure-looking Marianne for the new stamp as part of Bastille Day celebrations The artist who designed the new Marianne image for French stamps has revealed that he was inspired by topless activist Inna Shevchenko. The Ukrainian, who belongs to the protest group Femen, was recently granted political asylum in France. Artist Olivier Ciappa said the original Marianne - traditionally depicted with bare breasts >>>

(Paris, FRA) - A new stamp emblazoned with the face of Marianne, France's revolutionary symbol, has caused a stir after its creator said it was inspired by a Ukrainian feminist known for topless protests.  The stamp, unveiled by President Francois Hollande on Sunday's national day, shows the face of a youthful, dewy-eyed Marianne from the shoulders up, her long hair flowing down and her hand raised.  "For all those who ask who the model was for Marianne, it's a mix of several women, but particularly Inna Shevchenko," Olivier Ciappa, one of the stamp's designers, said on his Twitter account.  The >>>

TAGS: europefemenfeminismfrancefrancois hollandeinna shevchenkomariannemarianne stamppoliticstopless protests Related Entries ‘I Think I’m an Interesting Woman’ Snowden Leaks Reveal American Trojan Horse in Europe America’s New Cold War: Why the Allies Side With Snowden European Officials Angered Over Reports NSA Spied on Them Email to a friend Get truth delivered to your inbox every week. Previous item: U.S. Ranks 27th in Health Care Next item: >>>

The stamp, unveiled by President Francois Hollande on Sunday's national day, shows the face of a youthful, dewy-eyed Marianne from the shoulders up, her long hair flowing down and her hand raised."For all those who ask who the model was for Marianne, it's a mix of several women, but particularly Inna Shevchenko," Olivier Ciappa, one of the stamp's designers, said on his Twitter account.The 23-year-old Shevchenko, a Ukrainian who has been granted political asylum in France, is the leader of the French branch of Femen, a self-declared "radical feminist" group known for its topless protests against >>>