Scouse supermodel Hollie-May Saker punches topless protester at Paris Fashion Week

 
FEMEN: The Ukranian group stormed the stage during the Nina Ricci show
AFP/Getty
Jamie Lewis27 September 2013

A British supermodel blamed her "Scouse-ness" after she punched a half-naked, feminist protester on the catwalk during Paris Fashion Week.

Hollie-May Saker, 18, from Liverpool, was modelling during the Nina Ricci show in the French capital yesterday when two topless protesters invaded the stage.

The protesters, who were from feminist group FEMEN, had "Model, don't go to brothel" written on their bare chests.

Anfield born Saker, who has been tipped to be the next Kate Moss, said it was one of the biggest shocks of her life.

“I punched her – I didn’t mean to but she grabbed my arm and I just wanted to get her off me," she said.

“I was the 19th girl out of the catwalk and I could hear screaming behind me.

“The next thing I just see half-naked women with black marker pen scrawled across their bare chests and that’s when she came at me.

Saker, who began modelling at just 16, was quick to tell reporters at the Liverpool Echo that she was only retaliating, and not instigating.

“As she grabbed by arm she lifted by skirt exposing me – I pulled my arm back with such force that I landed a punch square on her nose.

“I was so angry but I knew I had to be professional so I carried on walking with a bit of sassiness. My Scouseness came out a bit but I wish it had come out a bit more. Thinking about it now I wish I’d pushed them both off the stage because they ruined my favourite show."

“I had been looking forward to the Nina Ricci show for so long, whether I was modelling in it or not, it’s such a beautiful collection.

“I was really worried to come back stage but nobody said anything – I felt bad the moment it happened and I was very shaken up by it.

“I think if it had happened two years ago I would have run straight off the catwalk. It could have been worse, I could have fallen over.”

Feminist protest group FEMEN are known for protesting completely topless.

Just last week a pair of activists made their way onto live TV during a broadcast of Germany's Next Top Model.

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