NYC ex-model sues over use of photo in comedy film

Thu Mar 11, 9:08 pm ET

NEW YORK A former model says she's appalled that her nearly decade-old bikini

photo became a randy prop in the film "Couple's Retreat."

Irina Krupnik filed a $10 million defamation lawsuit Thursday in a New York

City court against NBC Universal. It distributed the 2009 Vince Vaughn comedy.

Krupnik acknowledges she gave rights to the 2001 picture to a stock agency,

which apparently sold it to the filmmakers. The lawsuit says a character in the

movie uses her photo as a sexual aid.

Krupnik's lawsuit says she never would have allowed the picture to be

transformed from "a commonplace swimwear ad to softcore pornography." The

30-year-old makeup artist says it's hurting her reputation.

NBC Universal says it had the rights to use the photo.