PARIS, April 16, 2009 (AFP) - Feminist activists wearing fake beards staged a bizarre protest against L'Oreal in central Paris on Thursday 16 April, saying the company did not have enough women managers despite being a cosmetics producer.

Photo : Guillaume Clement/AFP

"There are very few women in the board of directors at L'Oreal, three women out of 14 people," said Gaelle Krikorian, one of around a dozen activists outside the company's annual general meeting in the Louvre museum complex.

Mimicking L'Oreal's famous advertising slogan, activists handed out a leaflet entitled "Because you're worth it" and held up placards with photos of company directors all with beards scrawled on their faces, including the women.

L'Oreal has defended itself against charges of discrimination and sponsors prizes and fellowships every year to encourage women in science. A division of the company was found guilty of racial discrimination in France in 2007.