An absorbent article such as a sanitary towel, diaper, incontinence protector or panty liner, has a substantially elongated shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and has two side edges, a front edge and a rear edge, a front portion, a rear portion, and a middle portion located between the front portion and the rear portion. The article includes a shaping element. The shaping element includes at least two substantially elongated blanks which are cross-laid in an at least partially overlapping and substantially X-shaped configuration. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article permits improved manufacture of the article, with less material wastage.