Hours before her death, Reeva Steenkamp could barely conceal her excitement about her first Valentine’s Day with Oscar Pistorius.
The blonde model asked her followers on Twitter: ‘What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow??? #getexcited.’
The 30-year-old law graduate added: ‘It should be a day of love for everyone. May it be blessed!’
For her, it never came. She was killed in the early hours of Valentine’s Day, shot dead at her boyfriend’s home in Pretoria.
She had a law degree under her belt, enjoyed immense success as a top model and was dating one of the most famous athletes in the world.
But the girlfriend of 'Blade Runner' Pistorius had her promising young life cut tragically short after she was allegedly shot dead by the Paralympian at his mansion.
Miss Steenkamp, 30, was about to embark on the next stage of her dynamic and varied career, this time as a TV star, when she was killed in what early reports suggested was a Valentine's Day surprise that went horribly wrong.
She was shot in the head, the chest and the arm at around 4am this morning, South African police have said.
Pistorius, who reportedly may have mistaken her for a burglar, has been charged with her murder.
Miss Steenkamp's publicist, Sarit Tomlinson, said the couple had been together for a 'couple of months' in what had been a 'healthy, fabulous relationship'.
She told Sky News: ‘She was the sweetest human being and an absolute angel on earth. She was the kindest, most unbelievable girl.
'At the moment it’s shocking. No-one knows what’s happened. She was a rising star.
'There was so much in the pipeline for her: she was just about to explode into the media.
‘She was a very talented, very bright young girl. It’s too shocking for words.
'It is a huge loss for everyone and our condolences go out to her family. It is about them right now.'
Miss Steenkamp was born in Cape Town on August 19, 1983, and moved to Port Elizabeth as a child where she grew up with her mother June and father Barry, a racehorse trainer.
'Angel on Earth': Reeva Steenkamp's publicist described her as 'the sweetest human being'
She became a keen horse rider but broke her back in an horrific fall six years ago, suffering injuries so severe that she had to learn to walk again.
Her rehabilitation may have brought her into Pistorius's path, and friends said she had admired his single-minded determination to race.
She moved to Johannesburg six years ago and since then has travelled between the city and Cape Town to film and shoot some of South Africa's leading campaigns and commercials.
Toyota, FHM, Clover and Italian brand Zui are some of the more prestigious clients she has worked for.
Scroll down for video
Diverse career: Having graduated with a law degree, Miss Steenkamp went on to become an FHM cover girl
Miss Steenkamp was killed at 4am after Pistorius
(right) allegedly mistook her for a burglar in what may have been a
Valentine's Day surprise that went horribly wrong
Together: This picture posted on Pistorius's Twitter page appears to show the pair at a party with friends
'It was a nerve-wracking experience. As I walked out I got the call for the FHM shoot as well as two others. I made a decision to take the modelling shoots.
'I believe in destiny and faith.'
With a background in TV presenting - she was once the live roaming presenter for FashionTV in South Africa - Miss Steenkamp had recently been working on some major projects that include smaller TV roles as well as a lead in a new reality TV show.
Her Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages paint an image of a young, vibrant woman living life to the full and enjoying the trappings of wealth that come with a career in the public eye.
According to her Facebook page, she had a passion for cars and cooking and prefers to read a book on her off days and spend quality time with friends and family.
She described herself on Twitter as 'SA Model, FHM Cover Girl, Tropika Island of Treasure Celeb Contestant, Law Graduate, Ambassador, Child of God'.
This weekend, Steenkamp was set to star in South African reality television series Tropika Island Of Treasure, in which celebrities and ordinary people compete in remote, exotic locations in a variety of daily challenges.
On the show's website, a tribute to Steenkamp says: 'We are deeply saddened and extend our condolences to Reeva's family and friends.'
Stunning: The 30-year-old modelled for major companies such as Toyota Clover, Pallu (left) and Zui (right)
Beautiful: Miss Steenkamp started her modelling career after being named the first face of Avon South Africa
Face of South Africa: The model moved to
Johannesburg six years ago and since then has travelled between the city
and Cape Town to shoot some of the country's leading campaigns and
commercials
'She was a vibrant, friendly, diligent, and motivated student who was popular with and respected by staff and peers alike,' he said.
'The St Dominic's Priory school community in Port Elizabeth is both shocked and saddened by Reeva Steenkamp's sudden and tragic death.'
Mr Stokell said the model achieved recognition for her good academic results, her participation in hockey and swimming, and in her capacity as a house captain.
She graduated with a law degree at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
'From young, Reeva had the full support of her parents who encouraged her to maximise her strengths and abilities to achieve her dreams.
'She set high goals for herself in everything she did and she consistently converted opportunities into success,' he said.
Pistorius was first seen with Miss Steenkamp last November at an awards ceremony, but she said they were 'just friends'
Intelligent: Miss Steenkamp graduated with a law degree at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Athletes also joined fans in paying tribute.London 2012 heptathlon gold medallist Jessica Ennis spoke of her shock on Twitter, describing the 'the horrendous news' as 'an awful tragedy'.
Former heptathlon Olympic champion Denise Lewis added: 'Not a good morning athletics fans - News reports on Oscar Pistorius are unbelievable'.
Messages were also flooding onto Miss Steenkamp's Facebook page.
Lorinda Hector said: 'I cannot believe what I am hearing and seeing. What a beautiful woman of God she was.
'Love and prayers to her family and friends. May you know God's love and comfort at this time.'
Liz Rudy added: 'My condolences to the Steenkamp family. Such a tragic loss on what should have been a day of Love. RIP.'
Glamorous: Miss Steenkamp had recently been
working on some major projects that included smaller TV roles as well as
a lead in a new reality TV show
Car fan: Miss Steenkamp revealed her love of Minis by posting this picture on her Facebook page
Canine capers: The FHM cover girl earns the affection of some eager puppies at a dog kennels
Pistorius was first seen with Miss
Steenkamp at an awards ceremony in South Africa last November. At the time, the FHM model said the pair were 'just friends'.
Her apparent coyness was perhaps understandable given Pistorius's notoriously complex love life, possibly brought about by his sudden financial and sporting success.
The Johannesburg-born sportsman was born without fibulas in his legs and had his limbs amputated below the knee when he was just 11 months old.
But he has become one of the world's most recognisable sportsmen.
Valentine's Day surprise gone wrong? Miss
Steenkamp was shot in the head, the chest and the arm at around 4am this
morning at Pistorius's mansion near Johannesburg, police said
An item: Miss Steenkamp was first spotted with Pistorius at an awards ceremony in South Africa in November
Happy: Reeva Steenkamp (left) at the Elizabeth Arden re-launch party in Edgars Sandton City in November
'Motivated student': Miss Steenkamp's former headmaster Greg Stokell said she was respected by all
His
trademark carbon-fibre running blades mean he revels in the moniker 'the
fastest man on no legs' and he is first double amputee to run in the Olympics and to reach the 400 semi-finals in London 2012.The 26-year-old sportsman has a history of risk taking and also, reportedly, of violence.
In November last year, he reportedly 'threatened to break the legs of the friend of a man whom he believed had slept with his then girlfriend, who is not Miss Steenkamp.
According to newspaper reports, the sportsman approached South African football player Marc Batchelor in the VIP room of a horse racing track and verbally threatened him.
Before he got together with Miss Steenkamp, Pistorius had spent a year-and-a-half dating Cape Town marketing student Samantha Taylor.
VIDEO Reeva posed for men's magazines and acted on TV & commercials
Outgoing: Miss Steenkamp poses for a picture which was posted on her Twitter page
Leading lady: Miss Steenkamp (left) was born in
Cape Town before moving to Port Elizabeth as a child where she gained
her law degree
Having fun: Pistorius with Miss Steenkamp at Tashas All White Party at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg
When it became clear that Pistorius and Steenkamp were in fact dating, Miss Taylor said: 'Oscar has such a way with women. She’s probably not the only one he’s got.'
Miss Taylor went on to tell South Africa's City Press newspaper that 'Oscar is certainly not what people think he is.'
But Miss Steenkamp appeared to take a very different view.
Last Sunday she was quoted in a local newspaper as saying that Pistorius was 'an impeccable man who always has her best interests at heart'.
And on February 1, she tweeted to Pistorius telling him he was 'beautiful'.
She wrote: 'He certainly doesn't need more followers but he's beautiful to look at & says some smart stuff too ;)'
She also hinted that their relationship had become more serious.
She shared a photograph of a designer wedding dress with the words; 'I'm in LOVE.'
Her brother told the Daily Mail that she had told her family about the relationship and said the pair seemed 'very happy'.
On her instagram site, Miss Steenkamp's last entry four days ago read: 'I woke up in a happy safe home this morning. Not everyone did.
'Speak out against the rape of individuals in SA. RIP Anene Booysen.'
The message referred to a woman who was gang-raped, murdered and mutilated at a construction site in a rural town some 130km (80 miles) from Cape Town, on February 1.
A post on the same site two weeks ago shared a poster detailing the joys of finding love.
The poster read: 'It's beautiful when you find someone that is in love with your mind.
Full of life: According to her Facebook page
(above), Miss Steenkamp had a passion for cars and cooking, prefers to
read a book on her off days and spend quality time with friends and
family
Message: Reeva yesterday went on to Twitter to say how excited she was about Valentine's Day
'Someone that wants to watch you slowly take down all the walls you've built up around your mind and let them inside.'
In december following the Sandy Hook school massacre in the US, she also supported calls for greater gun control.
Just yesterday, she also spoke excitedly on Twitter about Valentine's Day.
Replying to a follower, she later added: 'That sounds amazing! Wow that's what it's all about! It should be a day of love for everyone :) may it be blessed!'
Hours later, she was dead.
Her brother Adam, 36, who lives near Newmarket, Suffolk, with his wife and two children, said he hoped to fly out to South Africa to be with his relatives there.
He told the Daily Mail: 'It is a very difficult time. I haven’t seen my sister for six years – we live in different countries – but we were still very close and kept it touch.
‘She is my baby sister at the end of the day. It is a complete shock.’
Glamorous: Reeva Steenkamp as pictured on her Facebook page
He added: ‘She hadn’t been dating Oscar for very long, but from what I gather from her, they were very happy.’
Mr Steenkamp’s wife Victoria, 35, said: ‘It is a complete shock, we can’t believe what has happened.
As you can imagine, we are a bit all over the place and don’t know what to think.’
Miss Steenkamp’s cousin Deon wrote on Facebook: ‘RIP cuz this is tragic we will always remember your stunning smile brightening up everyone’s world.’
Her former headmaster at St Dominic’s Priory School in Port Elizabeth, Greg Stokell, described Miss Steenkamp as a keen hockey player and swimmer who had achieved good academic qualifications.
He said: ‘She was a vibrant, friendly, diligent and motivated student who was popular with and respected by staff and peers alike.
‘Reeva had the full support of her parents who encouraged her to maximise her strengths and abilities to achieve her dreams.
‘She set high goals for herself in everything she did and she consistently converted opportunities into success.’ Mr Stokell added that her parents were ‘devastated’.
No comments:
Post a Comment