Oscar Pistorius: FHM model Reeva Steenkamp was about to 'explode in the media', claims devastated agent

Tragic: 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

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.

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

Miss Steenkamp's former headmaster Greg Stokell said she was popular and respected by all.
'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.

Valentine's Day surprise gone wrong? Miss Steenkamp was shot in the head, the chest and the arm at around 4am this moing at Pistorius's mansion near Johannesburg, police said

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 moing 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.'

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

Leading lady: Miss Steenkamp (left) was bo 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

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-bo sportsman was bo 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.

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.

But even while he was with Miss Taylor, he was linked with numerous other women, including Russian model Anastassia Khozissova.

When it became clear that Pistorius and Steenkamp were in fact dating, the 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.'

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