Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp was born in Cape Town on 19 August 1983 to horse trainer Barry Steenkamp and his second wife June. The family later moved to Port Elizabeth, where Reeva completed a law degree at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. She describes herself as 'SA Model, FHM Cover Girl, Tropika Island of Treasure Celeb Contestant, Law Graduate, Ambassador, Child of God' on Twitter.Instagram/Reeva Steenkamp 
Steenkamp began modelling at the age of 14 and was a finalist in the Weekend Post Faces of the Future competition in 2004 and in the Herald Miss Port Elizabeth contest in 2005. Kerry Smith, a close friend from the university, had told the BBC that Steenkamp was "more than just a pretty ace, she had a beautiful heart and ambition". However, it was a horse riding accident that brought her out of her shell and inspired her to move to Johannesburg and further her modelling career.Instagram/ Reeva Steenkamp 
In the following years, her fame grew and she served as a presenter for FashionTV in South Africa and become FHM cover girl. She was also the face of cosmetics company Avon. This picture was posted when she was signed as one of the brand ambassadors for Minue Skin SA. She had also starred in a television reality show called Tropika Island of Treasure – the last episode of which aired two days after her death. "I'm going home with sort of a sweet taste in my mouth. I don't have any regrets. I don't have any bitterness. I'm going to miss you all so much and I love you very very much," she said and blew a kiss to the camera during her departure from the show.Instagram/ Reeva Steenkamp 
Steenkamp was also involved in many charities, especially for women suffering from violence and abuse. Before moving to Johannesburg, Steenkamp had allegedly been involved with an emotionally abusive man and because of the trauma she suffered, she wanted to open a shelter for abused women and children. On the day before her death, she had urged her followers on Twitter to wear black the day after Valentine's Day in protest at violence against women and had she lived, she would have delivered a speech to a group of teenage girls, urging them not to give in to emotional abuse. She had posted graffiti of domestic abuse on her Instagram profile with the caption, "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. #rape #crime #sayNO"Instagram/ Reeva Steenkamp 
Steenkamp, had faced two near-death experiences, before succumbing to death last year. At the age of five, she nearly bled to death after suffering complications when she had her tonsils taken out. Then, at 19 she broke her back in a horrific horse-riding fall on their farm, suffering injuries so severe that she was forced to learn to walk again – an experience that may have brought her closer to Oscar Pistorius years later.Instagram/ Reeva Steenkamp 
Pistorius met Steenkamp on 4 November 2013 and were allegedly drawn to each other instantly, with tweets about each other and openly admitting their affection to the media. About a month before her death, Steenkamp had posted a picture on Instagram with the caption "Some of my favourite people" and had Oscar Pitronius on the forefront. Steenkamp was evidently looking forward to Valentine's Day. "What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow?" she asked her Twitter followers the day before. "Get excited." There was an unopened Valentine's Day gift on the table next to her lifeless body that read, "Roses are red, violets are blue. Today is a good day to tell you that... I love you".Instagram/ Reeva Steenkamp
Oscar Pistrorius and Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp -- their's must be the most high-profile story this year, with the paralympic star boyfriend going on trial for the murder of his supermodel girlfriend.
When the famed "Blade Runner" was first introduced to Steenkamp by a mutual friend in November 2012, he fell for her very quickly, by his own admission. "I think if anything I was maybe more into her than she was at times to me. I let her just take her space but it wasn't always easy, I was besotted," Pistorius had revealed during the murder trial.
Steenkamp too, was quite happy with the relationship and just three days after they met, tweeted: "The only guy you need in your life is the one who proves that he needs you in his." Two days after that, she added: "Blessed beyond words...."
Even their friends said they were clearly in love and happy, despite mentions of rows and Pistorius's temper.
On 1 February 2013, 13 days before her death, Steenkamp had tweeted a picture of Pistorious, saying he was "beautiful to look at".
He certainly doesn't need more followers but he's beautiful to look at & says some smart stuff too ;) @OscarPistorius pic.twitter.com/GtV2y4ay
— Reeva Steenkamp (@reevasteenkamp) February 1, 2013
