South African model Reeva Steenkamp died in February 2013 after she was shot at the home of her boyfriend, Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius. She was 29. Pistorius has been convicted of culpable homicide.
(CNN) -- A week before her death, South African model Reeva Steenkamp talked about her secure, blissful environment.
"I woke up in a happy, safe home this morning," she tweeted. "Not everyone did."
Four days after she posted that message, neither did she.
The 29-year-old model was shot dead by her boyfriend at his house in Pretoria. She died on Valentine's Day last year.
Read More: Who is "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius?
Oscar Pistorius reaches out to his uncle Arnold Pistorius and other family members as he is led out of court in Pretoria, South Africa, after being sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday, October 21. Pistorius, the first double-amputee runner to compete in the Olympics, was sentenced for culpable homicide in the February 2013 death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Photos: Oscar Pistorius trial
Her boyfriend, Olympian Oscar Pistorius, 27, has been convicted of culpable homicide, the South African term for unintentionally -- but unlawfully -- killing a person. He was also found guilty of one gun charge in an unrelated shooting at a restaurant.
Pistorius has admitted to shooting Steenkamp but says he mistook her for an intruder.
Beauty and brains
Before she started dating Pistorius, Steenkamp was famous in her own right.
She was a striking, platinum-haired model, gearing up for her reality television debut.
A law school graduate, she had a vibrant personality and a slew of modeling gigs under her belt.
A haunting message
Her growing exposure brought more opportunities. She was a presenter for FashionTV in South Africa, an FHM cover girl and the face of cosmetics company Avon.
FHM described her as a "beautiful, intelligent and warm-hearted woman" who had a "wicked" sense of humor.
"She was the kindest, sweetest human being, an angel on earth," said Capacity Relations, the agency that represented her.
And her fame was growing.
'I don't have any regrets'
Two days after her death, a prerecorded reality show in which she appeared as a contestant aired. In the context of what transpired, her message in it sounds haunting.
"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 as she blew a kiss to the camera.
South Africa's national broadcaster aired the show "Tropika Island of Treasure" showing a clip discussing her exit from the taped program. The show features local celebrities competing for prize money.
Power couple
Steenkamp was born in Cape Town but moved to Johannesburg years ago to pursue modeling.
The two became an item around November 2012, and were popular in South African social circles.
She constantly referred to him as "my boo" on social media and posted pictures of their vacations together. But phone messages read during the trial showed a couple that had some rocky patches as well. In some of the messages, she accused him of being overly jealous and overbearing. But he said he loved her and was planning a life with her.
About a month before her death, the model shared a picture collage that included the runner.
"Some of my favorite people," she described the picture.
Shortly after they met, she posted a message that appeared to make a reference to their love.
"The only guy you need in your life is the one who proves that he needs you in his," she said.
They had big dreams
Pistorius' relatives said she made him happy.
"All of us saw at first hand how close she had become to Oscar during that time and how happy they were," said Arnold Pistorius, his uncle.
Both had big dreams, the uncle said.
"They had plans together and Oscar was happier in his private life than he had been for a long time," he said. "We are all grieving for Reeva, her family and her friends. Oscar -- as you can imagine -- is also numb with shock as well as grief."
The younger Pistorius made history when he became the first Paralympian to compete in the able-bodied Olympics in London in 2012. He ran on special carbon fiber blades affixed to his legs. He was born without the fibulae in his legs, and they were amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old.
Empowering women
Before she died, Steenkamp sent out a message urging her thousands of social media followers to empower women.
"Speak out against the rape of individuals" in South Africa, she said in a post on the photo-sharing site Instagram. "RIP Anene Booysen."
Booysen, 17, was raped and mutilated in South Africa in February 2013, putting a spotlight on violence against women in the nation.
Steenkamp urged her followers on Twitter to wear black the day after Valentine's to protest violence against women.
A tragic end on Valentine's
Steenkamp was 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."
At dawn, she lay dead in a pool of blood.
Before she started dating Pistorius, Steenkamp was famous in her own right. She was a law school graduate with a vibrant personality and a slew of modeling gigs under her belt.
A 21-year-old Steenkamp poses on a beach in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where she grew up. Steenkamp's friend Kerry Smith photographed the aspiring model when she was a law student.
Steenkamp poses for another photo taken by Smith. Steenkamp was born in Cape Town, but she moved to Johannesburg to pursue modeling.
Pistorius admitted to shooting Steenkamp, but he says it was an accident. Prosecutors argue he intentionally killed her after an argument.
Steenkamp appeared as a contestant on a South African reality show, "Tropika Island of Treasure." Her pre-recorded episode aired two days after her death.
Steenkamp served as a presenter for FashionTV in South Africa. She was also an FHM cover girl and the face of cosmetics company Avon.
Steenkamp "was the kindest, sweetest human being; an angel on Earth," said Capacity Relations, the agency that represented her.
Pistorius leaves the high court in Pretoria on Monday, October 13. A judge cleared Pistorius of premeditated murder last month, but he was found guilty of culpable homicide -- the South African term for unintentionally, but unlawfully, killing a person.
Pistorius speaks with his uncle Arnold Pistorius during his trial at the Pretoria High Court on Friday, September 12.
Pistorius cries on the stand in Pretoria on Thursday, September 11, as the judge reads notes while delivering her verdict.
Pistorius arrives at court on September 11.
Pistorius speaks to someone in court as his murder trial resumes in Pretoria on Thursday, August 7.
Pistorius sits in court in Pretoria on Tuesday, July 8.
Pistorius arrives at court in Pretoria on Monday, July 7.
Pistorius yawns during day 37 of his murder trial on June 3.
Pistorius hugs a supporter Wednesday, July 2.
Pistorius listens to evidence being presented in court on Monday, June 30.
Pistorius leaves the court in Pretoria on Tuesday, May 20.
Pistorius reads notes during his trial on Monday, May 12.
Ballistics expert Tom "Wollie" Wolmarans testifies for the defense on May 12.
A red laser dot points at bullet holes in the bathroom door for a forensic demonstration during the trial on May 12. Pistorius admits firing four bullets through the closed door, killing Steenkamp, but says he thought he was protecting himself from a burglar.
Pistorius returns to court as his murder trial resumes Monday, May 5, after a break of more than two weeks.
Pistorius gets a hug from a woman as he leaves court in Pretoria on Wednesday, April 16.
Pistorius rubs his eye Tuesday, April 15, after testifying during his murder trial.
Pistorius arrives at the court in Pretoria on Monday, April 14.
Pistorius' sister, Aimee, cries in court as she listens to her brother's testimony on Tuesday, April 8.
June Steenkamp, Reeva Steenkamp's mother, reacts as she listens to Pistorius' testimony on April 8.
Pistorius is hugged by his aunt Lois Pistorius in court on Monday, April 7.
Pistorius sits inside the courtroom as members of his defense team talk in the foreground Friday, March 28.
Pistorius leaves court on March 28. The trial was delayed until April 7 because one of the legal experts who will assist the judge in reaching a verdict was sick.
Steenkamp's mother, right, and family friend Jenny Strydom react in court Tuesday, March 25, during cross-questioning.
Cell phone analyst Francois Moller testifies during the trial on March 25. Questioned by the prosecution, Moller listed in order the calls made and received by Pistorius after he shot Steenkamp.
Pistorius cries as he sits in the dock during his trial on Monday, March 24.
Pistorius talks to defense attorney Barry Roux on March 24.
Pistorius holds his head while members of his family talk behind him on Tuesday, March 18.
Steenkamp's mother, wearing the white collared shirt, looks on while a police officer takes notes in court March 18.
Pistorius is hugged by his aunt Lois on March 18.
Pistorius takes notes Monday, March 17, as his murder trial enters its third week.
Pistorius covers his head as he listens to forensic evidence Thursday, March 13.
Forensic investigator Johannes Vermeulen, left, is questioned during the trial March 13.
Pistorius listens to questions during his trial on Wednesday, March 12.
A police officer takes part in a court reconstruction March 12. A police forensic expert said Pistorius was on the stumps of his amputated legs when he knocked down a locked toilet door with a cricket bat to reach his shot girlfriend. That counters the track star's assertion he was wearing his prosthetic legs at the time. Defense attorney Barry Roux countered by suggesting that even with his prosthetic legs on, Pistorius would not be swinging a bat at the same height as an able-bodied person.
Pistorius listens to cross-questioning on Monday, March 10.
Friends of Steenkamp's family watch Pistorius during his trial on March 7.
Pistorius covers his ears on Thursday, March 6, as a witness speaks about the morning Steenkamp was killed.
Pistorius' sister, Aimee, right, speaks with members of Steenkamp's family on March 6.
Pistorius sits in court on the third day of his trial Wednesday, March 5.
Pistorius appears on the second day of his trial Tuesday, March 4.
Members of the media work during a break in proceedings March 4.
Pistorius talks with Roux inside the court on March 4.
Pistorius speaks with his legal representatives on March 4.
Pistorius is escorted out of the court Monday, March 3, after the first day of his murder trial.
People try to get a glimpse of Pistorius as he leaves the court building on March 3.
Pistorius is seen shortly after arriving for his trial on March 3.
Pistorius walks into the courtroom on March 3.
Pistorius takes a drink of water March 3 during his trial.
The case has captivated South Africa. Here, Lauren Wentzel watches the proceedings from her home outside Cape Town on March 3.
June Steenkamp arrives at the court building for the start of the trial.
Pistorius' relatives wait inside the courtroom on March 3.
People at the court building wait for Pistorius' arrival on March 3.
