Mike Holmes/The Herald/Gallo Images/Getty ImagesReeva Steenkamp was not only a kind, caring soul to her friends, but she was also beloved among those who worked with her.
Rikki Hibbert, a photographer acquaintance of the model, spoke to E! News exclusively about Steenkamp's stint on her upcoming reality TV series before she was allegedly gunned down at the hands of her Olympic track star boyfriend Oscar Pistorius.
"She was the mother figure among the contestants," Hibbert said. "She was always laughing, smiling and nurturing those around her."
The shutterbug spent two and a half weeks with Reeva in Jamaica filming Tropika Island of Treasure 5, which is scheduled to premiere this Saturday in South Africa.
While Hibbert didn't know Steenkamp very well and knew nothing about her relationship with the disabled athlete who's accused of killing her Thursday morning, the photog recalled that the blond bombshell got along with everybody on set.
"She was always laughing, smiling and nurturing those around her," added Hibbert. "She was one of the few contestants that took the show seriously and didn't party wildly. Everyone loved her and looked up to her."