Family, friends and colleagues of Sophie Fraser-Smith have paid tributes to her kindness, humility and beauty as both a model and a person.

The 21-year-old’s life was claimed on July 18 in a collision on Middle Road in Southampton — making her the eighth road fatality of 2017.

Christopher Vee, one of Bermuda’s top make-up artists who worked with Ms Fraser-Smith for five years, described the promising model as an “inspiration” and “a wonderful soul”.

“From the moment I met her, you could just see that she was a genuine person: she was real and she was very kind and sweet and very, very professional — one of those people you just knew had a very good soul,” he said.

Modelling coach Lamont Robinson knew her as a “bright-eyed girl” when she started working with him at age ten. He felt that Sophie’s attentiveness and amicability not only gave her the perfect personality for modelling, but made her a joy to be around.

“You could pretty much ask anyone I’ve worked with: if you gave her a task she’d do it with energy; if it wasn’t easy enough she’d come back better prepared the next time,” Mr Robinson told The Royal Gazette. “She’s a loss not just to her family — she’s a loss to the world.”

Academic and interested in art, Ms Fraser-Smith used her work to highlight conditions in sweatshops, and ranged from studio shoots to swimwear.

She was discovered in 2011 by the UK agency Top Model, and took part in the Top Model Worldwide 2012 competition, winning a special beautiful skin award and coming runner-up in the commercial category. She became a Top Model runway coach, Top Model finalist mentor and London Fashion Week regular.

In a statement, Top Model creative director Geoff Cox said the group was “devastated to announce the tragic passing of our dear friend and colleague”.

“Our love and thoughts are with her Mum Lisa and all of her family at this impossibly difficult time.”

The agency has since postponed selection interviews for the Top Model 2018 show which were scheduled for Saturday, July 29.

Photographer Mike Jones, who worked with Ms Fraser-Smith since she was 15, said that, despite moving to the UK at 18 for a job with Leni’s Model Agency, she consistently kept in touch to set up photo shoots when she came back.

“[She was] very punctual, hard-working and creative, suggesting additional ideas above the original concept and often coming up with the shoot concept on her own,” said Mr Jones.

“She would do her own research and collect inspirational images from the web and then present her ideas to me to see if the concept was feasible.”

Fellow model and close friend Katherine Arnfield had been with Ms Fraser-Smith since 14 after modelling and attending Bermuda High School together.

Ms Arnfield saw her as honest, hard-working to fault, and “the sweetest person of the [friend] group”.

“She was honestly the nicest, most bubbly person I’ve ever met,” she added. “It just feels so surreal.”

Childhood friend Phoebe Barboza agreed, calling her a special person who was much more than just a model.

“There are so many things I could say about that beautiful girl — her soul outshines anybody I have ever met. No words will ever be able to express how wonderful and strong she was. She was my best friend and we loved her every day and will never stop.”

Ms Fraser-Smith was the youngest of an extensive family. Her father, Laidlaw Fraser-Smith, was a celebrated dentist and musician who passed away from cancer several years ago.

She was enrolled at Queen Mary University of London for business management, and had just completed her second year.

A truck driver involved in Tuesday’s crash, described by police as a 40-year-old Pembroke man, was arrested on suspicion of impaired driving. He passed breath tests, and has since been released on police bail.

Witnesses who have not yet come forward are urged to contact Constable Walter Jackson on 247-1230, or by e-mail at wjackson@bps.bm.