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Less than two weeks ago, Ms Abby Choi was on the cover of fashion and luxury lifestyle magazine L’Officiel Monaco, looking glamorous in a nude-coloured gown.

By Tuesday, the 28-year-old model had been reported missing. And on Friday, her headless body was found in a village house in Tai Po, a suburb in Hong Kong.

Ms Choi, who was a fashion icon and media personality, had made a name for herself as one of the most sought-after influencers in the industry.

She had a keen eye for style and an ability to mix and match pieces in ways that made her a trendsetter. With more than 84,000 followers on Instagram, Ms Choi had fans not only in Hong Kong, but also around the world.

She was a regular attendee of Paris Fashion Week and had been featured in numerous big-name magazines such as Elle, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Ms Choi was reportedly pictured with celebrities such as rapper and producer Pharrell Williams.

“I am a person who keeps absorbing inspiration and always tries new styles. Sometimes, I also try to dress up more extravagantly by mixing and combining different looks,” said Ms Choi in an interview with L’Officiel Monaco published earlier this month.

Born and bred in Hong Kong, she had a reported net worth of around HK$100 million (S$17.2 million) and hailed from a wealthy family with business dealings in China.

One of Ms Choi’s closest friends was Ms Moka Fang, the wife of Hong Kong singer-actor Aaron Kwok. Reports say Ms Choi and Ms Fang often spent time together shopping, travelling and attending parties.

In fact, Ms Choi was a regular at the Kwoks’ mansion, and was reported to have celebrated Mr Kwok’s birthday with his family and friends.

Ms Choi had two children with her former husband,