Iraqi model, social media sensation Tara Fares shot dead in Baghdad

Tara Fares, a resident of Ebril, was well-known in Iraq as a model and social media fashion icon.

She was taken to Baghdad's Sheik Zayed hospital where doctors reported that the model had at least three bullet wounds, reported The Independent newspaper of the UK.

She was followed by over 2 million netizens on Instagram.

The identities of gunmen who attacked her are still not known.

In a statement, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior said investigations into the killing of the model had begun, reported Kurdistan 24.

In the final post on the model's social media platform, one could see a black-and-white photo of Fares with a message mourning her passing.

As per The Independent report, the model was well known on Iraq's fledgling beauty pageant circuit and had competed in the Miss Iraq and Miss Baghdad contests.

Social media users react:

Meanwhile, social media is buzzing with tweets as people reacted to the death of Tara.

One Fara Shakarkendi tweeted: "Really shocked at the tragic murder of Iraqi model Tara Fares. I knew her thru a friend. Tara began her journey when she competed in Miss Baghdad contest in 2014. She was living in Erbil for a while & became lifestyle insta sensation with 2.6 mil followers."

Aother Moezx Al tweeted: "To all those religious iraqis out there that think iraq belongs ONLY to their religion. You want to be religious put a scarf on, pray etc, dont be Happy for the death of a girl like Tara Fares. Iraq is everyone not only for you."

Another Lara posted: "I was never a fan of Tara Fares but it saddens me to know that people like that still exist within our society. Feeling the need to murder one, simply because they go against whats considered normal."