A woman has been sentenced to prison over the death of a Kim Kardashian lookalike model who died after receiving illegal silicone buttock injections in a hotel room.
Vivian Alexandra Gomez, 53, was sentenced to four years in prison on Monday (June 15) after being convicted of felony involuntary manslaughter and practicing medicine without a licence.
The case centres on the death of Christina Ashten Gourkani, a 34-year-old OnlyFans model who had built a large online following through her resemblance to reality TV star Kim Kardashian.
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Prosecutors said Gourkani underwent an illegal cosmetic procedure in April 2023 at a hotel near San Francisco International Airport rather than in a licensed medical facility, as reported by NBC Bay Area.
According to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, Gomez travelled from Florida to California and administered silicone injections to Gourkani’s buttocks.
Authorities said Gourkani became ill shortly after the procedure and later died from respiratory failure.
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe previously said the model suffered cardiac arrest following the treatment.
Prosecutors also reported that silicone was found in her bloodstream.
Gomez was found guilty earlier this year of involuntary manslaughter and practising medicine without a licence before being sentenced this week.
The case attracted widespread attention due to Gourkani’s online popularity and has renewed warnings about the dangers of unlicensed cosmetic procedures, as reported by Need To Know.
Following her death, Gourkani’s family paid tribute to her on a fundraising page, describing her as someone who would “forever be our guardian angel”.
The model had amassed thousands of followers online through her content and striking resemblance to Kardashian.
Medical experts have repeatedly warned about the risks associated with illegal silicone injections.
According to prosecutors, Gomez left California after carrying out the procedure and returned to Florida, where she was later arrested on a warrant before being transferred back to California to face charges.
The sentencing brings to a close a case that began more than three years ago with the death of a social media personality whose family said she was deeply loved and is greatly missed.
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