A model who was "the light in every room or party" has been pictured after she tragically died in a flat after a horrific blaze on New Year's Day.
Sofia Duarte, 21, was unable to get out after a fire above a Nigerian restaurant Calabar Zone on Old Kent Road around 5pm last Sunday.
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters raced to the scene with witnesses saying that the fire ripped through the building in under two minutes, reported MyLondon.
Family friend Alda Simoes said: "We are all thinking, why why stay in the building. I have been there, she could have jumped. We are all wondering... She was our queen, she knew what she wanted and she would go for it... Sofia was full on and loved her life."
She revealed the bartender, who worked at Fabric in Farringdon, was visiting her boyfriend when she got caught in the flaming building.
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The building where the fire broke out on Old Kent RoadSofia also worked as a model and had been in Dubai, reported the Evening Standard.
Writing on GoFundMe, she said: "Our Sofia was the light in every room or party and no day was the same as another, as Sofia lived life to the fullest. For everyone that knew Sofia, knows that Sofia loved her family dearly and she had so many friends and so many stories to tell as she grown into the beautiful young lady that she was and always will be for anyone that loves her."
"No parent, brother, anyone should go through this and we want to be here and do all we can for her at this devastating moment," Alda added.
The family are now raising money for her cremation, and have promised to give Sofia "the send off you deserve".
Sofiane Bouslama was sitting in a nearby cafe when the fire erupted and said "I saw the guy screaming from the window asking for help. Some people tried to break the door to help him but they couldn't, the lock was so strong."
Another witness Omar Amjad said: "It started upstairs. A couple came out of the bottom window and another guy came out butt naked, he did not wear anything. Everyone was screaming from the outside. Some people threw him clothes then he went away and no-one saw him.
"Flames were just flying out. It was two minutes and the whole building was on fire... When it started I thought everyone came out. People were trying to knock the door out but they could not open it. When the fire brigade came they smashed it down. If she jumped she would have broken her leg [at worst]. I do not know why she did not try to jump out."
Police are now investigating the cause of the fire.
A spokesperson said: "Police were called to Old Kent Road, SE1, shortly before 17.00hrs on Sunday, 1 January to reports of a fire. Officers attended along with London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service.
"Residents were evacuated and road closures were put in place. Sadly, one woman, believed to be in her 20s, died at the scene. A crime scene has been put in place. Enquiries as to the cause of the fire are ongoing."
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