Less than a month back, Brazilian model Mariana Bridi da Costa was hale and hearty, on the verge of an international modeling career which was not to be! In late December, an insidious disease struck her and rang the death knell; and she breathed her last, at the Dorio Silva Hospital in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo, on Saturday.

It was Septicemia - a little-known deadly illness - that caused necrosis, a rapid deadening of tissue, which snuffed life out of the 20-year-old budding model. A bacterial infection sets off Septicemia resulting in inflammation and insufficient blood flow, leading to organ failure.

The initial diagnosis in Da Costa's case was a urinary tract infection that had developed into septicemia, before it could be detected. As the amount of oxygen being delivered to her limbs reduced, doctors had no option but to amputate her hands and her feet.

With her despoiled body, and part of her stomach as well as both kidneys extracted, Da Costa was breathing through a respirator. According to an email by Henrique Fontes, executive director Miss World Brazil, "Mari couldn't resist any longer. She passed away at 3 a. m. Saturday."

Bagging the sixth place in last year's Miss Bikini International competition in China, Da Costa was first in the "Best in Swimsuit" category. In 2007-08, she became Brazil's entrant for the Miss World beauty pageant.

Da Costa's fiancé, Thiago Simoes, said she was few steps from international stardom!!