Jury Convicts Cosmetologist in Model's Fatal Illegal Injections

A San Mateo County jury convicted a Florida-based cosmetologist on Tuesday of involuntary manslaughter and practicing medicine without a license in connection with the 2023 death of a 34-year-old social media model during an illegal cosmetic procedure in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Vivian Alexandra Gomez, 53, of Palm Beach County, Florida, administered silicone injections to Christina Ashten Gourkani's buttocks in a hotel room at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront in Burlingame on April 19, 2023. Gourkani, a Bay Area resident known online as Ashten G for her resemblance to Kim Kardashian, had sought the procedure to enhance her figure for her presence on platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and OnlyFans. Prosecutors described the injections as unapproved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, noting that free-floating silicone poses severe health risks, including entry into the bloodstream.

According to trial testimony, Gomez, who lacked medical credentials, met Gourkani and her fiancé at the hotel after flying in from Florida. Shortly after the injections, Gourkani experienced sudden complications, including cardiac arrest. Her fiancé called 911, and she was...