The courtroom drama is unfolding in California as a jury trial commences for a cosmetologist facing serious accusations. Vivian Alexandra Gomez, a 53-year-old practitioner, stands accused of causing the death of Christina Ashten Gourkani, a model celebrated for her striking resemblance to Kim Kardashian. The case revolves around allegations of a botched cosmetic procedure that turned fatal.

Gomez, who has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter, is currently at the center of legal proceedings at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City. The trial began with jury selection, marking a significant step in a case that has captured public attention due to its tragic nature.

Gourkani, a popular figure on platforms like OnlyFans, tragically passed away at the age of 34. Her untimely death came just a day after undergoing unauthorized butt-enhancement injections, which led to respiratory failure and a pulmonary embolism, as stated by the prosecution.

The legal saga continues nearly three years after the incident, with Gomez facing charges not only of involuntary manslaughter but also of practicing medicine without a proper license. The charges are accompanied by enhancements for causing great bodily injury, underscoring the severity of the allegations.

Currently out on $200,000 bail, Gomez has been ordered to surrender her U.S. and Colombian passports. The court has further restricted her movements, requiring her to remain in California under GPS monitoring, as reported by CBS News.

Gourkani, originally from San Jose, had garnered millions of views across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, captivating audiences with her remarkable likeness to the Hollywood icon, Kim Kardashian. Her death has not only sparked legal repercussions but also reignited discussions around the safety of cosmetic procedures.

She found the allegedly unlicensed Gomez online, reached out and hired her to perform an ‘illegal gluteal silicone injection,’ prosecutors said.

On April 19, 2023, Gomez flew to San Francisco and met Gourkani and her fiancé at the Burlingame Marriott Hotel to perform the procedure. 

The trial has begun for Vivian Alexandra Gomez (pictured), 53, a cosmetologist accused of killing 34-year-old Christina Ashten Gourkani after performing an ‘illegal gluteal silicone injection’

Gourkani, a popular OnlyFans model, died from respiratory failure and a pulmonary embolism just a day after receiving the procedure in 2023

Gourkani racked up millions of views on social media for her uncanny resemblance to Hollywood’s Kim Kardashian (pictured)

Gourkani (pictured) found Gomez online and reached out with the goal of enlarging her buttocks, prosecutors said

While at the hotel, Gourkani received at least two injections of what was supposed to be gluteal silicone, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe revealed, according to the Los Angeles Times.

But immediately after the procedure, Wagstaffe said the model became extremely ill and went into distress, experiencing convulsions.

Her fiancé called 911 and Gourkani was rushed to Mills-Peninsula Hospital, where she died the following day. 

‘In the early morning hours at approximately 4:31am our family received a tragic phone call from a family member who was frantically screaming and crying hysterically on the other end of the line,’ her family wrote in a GoFundMe.

They were desperately shouting, ‘Ashten is dying, Ashten is dying.’

‘A phone call that instantly shattered our world and will forever haunt our family for the rest of our lives,’ the statement added.

Gourkani’s family said that police were investigating her death as a homicide tied to a ‘medical procedure that took a turn for the worse,’ according to the Los Angeles Times.

An autopsy later revealed that Gourkani died from an embolism and toxins in her system, the district attorney said.

In April of 2023, Gomez flew to San Francisco and met Gourkani and her fiancé at the Burlingame Marriott Hotel (pictured) to perform the procedure

Gourkani (pictured) received at least two injections of what was supposed to be gluteal silicone at the hotel 

Immediately after the procedure, the district attorney said Gourkani became extremely ill and went into distress, experiencing convulsions

Gourkani was rushed to Mills-Peninsula Hospital where she died the following day

‘If you knew Ashten, you knew that everyone mattered to her,’ a past GoFundMe page for the late Gourkani read, according to People.

‘She was such a caring and loving free spirit that always took the time to bring a smile to anyone’s face she crossed paths with,’ the statement added.

‘She was the kind of person that would kneel down and talk to children at eye level, she searched for the lonely person in the corner and made them feel special as she has such a gift of connecting with people.’ 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned in 2021 that using silicone injections – which are not FDA approved – to enlarge or reshape body parts can cause serious complications, including pain, embolisms, disfigurement, stroke and death.

The agency also warned that when silicone injections are administered in areas with many blood vessels, such as the buttocks, ‘silicone can travel through those vessels to other parts of the body and block blood vessels in the lungs, heart, or brain.’

Dr Lisa Hwang, a licensed plastic surgeon in Campbell, said there is no safe way to inject the substance, which carries numerous risks. 

‘That is injecting free-floating silicone in the form of likely a gel, but it’s a free-floating gel,’ Hwang told ABC 7 News.

‘If it’s not injected in a certain plane, and in this case, it’s a free-floating substance, which can also cause migration down the road,’ she added.

Gourkani’s family said police investigated her death as a homicide tied to a ‘medical procedure that took a turn for the worse’

An autopsy later revealed that Gourkani died from an embolism and toxins in her system

Gomez pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Jury selection was underway Monday at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City (pictured)

The US Food and Drug Administration warned against the dangers of silicone injections to enlarge or reshape body parts in 2021 

Gomez was arrested just hours after Gourkani’s death and booked into the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, according to the Los Angeles Times.

She waived extradition and was brought back to San Mateo County to face the charges. 

Prosecutors said Gomez ran an illegal cosmetology operation in Florida and barred her from performing any medical or cosmetic procedures or even owning the tools to do so, according to CBS.

Opening statements are scheduled for Wednesday, with the trial expected to last four weeks.