Model Tara Fares, the woman to be reportedly crowned Miss Baghdad in 2015, gained a nearly 3 million strong following on Instagram, where she shared pictures which enthralled fans while contradicting traditional Muslim values. A man, who was in the car with twenty-two-year-old Iraqi model and social media star Tara Fares, murdered in Baghdad, has been detained as a source in the country's Interior Ministry has told Sputnik. The woman was shot three times, including twice in the head, by an unknown, who approached her vehicle on a motorbike. The message about her death, describing her murder as “treacherous and cowardly act,” was posted on her Instagram page, which has an impressive following of 2.7 million people. Just days before the shooting, Fares, who often posted pictures considered inappropriate in the conservative Islamic society, was voted one of Iraq's most influential social media personalities. Tara Fares was crowned Miss Baghdad in 2014 and competed for the Miss Iraq title. After living for some time in Europe, she returned to Iraq. Apart from social media activity, she represented some brands and occasionally worked in show business. According to The New Arab, a UK-based Arab community website, she spent much of her time in the more liberal Kurdistan region, but reportedly had begun to visit the capital more often recently. The police are investigating her murder, searching for the assassins. According to the outlet Kurdistan 24, she became the third woman somehow connected to the beauty industry, to die in Baghdad in the last several months. In August, two owners of beauty centers died under reportedly suspicious circumstances in their homes. Additionally, just a few days ago, women's right activist Soad al-Ali was also shot dead in her car in Basra. READ MORE: Miss Iraq Forced to Flee Homeland After Selfie With Miss Israel (PHOTO)<doc-sep>Tara Fares (Photo: Instagram) Social media star and model Tara Fares has been shot dead in Baghdad, CNN is reporting. The death of Fares and other recent killings prompted Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to order an investigation on Friday. According to a statement by Iraq’s Interior Ministry, which is investigating the incident, the former Miss Baghdad, and first runner-up for Miss Iraq, was shot three times and killed at the wheel of her Porsche convertible while driving in central Baghdad on Thursday. The 22-year-old, a Christian whose father was Iraqi and mother Lebanese, was living in Erbil, but visited the capital occasionally. She was beloved by her nearly 3 million followers for her bright, and sometimes bold, style. Her death seems to be part of a disturbing trend. Last month, two well-known women in Baghdad’s beauty-and-style industry died, leading some Iraqis to believe women of note are being targeted. The “Barbie of Iraq,” Rafeef al-Yaseri, was killed in her home in Baghdad on Aug. 16. She was a plastic surgeon who owned the Barbie Beauty Center and organized national programs specializing in medical affairs for women. A week later, Rasha al-Hassan, owner and manager of Viola Beauty Center in Baghdad, was found dead inside her home. Fares seemed to be aware that she was a potential target of extremists. She wrote on Instagram in July, “It does not frighten me that there are those who reject the existence of God. What really frightens me is there are those who kill and slaughter to prove the existence of God.” Following her death, a black-and-white photo of the beauty queen was shared with her nearly 3 million Instagram followers shortly after her death. The caption read, “In a treacherous and cowardly incident, Tara Fares Chamoun, is with God. We asked God to accept her with His great mercy.” Story continues Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.<doc-sep>AN Iraqi model and social media star became the latest female victim of a series of murders across the country this week. Tara Fares, a former beauty queen with nearly three million followers on Instagram, was shot dead in her car in Baghdad yesterday in the city's Kam Sara neighbourhood. Her death comes just a day after she was voted one of Iraq's most popular social media stars. The Iraqi Ministry of Interior said they are investigating her tragic death. Fares’ body arrived at Sheikh Zaid hospital at 5.45pm local time, where doctors she suffered three bullet wounds, Kurdistan 24 reported. The 22-year-old was living in the Kurdistan Region capital of Erbil but had been moving back and forth to Baghdad. On her Instagram page, a photo was posted on Fares’ behalf in remembrance, with the translated caption: "We ask Allah to forgive her and to grant her mercy with her." Her fans took to social media to hail her strength and willingness to speak out in a country that can still have conservative attitudes towards women. One fan wrote: "Tara’s death screams discrimination, lack of freedom and right. "Sympathy is not enough." Another wrote: "Really shocked at the tragic murder of Iraqi model Tara Fares. "I knew her through a friend. "Tara began her journey when she competed in Miss Baghdad contest in 2014." The former 2015 beauty queen’s death comes just days after the killing of Suad al-ali, a human rights activist from Iraq, who was also shot and killed in her car in the southern city of Basra. 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(CNN) — Iraqi social media star and model Tara Fares has been shot dead in Baghdad, security officials confirmed to CNN. The death of Fares and other recent killings prompted Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to order an investigation on Friday. The former Miss Baghdad, and first runner-up for Miss Iraq, was killed on Thursday after gunmen opened fire on her in the capital’s Camp Sarah neighborhood, according to a statement by Iraq’s Interior Ministry, which is investigating the incident. Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Saad Maan told an Iraqi TV station that two motorcyclists shot Fares while she was inside a vehicle. The 22-year-old, a Christian whose father was Iraqi and mother Lebanese, was living in Erbil, but visited the capital occasionally. She was famous for her bold clothing and posts on social media. A black-and-white photo showing Fares pouting was shared with her nearly 3 million Instagram followers shortly after her death, along with the comment: “In a treacherous and cowardly incident, Tara Fares Chamoun, is with God. We asked God to accept her with His great mercy.” Instagram post not found. Post has been removed or is no longer public. Fares’ death comes just two days after a female human rights activist was killed in the southern city of Basra. A disturbing trend, an ongoing investigation Suaad al-Ali was shot and killed in an outdoor market by an unknown gunman, according to security sources. Officials said investigations were still underway. And last month, two well-known women in Baghdad’s beauty industry also died. Rafeef al-Yaseri, known as the “Barbie of Iraq,” was killed inside her Baghdad home on August 16. Al-Yaseri was a plastic surgeon and organized national programs specializing in medical affairs for women. One week later, Rasha al-Hassan, owner and manager of Viola Beauty Center in Baghdad, was found dead inside her home. Health Ministry spokesman Seif al-Badr said at the time that al-Hassan had died at her home, where preliminary investigations did not point to a reason for the death. Al-Abadi ordered the Interior Ministry and Iraq’s intelligence department to investigate the assassinations and kidnappings in Basra, Baghdad and elsewhere, the ministry said in a statement.