Charlotte Dawson: Tributes to Australian TV star found dead at her home

Charlotte Dawson, who had been a victim of cyber bullying

Russell Crowe and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key are two of the many who have paid tribute to the Australian television personality Charlotte Dawson, who has been found dead in her Sydney apartment.

The body of New Zealand-born Ms Dawson, 47, who rose to fame as a judge on Australia's Next Top Model, was discovered yesterday.

Hollywood actor Crowe, who lived in the same apartment complex in Woolloomooloo, Sydney, and who had been friends with Ms Dawson since they were teenagers, tweeted: "Just don't understand. There's not enough kind souls as it is. Rest in peace."

Mr Key said that he was "shocked and saddened" by the death of the TV star.

Police said that there were no suspicious circumstances and that a post mortem examination would be conducted.

The former model battled depression for years and was admitted to hospital in 2012 after a public battle with trolls, who abused her via Twitter, the social network site. "They won,'' she later commented.

Ms Dawson went on to become an active campaigner against cyber bullying.