my little terror

let me start by saying that I never thought I would have a child like this or at least have this problem.
Ever since we have been in Florida and hanging out with lots of mommies and kids, Baya, has taken on a completely different demeanor with kids her age and younger. She will push, hit, kick, pull, take.... name it and she has done it to these sweet little innocent kids that have no chance.
Seriously, I try everything to correct it, except spanking, but at this point I am even on the verge of that as terrible as it sounds!!! Timeout does nothing for this child. Sitting and talking to her sweetly... nothing. Sitting and talkin to her sternly... nothing. Making her sit and say sorry... nothing. ALL these things she will endure and then go right back and do exactly whatever horrid act she was doing.... AHHH! Why does my daughter want to hurt other kids?! They can't even look at her toys or they are body slammed! (I wish I was exaggerating!) One of my new good friends here has the cutest little 17 month old, and when I first met her, I was literally in mid sentence of saying that we need to get together and get the girls together as bay runs up behind her and grabs a hand full of her adorable little pigtail and pulls her down flat on her back!!! POOR THING! I am lucky enough that this did not completely scare this mommy off because we get to see each other quite a bit still lol, but I just want this horrible stage(crossing my fingers this is indeed a stage) to pass!!!
If anyone out there has had this issue or any suggestions I will take ANYTHING?!?