Gia Marie Carangi: Known Simply As Gia! Gia was born January 29th 1960. She died of AIDS November 18th 1986. Gia was the first of the Super Models born from the decadent disco era of the late 70's, early 80's.
Gia was a heroin addicted lesbian and the most magnetic, super-charged beauty of her day! She had it all: fame, money, adoration and a body to die for!
She also had unresolved problems and personal demons which she tried to suppress through drug use.
This led to her untimely demise from AIDS. In my opinion, Gia would have been a survivor had it not been for AIDS. She had been through re-hab and was coming to terms with her personal problems.
But time had run out for this fast living beauty ... Remember from Gia's mistakes
"Remember the beauty behind the pain" ... Remember the woman inside the small lost child ...

1960: On January, 29th Gia is born in Philadelphia 1971: In February Gia's mother leaves her husband and kids 1973: Enrolls at Lincoln High in September. Meets best friend Karen Karuza and together they become David Bowie fanatics 1974-75: Starts modeling school in Philadelphia and begins to party at clubs like the DCA, where she meets girlfriend Sharon Beverly 1976: In her senior year Gia moves to Center City and attends South Philadelphia High School in the fall 1977-78: Is discovered at the DCA by Philadelphia's hair-stylist MauriceTannenbaum. He takes her to Wilhelmina Cooper's agency in NYC and the rest is histoy 1979: In April Gia appears on the cover of British edition of Vogue, less than a year after her editorial debut for American Vogue. That same month she made her Cosmo cover debut in America. March 1980: Gia's agent and mother figure in NYC, Willie Cooper dies of lung cancer. Gia starts shooting heroin soon afterward. She later wrote in her datebook: "I don't know what is happening in my life, nothing seems or feels right to me. I want to live so bad. But I'm so terribly sad. I wish Wilhelmina didn't die. She was so wonderful to talk to about work. I cry every day for a while. I wish I knew what to do ... I pray that things fall into place." 1980: In August Gia makes her American Vogue Cover debut. She was photographed by Richard Avedon November: the American issue of Vogue featured some very disturbing images of Gia. Her heroin addiction had become so strong, that it was impossible for even make-up to hide the track marks in her arms. (See biography section for the images that made that issue.) 1982: Attempts a comeback after battle with heroin addiction. Scavullo gives her a Cosmo Cover. Years later he said: "It made me very sad. I had a tough time that day because I really wanted it to be her best cover and it wasn't. It couldn't be. And no matter how hard I tried it, it just couldn't happen." In April she appeared on a 20/20 story on Supermodels, where she claimed she wasn't doing drugs. But the way she looked and sounded provided otherwise 1983: Gia moved back to Philadelphia and never worked as a model again. Not long after Gia and her girlfriend Rochelle moved to Atlantic City. By this time she was heavily addicted to heroin and spent all the money she had to buy the drugs 1984: After pressure from her family, Gia entered a rehab program at Eagleville Hospital in Montgomery County. She declared herself indigent and was on welfare. 1984: After pressure from her family, Gia entered a rehab program at Eagleville Hospital in Montgomery County. She declared herself indigent and was on welfare. 1985: In the summer Gia left rehab and worked at The Gap selling jeans. 1986: Gia is diagnosed with AIDS-related complex November 18: Gia dies of complications from AIDS at 10 in the morning. No one in the fashion industry attended her funeral. Her epitaph reads: "Beloved Daughter".

Cosmopolitan
(diet guide) fall/winter
1982 American Cover shot in black swim suit

Vogue
September 1982
American From Vogue during her "comeback year". A sexy Bullocks ad, a sensual Versace ad, an all too brief appearance in the layout

Cosmopolitan
April 1982 American
Gia's Last Cosmo Cover Appearance

Vogue
November 1980
American This issue of Vogue features the now infamous photos of Gia sporting track marks in her arm.

Vogue
March 1980
American layout entitled Tops! Pure Pleasure, photographed by Avedon. The black & white ads are for Armani by Aldo Fallai.

Vogue
July 1980
American Includes photos by Penn, Avedon and Francesco Scavullo

Vogue
May 1980
American Gia's trip to St. Barts in the Caribbean with photographs by Scavullo and makeup by her friend Way Bandy

Vogue August 1980 American Gia's one and only American Vogue Cover photographed By Avedon Glamour January 1980 American three pages photographs by Claude Mougin Cosmopolitan January 1980 American in the purple angora sweater Cosmopolitan July 1980 Vogue October 1979 American Gia is featured prominently in the "Paris Fashion/American Allure" Cosmopolitan April 1979 American Beautiful Cover in the lyrca bodysuit Cosmopolitan July 1979 American Cover; in the yellow gravity defying swimsuit Vogue February 1979 American Evening ... A World Apart, the New York Spring Collections, photographer Chris Von Wangenheim Vogue April 1979 United Kingdom Cover and Fashion Feature, Guide To The New Daring, photographed by Alex Chatelain Vogue September 1979 American This issue features the famous Dior ad by Chris Von Wangenheim Vogue January 1979 American The three fence shots and the Versace ad are by Chris Von Wangenheim and more! Vogue March 1979 Paris Gia stars in Helmut Newton's infamous photo layout as the epitome of the "fem fatale" Vogue May 1979 American Gia Carangi, Patti Hansen and Janice Dickenson in Mexico Vogue November 1978 American lots of pictures, has the famous "dead" shot" Ambiance May/June 1978 American Ara Gallant photographed her for Ambiance. It was her first job in New York. Vogue October 1978 American Gia's American Vogue Debut Issue