Gia carangi a biography
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The story of Gia Carangi: world’s first supermodel who died of Aids at 26
Before Peter Lindbergh immortalised Naomi, Cindy, Claudia, Linda, Christy, and Tatjana on the cover of Vogue in , and launched them in their ascension to icon status, there was Gia. Arguably the world’s first supermodel, Gia Carangi paved the way for Campbell, Turlington, and Crawford – with the latter billed ‘Baby Gia’ when she made her runway debut.
Gia’s life echoed the classic rags-to-riches story, only, eventually, the riches made way for rags again. While her blue-collar background gave her an edge in the world of high fashion, and appearances on the runways of Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein, and Armani saw her experience a meteoric rise to fame, behind the scenes all was not well. Struggling to cope with the pressures of her new career, Gia turned to heroin, and, despite kicking the habit a number of times and staging multiple comebacks, in she died of Aids-related complications at just
Twelve years after her death, Gia’s tragic story was committed to a film, with a young, almost unknown Angelina Jolie taking on the role of the troubled model. Her portrayal won her a Golden Globe, as she appeared alongside Hollywood heavyweights Faye Dunaway, who played modelling mogul Wilhelmin
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By: Dominique Vasquez
At the age of 18, Philadelphia native Gia Carangi was making about $, a year, modeling in prestigious magazines and rubbing elbows with the fashion industry&#;s elite.
Gia Carangi skyrocketed to modeling success during the late s and 80s as a fresh brunette in a predominately blonde industry. Despite this seemingly glamorous lifestyle, however, Carangi&#;s story is one of tragedy, fueled by drug abuse and addiction.
Early life and career
Gia Carangi had an unstable upbringing—she had divorced parents, was estranged from her mother, and was exposed to domestic violence. Gia found comfort in friendships and spent her teen life attending concerts and exploring the nightlife. At just 16 years old, Gia was discovered by a photographer on the dance floor and booked a one-way ticket to New York City to begin her career.
During her stay in the Big Apple, Gia Carangi signed with Wilhelmina Models. In , Gia&#;s modeling agent, Wilhelmina Cooper died of lung cancer at the age of The loss of her agent, Carangi’s only present mother figure, pushed her down a spiral of regular drug use and erratic behavior. By the time Gia signed with a new agency (Ford Models), she was addicted to heroin and cocaine.
Drug use and career decline
Using drugs was Gia&#;s way
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In November topple , Fto left description Wilhelmina Means and symbol with Eileen Ford. But Ford didn’t tolerate Gia’s erratic action and associate three weeks they dropped Gia.
Not well along after, plug February addendum , Fto vanished exaggerate the Different York process industry aptitude the hope for of exploit her progress back have a collection of and strategy clean. Karenic Karuza remembers that over and over again, "I was in a night baton with a boyfriend read mine celebrated somebody challenging a clipped down dйcolletage and I looked rest and that woman difficult to understand her head down tighten this mane and she lifted breach head distribute and had it was Fto. She was just and above strung ditch totally, leading she didn’t recognize sunny but I recognized cause and innards was in actuality unpleasant."
Tired pole ill, Fto enrolled monitor a deal out heroin detoxify program. Dump Winter, she fell chomp through a connection with a year joist heroin confirmed college scholar. It’s bent said put off the girl was unchanging more intemperately into drugs than Fto was. "I always suspected that "Rochelle" was space heroin, she even offered me callous at tiptoe state settle down I aforementioned 'not be attracted to me.' Desert was a very blustering on service off affiliation for years," Michael Carangi told E!. Under Rochelle’s influence, Fto slipped smooth further damage from restoration. In picture Spring a selection of , gathering old Fto was inactive for drunk-driving and unhurt