Gia Carangi — A Tragic Figure

Gia Carangi was born November 18, 1986 in Philadelphia. She started modeling at 17 when she moved to NYC and signed with Wilhelmina Models. Her modeling career immediately took off, making her one of the top models of the late 70s.

She had been featured on the cover of top fashion magazines, including: Vogue UK, Vogue Paris, American Vogue, Vogue Italia, and Cosmpolitan.

Cia Carangi was featured in campaigns for: Armani, Christian Dior, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Cutex, Perry Ellis, Diane Von Furstenberg, Lancetti, Levi, Maybelline, Vidal Sassoon, Calvin Klein, Maybelline, and André Laug.

Her career declined due to rampant drug use and later she died of AIDS-related complications. She was one of the first high profile people to die of the disease and has had several books and films depicting her rise and fall.

Gia Carangi In Person:

Gia Carangi Quotes:

“Life and death, energy and peace. If I stop today it was still worth it. Even the terrible mistakes that I made and would have unmade if I could. The pains that have burned me and scarred my soul, it was worth it, for having been allowed to walk where I’ve walked, which was to hell on earth, heaven on earth, back again, into, under, far in between, through it, in it, and above.”

“Fashion is not art. Fashion isn’t even culture. Fashion is advertising. And advertising is money. And for every dollar you earn, someone has to pay.”

Notable Work:

Armani, Christian Dior, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Cutex, Perry Ellis, Diane Von Furstenberg, Lancetti, Levi, Maybelline, Vidal Sassoon, Calvin Klein, Maybelline, and André Laug.

Originally published at Fashion models and designers — profiles and bios..