One of the word’s first supermodels, Gia Carangi (January 29, 1960 – November 18, 1986) was a rule-breaker and trendsetter known for her fiery personality. Since the very beginning of her career, she defied stereotypes with her edgy and bold attitude. Carangi was not afraid to express herself, both in her work and personal life, as she was open about her sexuality and often adopted an androgynous style.
Although her career as a model was somewhat short-lived due to her drug abuse, which ultimately led to her death at age 26, she disrupted late 1970s and early 1980s fashion, impacting the modeling industry with her unique and mesmerizing looks. At one point, Carangi was the highest-paid model, and she worked with luxury labels including Versace and Dior and renowned photographers like Richard Avedon.
Her story is one of drama and tragedy, which was retold by actress Angelina Jolie in the 1988 film Gia. A 1993 biography, Thing of Beauty, also chronicles Carangi’s rise to supermodel status and unfortunate fall from grace.
