Gia Carangi is celebrated as one of the first “supermodels” of fashion. Her rapid rise to fame and untimely death from AIDS at the age of 26 in 1982 have cemented her legendary status in the fashion world.
Gia, as he was known, was discovered in a nightclub in Philadelphia, his birthplace. He arrived in New York City in the late 1970s, as fashion, music, art and nightlife, set by the opening of Studio 54, were at the heart of the city’s vibrant culture. His meteoric rise and fall from his arrival to the 80s was fueled by an era that was not alienated by social norms.
Its dark, edgy and sultry elements, matching the personality, can define the look of the era and the character of the new beauty style.
The best photographers, stylists and makeup artists developed his work; Stories Arthur Elgort and Francesco Scavullo among those who define the face of the decade. Gia was the first and model of editors. Her face covered many magazine covers, from cosmopolitan to vogue. And he starred in print campaigns for European fashion houses, YSL, Dior, Armani and Versace.
WWD had an eye on GIA. Towards the end of his career, WWD took his usual runway look at Perry Ellis and the Latin-American designer of July. She was also featured in the New York Sportswear Advance magazine in covers from Adrienne Vittadini and Regina Kravitz in 1980 and 1982, shortly before her death.
Her tragic, straight-to-die-young life is steeped in the history of fashion, illustrated by many memories and Angelina Jolie’s portrayal of her in the award-winning 1998 HBO movie, underscoring her impact on the industry.
Here’s a look back at model Gia Carangi from the pages of WWD and Fairchild Cover.
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Gia Carangi: Remembering the trailblazing fashion model and her tragic legacy
Photo credit: Dustin Pittman
Model Gia Carangi walks the runway at the Julio Fall 1979 Ready to Wear Fashion Show in New York City on April 26, 1979.
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Gia Carangi: Remembering the trailblazing fashion model and her tragic legacy
Photo Credit: Fairchild Cover
Gia Carangi and a male model on the runway at the Perry Ellis Fall 1980 ready to wear runway show on April 28, 1980.
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Gia Carangi: Remembering the trailblazing fashion model and her tragic legacy
Photo credit: Dustin Pittman
Model Gia Carangi walks the runway at the Julio Fall 1979 Ready to Wear Fashion Show in New York City on April 26, 1979.
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Gia Carangi: Remembering the trailblazing fashion model and her tragic legacy
Photo credit: Laurie Sagalyn
Gia Carangi looks out of Regina Kravitz’s 1982 sportswear on March 29, 1982.
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Gia Carangi: Remembering the trailblazing fashion model and her tragic legacy
Photo credit: Laurie Sagalyn
Gia Carangi jumps from Regina Kravitz Fall 1982 sportswear in New York’s Central Park on March 29, 1982.
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Gia Carangi: Remembering the trailblazing fashion model and her tragic legacy
Photo Credit: Fairchild Cover
Gia Carangi and a male model on the runway at the Perry Ellis Fall 1980 ready to wear runway show on April 28, 1980.
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Gia Carangi: Remembering the trailblazing fashion model and her tragic legacy
Photo credit: Laurie Sagalyn
Gia Carangi and a model in a look from the Regina Kravitz Fall 1982 sportswear show in New York’s Central Park on March 29, 1982.
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Gia Carangi: Remembering the trailblazing fashion model and her tragic legacy
Photo Credit: John Bright
Gia Carangi (L) and a model in Knitwear from Adrienne Vittadini Fall 1980 ready-to-wear preview in New York on April 3, 1980.
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Gia Carangi: Remembering the trailblazing fashion model and her tragic legacy
Photo Credit: John Bright
Gia Carangi (L) and a model in Knitwear from Adrienne Vittadini Fall 1980 ready-to-wear preview in New York on April 3, 1980.
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Gia Carangi: Remembering the trailblazing fashion model and her tragic legacy
Photo credit: Laurie Sagalyn
Gia Carangi A top and pants from the Regina Kravitz Fall 1982 sportswear show in New York’s Central Park on March 29, 1982.
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