Gia Carangi
Gia Carangi was an American fashion model during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Carangi, who was of Italian, Welsh and Irish ancestry, was considered by some to be the first supermodel. Gia Carangi was also the first to present unusual poses, facial expressions and gestures. She is credited by many at the upper echelons of fashion to have created a new style of modeling, emulated by models since then to the present.
Carangi was featured on the cover of many fashion magazines, including Vogue, April 1, 1979; Vogue Paris, April 1979; American Vogue, August 1980; Vogue Paris, August 1980; Italian Vogue, January 1981; and several issues of Cosmopolitan between 1979 and 1982. Gia, who was known in modeling circles just by her first name, had a turbulent childhood. Her parents fought frequently, and she was given little attention.
She moved from Philadelphia to New York City at the age of 17, and quickly rose to prominence. She was the favorite model of many eminent fashion photographers, including Francesco Scavullo, Arthur Elgort, Richard Avedon, and Chris von Wangenheim, and she posed for photos in many countries. By the end of 1978, Carangi was already a well-established model.
Gia~SMI
See I knew U have goood collection of Gia and there are few of her pics m seeing for the first time……… I just Looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeee
her……….. thanks for sharing ; ) xoxo
I’m so thrilled I got everyone on the home page. People would ask why models didn’t have albums, but I knew they did-I made them!
YAY!!!!! Great…… u have done an amazing job Eva
Thanks honey-I know how much you love Gia, me too.
M happy to be the first one to comment on Gia’s page
So am I. There are so few people who know about SMI that that will be my next assignment-to figure out how to make people aware of it and go to it.
GIA – U r still missed, Loved & Remembered by everyone….. and everyday that Love is multiplying for u ………. RIP ANGEL
RIP Gia…you are not forgotten and are dearly loved. Now, you are with the ONE, who loves you MOST – Jesus Christ. He created you and loves you and you are in Paradise. We miss you!
Eva, yes, you HAVE done an amazing job, despite your own hardship/pain right now. God bless you! And, please “friend” me on FB…I left and am back. I will click on your friends, on your page.
Oh, I forgot to comment on her pictures/write up:
I used to read Cosmopolitan, Voge, Harper’s Baazar…all those, back in the early late 70′s/early 80′s, so I remember Gia’s print ads WELL and her covers for Cosmo…I loved them, but back then, didn’t know much about her, if anything…until later, after she left us. What a stunny beauty she was!!!! I was telling Karishma, that back then, we had no computers, cell phones, ect. to be able to keep up/hear things fast, as we do today…so all I had were magazines…what I read. I wish her life could have been diff. and she could be here today – I know she would be fabulously famous, stunning and much in demand!!! I am so glad she had such a sweet caring friend, in Sandy Linter.
You’re so kind, Donna! Please send a request and I’ll add you right away.
And I’m so happy to hear people appreciate this site! It makes my efforts worthwhile!
Eva
Gia and I worked together often, not often enough to be really close, but enough to get to know her and love her spirit. No one can touch her in my opinion-she was hysterically funny and her little girl behavior was so endearing. I wanted to be her. And I do believe I was so inexperienced in so many ways when I started modeling that I unintentionally started acting like her. Just said whatever was on my mind without giving any thought to it-that’s how Gia was.
I really believe she influenced me greatly without even realizing it at the time.
I love her dearly. It was an absolute tragedy she left the world so young.
V r always there for u Eva…….. ; )
Eva u didn’t comment on Carol Alt’s page just tell me wat u think of my suggestion
What suggestion was that?
Thank you!
Well I was saying that u all gorgeous models of yester years should do Covers all over again, this generation needs to see wat beauty is all about….. not like today’s which hardly lasts long…….but all u women r evergreen, may b out of sight but not out of minds…… for sure
I would love to see u all on covers atleast some motivation for me to buy that magazine….. Wat Say?
It’s not up to me! Or I would be happy to do it for you!
Yes M here tell me
On the home page there is a contact button, could you email me from it?
m mailing u on ur mail id is that fine coz I don’t see anything in contact
delete it right away i have ur mail id
GIA, the ost beautiful woman of ALL time. Nobody can touch her.
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you had a wonderful day! xo
sensuality and sexuality while she was only during the 70′s and 80′s. is a pity that his career has ended due to his addiction to drugs. no doubt a beauty
An amazing model, and a wonderful person. I always loved working with her!
Fabulous model. Always took great pics. baxk in Brazil had a Brazilian Cosmo with her on the cover. She looked incredible. Only knew more about her after she died. She was incredible. Sold loads of mags with her on Ebay. People loved her. You did a great job here Eva.
I loved Gia. She was an inspiration to me and millions. Thank you, I’m so happy to hear that nice compliment.
Gia was the only one, really I do not like much the biographical personage that Angelina Jolie realise of Gia. Gia was more beautiful
Angelina is beautiful, but I didn’t care much for the movie. It was disturbing and fictional for the most part.
Yes the movie was disturbing. Who else could have played her though? I’ve never met Gia but I remember hearing the stories on shoots that summer of 82 when I was testing with all the new models. Gias face I so loved and then so suddenly you just stopped seeing it. Though Ill never.forget just a few years later while working with Carmen Schiavone, a new girl came into the studio. I couldn’t wait to start doing her makeup, her name was Cindy Crawford. When she was ready for the shot Carmen yells out in his New York accent, “Ya made er look just like Gia!”
I never saw the similarity myself, even though I guess I’m the only one who didn’t. Gia reminded me of a mischievous little boy. She was a tom boy, and funny as hell. I just loved working with her and looked up to her because she was a free spirit and didn’t care what anyone thought. At the time the things she would say would shock me-I was so shy, but later I realized she had deeply effected who I grew to become. She was a real sweet kid. It’s such a shame no one close to her helped her. That’s the saddest part of her tragic life.
Funny you’d say that, I didn’t see the similarities either but Carmine seemed to think there was a strong resemblance. I think Cindy looks more like Raquel Welch (like in 1967). Gia had her own look which is unforgetable and to have worked with and to have learned such great qualities about yourself from her is so very special.
In my opinion Gia had more of an androgynous look, yes, very sexy, but in a different way. Cindy was pinup sexy.
I think when you know someone you see their personality more than anything. I do anyway. If I knew she was goofing around while shooting, no matter how sexy she looked in the photo-I saw the playfulness.
That is so true. I remember that summer of 82 when I worked with a very young model. Too young in my opinion, she was only 14 at the time but she stood at 5ft 11 with honey blonde hair and had “the look”. Such a goofy prankster tomboy she was, a lot of fun,very childlike, nice kid. Jasque Silverstien took the pictures that were amazing! They helped launch her career as well as mine only anytime I would see her on future magazine covers looking so chic and stylish, I would have to smile. Her name is Hunter Reno. I always pictured Gia being so sultry, like Rita Hayworth. Not boyish at all. That’s the magic Gia had though, the illusions she was able to create along with the gifted photographers she worked with. I wish I could have known her.
I remember Hunter Reno. She is the niece or some other relation of Janet Reno, right? I remember Jacque too-small world!
Yes, that’s what I meant! You don’t see them the way the public does after getting to know them personally. I felt that way making these albums. It was so different working on an album of a model I knew. It felt familiar, like I was doing something for my family.
I know is like if you know them on that level its strange to see them portraying a serious or sophisticated person. I can watch let’s say someone like Jamie Fox play a serious character and believe him in the role because I don’t know him but yet I can’t watch a good friend of mine do it.(he’s not real famous but he’s been in bit parts) he’s very talented but because I know him as being such a clown I just can’t watch it with him. He gets so mad at me lol. Sorry Eva I’m babbling!
No you’re not! It’s a pleasant break from the other things I do. I enjoy writing to you. And I like that you experienced the same thing with your friend I did.
Lol Oh and yes Hunter was the niece of Janet Reno. She became a spokesperson for some local tv shows down in Miami (where she’s from) and got married in 2001. I don’t know if Jacque is in NYC. I used to love testing with him and his brother Dominique up at their studio on 23rd. St. So many faces that would become famous had their first shots taken there. Did you ever have your picture taken by either of them? How beautiful they must have been if you had
Oh, I must have! I know their names so well-there must be a reason for it, but I don’t remember! Yikes, it’s hard to recall at the moment.
They were French. Goodlookin brothers and a lot of fun to work with. Very upbeat. I think they were very friendly with John Casablancas so many of the new girls from Elite would have their very first test shots taken by them.
Maybe I just know their names if they shot Elite girls. I definitely know who they are though.
WOW I LOVE THIS WOMEN BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL MAY GOB CONTINUE TO BLESS HER SOUL WISH SHE WAS STILL HERE BUT SHE IS HERE IN SPIRIT, IVE BEEN READING HER BOOK AND TALKS ABOUT MOST OF THE MODEL’S IN THERE SHE REALLY LIKE JULI FOSTER ALOT AND THOUGHT EVA WAS BEAUTIFUL AND SWEET, GOD BLESS THE CARANGI FAMILY GIA I WILL ALWAYS CARRY YOU IN MY HEART OXOXOX YOUR TRUE HEARTED FAN CV
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BEYOND BEAUTIFUL AMAZING MISS E HOW NICE OF YOU TO SAY THAT MOST MODEL’S WOULDNT HAVE ADMIT THAT BUT IM GLAD YOU DONT HAVE A PROBLEMING SAYING YOU WANTED TO BE LIKE HER AND LOOK UP TO MISS G AND I HATE WHEN JANICE SAY’S SHE’S THE FIRST SUPERMODEL IN THE WORLD SHE KNOW’S DAMN WELL SHE’S NOT GIA IS THE FIRST AND WILL ALWAY’S BE THE FIRST MISS YOU GIA REST IN PEACE ANGEL
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Well, we could call ourselves anything we want but it doesn’t make it true! It’s just frightening when people believe everything they hear. One day google the first supermodel. I think this debate goes back to the 40s or 50s. The first time the term was used was at least 60 years ago. But, it’s just a word.
And I did love the little kid in Gia. She was so adorable. I wish people would stop using her to gain notoriety. It goes on and on… and I wish people would just let her be.
Gia was another model I was amazed by. So sexy and yet she seemed to have a vulnerability about her too. I don’t see the resemblence with her and Cindy Crawford like a lot of people do. I’m glad that movie about her was mostly fictional as I too was disturbed by it.
How tall was Gia ? Just curious…
I don’t see any resemblance to Cindy either. I always thought Gia, without all the heavy make-up and in jeans and t-shirts, looked liked Michael Hutchence from INXS.
She was a little tomboy! Really goofy and playful, until she met the wrong people and they did nothing to help her-it really made me sick to watch that movie-total fiction. Apparently people threatened to sue if they weren’t portrayed in a positive, albeit, fictional manner.
So the villains and enablers got to look like saints, and all they do now is gain fame through association; an association that was apathetic at best when Gia was alive.
She was 5’8″ – 5’81/2″
Not great Karma, people!
Oh wow Eva you are so right – I realized when you said it that Gia did indeed look Michael Hutchence. This is so uncanny!
How cool that Gia was a tomboy I love that about her. She seemed to be someone so fun to hang out with. I love anyone who is goofy
I hope you don’t mind when I say this, Eva…but in looking at your photos on FANTASTICSMAGS I see something very Gia-esque about you. There’s that same awesome toughness but sweet look in your eyes… along with an almost androgynous quality in the fashion. WAY COOL !!!
By the way I love your site thank you for your gift
I told you and loads of people-she looked like a pretty guy, not a sex kitten like Cindy!
I don’t mind you see a resemblance between me and Gia, I think it’s a compliment. But between you and me, and everyone who can read this…!!!!! I asked to be dressed like a guy in that shoot, but one specific guy I love dearly: Johnny Depp! So I got some great pics and fulfilled a fantasy to be in fedora’s and pinstripes! My Italian genes were at their happiest that day!
Thank YOU Damien for being a kind person who respects and appreciates what I do-I do all this work for people like you!
I promise to tell you my Gia story in Jackson Hole Wyoming for Bazaar and Rico Puhlmann… she was a terror! (To the airline!) So funny! I loved her…
We would love to hear about your adventures with Gia especially in Jackson Hole Wyoming for Bazaar and Rico Puhlman. It would be so cool to know how fun Gia really was as opposed to how she was portrayed in that HORRIBLE movie about her.
Please Eva whenever you have some time share with us your Gia adventures