Gia Carangi

Gia Marie Carangi January 29 1960 November 18 1986 was an American supermodel considered by some to be the first supermodel In 2023 Harpers Bazaar ranked her 15th among the greatest supermodels in the 1980s She was featured on the cover of numerous magazines including multiple editions of Vogue and Cosmopolitan and appeared in advertising campaigns for fashion houses including Armani Dior Versace and Yves Saint Laurent After Carangi became addicted to heroin her career rapidly declined which ultimately led her to quit modeling in 1983 In 1986 at age 26 she died of AIDSrelated complications Believed to have contracted it from a contaminated needle she became one of the early notable women to die of the virus Her life was dramatized in Michael Cristofers television film Gia 1998 starring Angelina Jolie as Carangi