Biography
Do not duplicate or alter this biography in any way! This was written by me as a contribution to this fanlisting and a dedication to Gia’s life. It took days to write! Replication or altering of it is not permitted by any means! On another note, my sources were exclusively Thing of Beauty, by Stephen Fried and the DVD biopic, The Self-Destruction of Gia, where all the quotes were extracted.
Gia was born on January 29, 1960 to Kathleen and Joe Carangi and was the youngest of two brothers, Joe Jr. and Michael. Her first name came from her father, who remembered hearing it in Italy when he was stationed there during the Vietnam War.
Gia’s childhood was both rocky and complicated. Although Gia once considered her mother her best friend, their relationship would prove to be very unstable later in life. When Gia was younger, Kathleen would try to do her daughter’s hair, and Gia would simply yank the ribbons and braids out without a second thought. As Gia grew older, the two constantly had ups and downs. Often times when shopping, Gia would disappear, but other times, in the middle of the nights, Gia would sneak out of her bedroom to sleep next to her mother.
Gia’s father, who owned a number of hoagie shops, was already divorced prior to his marriage with Kathleen. He was said to be very impatient, and this trait, mixing with Kathleen’s exaggeration of problems, did not make the marriage stable. They fought endlessly, were physically abusive with each other, and provoked many arguments with their children being the subject. It was in 1971 that Kathleen left the household and later remarried.
Without her mother’s presence, Gia turned to her father, who spent less and less time with his children as time went by. Gia herself recalled, “I would try to get his attention and he would reject me by putting me down, making fun of me, teasing me. He would do this in front of my brothers. I felt like they were better than me and the only difference was they were boys. I feel my father never gave me what I needed growing up which was love, understanding, time…” Gia even revealed that she would play dress-up with her father and brother’s clothes, thinking that if she were to dress like a boy, her father would pay attention to her and love her.
Both her mother and father focusing their attention elsewhere, all three Carangi children “were left to their own devices,” and in desperate need of discipline. Gia, who was still searching for attention, eventually found a kindred spirit in a classmate named Karen Karuza. Together they shared their passion and love for David Bowie. Gia even began to sport a “Bowie hairdo,” and being completely livid, Kathleen did not see Gia for two weeks after the haircut. As a “Bowie Child,” Gia experimented with pot and other drugs, and was notorious for being able to obtain pot no matter what because of her connections to her brother, Michael.
Although Karen and Gia closer were than ever – shopping, partying, hanging out – Gia retained her normal issues with her mother. With bedrooms at both her mother and father’s house, Gia considered herself officially residing with her mother and stepfather, Henry, who Gia simply did not get along with. Gia would prod into the personal aspects of Kathleen and Henry’s relationship just so her mother and her would have something to talk about. During this period, Gia revealed to Kathleen that she was sexually abused at 6 years old by a boy who lived down the street at the first Carangi house. This revelation did not bring Gia and her mother closer together. The two still fought about Gia’s behavior, her lack of respect for Henry, and Gia’s increasing use of drugs and alcohol.
Gia and Kathleen’s also hit a new low after her mother began snooping through Gia’s bedroom and eventually found a letter implicating romantic feelings for another girl. Gia was certain of her sexuality despite her mother’s concerns. Gia’s sexuality was “the clearest thing about her,” according to Ronnie Johnson, another friend of Gia’s teenage years. Gia was sent to a therapist about “her illness,” but found it very surprising when her therapist showed clear sympathetic feelings and alluded that it was “okay to be gay.” Eventually, one night, three friends (Karen included) joined Gia for moral support as she finally admitted the truth about her sexuality to her mother.
At the age of fourteen, Gia was introduced to a client of Henry’s, who said Gia could be a model. He even recommended that his friend, Joe Petrellis, take some photographs of her. At the session, Gia had dozens of photos taken, though being completely inexperienced with modeling, the photos were plain and unmemorable. [I wrote this. Do not duplicate.] However, it was said that in nearly every shot, Gia’s eyes were wide open, a clear sign she knew not to flinch when modeling.
Still interested in how it felt to be in front of the camera, Gia later answered an ad for Gimbels department store. Though late and sometimes bruised for unknown reasons, the fashion director couldn’t help always including her in his shots. This also led to Petrellis running another set of test shots. He was more impressed this time, and suggested Gia see Paul Midiri, the head of the top modeling agency in Philadelphia. Sadly, this did not get Gia anywhere, but with the support of her Aunt, Nancy, Gia’s interest in modeling get aflame.
In time, Gia met Sharon Beverly, who worked at the makeup counter at a local department store. Sharon and Gia had a non-committed relationship for over a year before the two became an official couple. Together they would define the term of “painting the town red,” visiting all the gay clubs in Philadelphia. Their relationship eventually ended, but it seemed as if Sharon saw the real side of Gia, knowing undoubtedly how needy for love Gia was, but not knowing how to fulfill that.
Another photographer/hairstylist/makeup artist, Maurice Tannenbaum, looking to reinvent himself, eventually found Gia. He spotted her at a dance club, immediately approaching her and asking if she would do some tests shots. She agreed, and it became a regular thing between the two. Maurice and Gia became very good friends, but it took a long time for Gia to open up. Maurice noted, “She was obviously used to being abused because she was beautiful. People wanted to be around her because she was so beautiful–they didn’t care who Gia was; her mind and her person weren’t important to them.” And, despite the sessions with Maurice continuing, Gia still hadn’t been ordered to model.
After graduating from high school, she finally had luck. Maurice had been able to show his photographs of Gia to Wilhelmina Cooper, and she was instantly interested. She was quick to summon Gia and Maurice to New York. Although Kathleen came, Gia had asked she did not come to meeting. And, when Wilhelmina saw Gia in person, she “went absolutely crazy,” Maurice noted. Even though Gia was an inch shorter than “absolutely minimum” of 5’8”, it was discounted. Wilhelmina, so enthralled by Gia’s beauty and the undoubtedly success she was going to have, offered a contract right away.
Gia and Kathleen returned home and went over the contract with Henry. The contract included no financial guarantees, no signing bonuses, stipends, salaries, health insurance or retirement plan–Gia would be a freelancer just like every model out there. She would only be paid after Wilhelmina Models Inc. “generated income for the agency.” Gia also had to pay for her way to New York City upon returning. Coincidentally, Gia’s car had been wrecked, and she used the two thousand dollars as her one-way ticket back.
Sharon Beverly made it back into Gia’s life, and though they had mended their romance into simple friendship. Sharon eventually accompanied Gia in New York, and by the beginning of 1978, Gia started what she called “go-sees,” appointments in which she had to travel from studio to studio and have pictures taken by a testing photographer. She had created a portfolio and everything, but as Sharon insisted, “she hated it from the beginning. She felt like a piece of meat.” But, Gia kept doing it, most especially for Wilhelmina, who was just as intrigued and drawn to the woman as Wilhelmina was to Gia. Gia loved Wilhelmina immensely. She had revealed several times that she “finally found a mother,” though she would sometimes claim they were lovers. Gia’s claim was said to be highly disputed.
Gia became a regular at Studio 54 with many of her fashion friends. By regularly going there, she was given the opportunity to have some photos taken by Ara Gallant’s new magazine, Ambiance. Being her first “real” shoot, she received $23. Not even a week later she had the most powerful photograph taken of her by Lance Staedler, and she constantly began making copies of it for her portfolios. Shortly afterward, Gia obtained more and more jobs, especially for Italian Bazaar and Vogue with Chris von Wangenheim. She was being booked almost every single day of the week and was making startling commissions. She even was booked to fly to Italy and Rome for sessions towards the middle of the year.