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Born This Way: Friends, Colleagues, and Coworkers Recall Gia Carangi, the Supermodel Who Defined an Era
"The book is excellent."――Michael Carangi In February 1978, when the flawless Gia Carangi arrived in New York at the age of barely eighteen, she had already landed a contract with one of the most prestigious modeling agencies in the world. The future that lay before her seemed dazzling. Blessed with a magnetic beauty and a unique personality, the young Philadelphia native reached the peak of success in only a few months, quickly joining the elite ranks of “supermodels.” One of the most requested models in her field, Gia appeared regularly in such magazines as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan. For all intents and purposes, Gia’s life quickly became a fairy tale—or so it seemed. In only a few years, Gia’s destiny was complicated by unscrupulous individuals and by her inability to manage her cataclysmic success. Once on that road, the legendary model began a decline that led to her tragic end. Born This Way brings to light never-before-heard stories and unusual memories of Gia, offering new perspectives on her life, career, and personality. Through these previously unpublished accounts by those who knew and worked with Gia, Lanvin shines a spotlight on the woman herself, peering beneath the fast-lane glamor and the fame to capture the true essence of a supermodel who continues to mesmerize the world even decades after her death. **** REVIEWS/PRAISES FOR LANVIN "The book is VERY impressive." _Stan Malinowski (Fashion Photographer) "It's the most truthful telling of Gia Carangi's story." _Anthony DeMay (Fashion Hairstylist) "I stayed up late last night reading it. You have done an incredible job, the variety of perspectives gives a depth and respect to Gia that has long been wanting. Your writing style and quality of research, objectiveness and empathy shine through throughout. You should be proud and I am sure Gia would have approved heartily." _Bob Menna (Model) "You have done a splendid job. I am very touched by the many remembrances that people shared and how much she affected them in a positive way. This would be a far better movie than the one already made." _Maury Hopson (Fashion Hairstylist)
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2015
128 people are currently reading
1070 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 9, 2020
Love GIA. Found it a tad boring. Some good accounts from people. Smaller book than I thought.
January 6, 2017
Original review posted here: https://joyfulantidotes.com/2016/12/1...
hen I become interested in a topic, I really become interested in a topic and since I begun reading this book, I have compiled a whole store of knowledge about Gia Carangi.
Born This Way: Friends, Colleagues, and Coworkers Recall Gia Carangi, the Supermodel Who Defined an Era by Sacha Lanvin Baumann focuses on Gia Carangi, who is often referred to as the “world’s first supermodel”. Having quickly shot on the scene back in 1978, she almost as quickly went into decline due to heroin addiction and died in 1986 at the sorrowful age of 26. This is the timeframe the book delves into.
I knew nothing about Gia Carangi before receiving a copy of this book from the author. That is my favourite way to jump into a biography, with a completely open mind and a clear slate. However, biographies are not my favourite type of book and I was wary about how much I would enjoy it. By the end, I was completely enthralled. I can safely say this is one of the first biographies to have fully captivated me.
Gia’s short life was extremely interesting and I am sure that, no matter who the author was, I would have been sucked in by her story. Nevertheless, there was something about how Sacha Lanvin Baumann wrote the story that really resonated with me. The narrative of the book is mostly made up of direct quotes from some of Carangi’s former friends and co-workers. Because of this, I was truly able to feel the grief they felt at losing someone so special, but also the joy and excitement she also brought to their lives. In my opinion, it also showed how many fake people surrounded Gia as some of the stories recalled just sounded fake to me (not made up by the author, just insincerity from the interviewees). However, this style also had one negative aspect about it: it felt that many of the memories recalled we repetitive and at times I found myself slightly skimming through the book. But I guess that just shows how she was herself with absolutely everyone. If anybody was fake in the fashion industry, it certainly wasn’t Gia.
I already mentioned that this book only recalls the years 1978 to 1986. However, I would not say these years were told chronologically. The stories sometimes felt a bit mish-mashed between when Gia was at the top of her game and when she was starting her decline. This did not necessarily bring anything negative to the book, but I did find it hard to really visualise her fall. Yet, the stories were told in a great way; such a great way that I am yearning to get my hands on more information about Gia.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the fashion industry, and certainly to anyone who has never heard of Gia Carangi. It tells the story of a star whose light burned out too fast, while it also presents a cultural look into the industry during the late 70s/early 80s.
For those of you who have read this book or are interested in Gia, I urge you to leave a comment below – I am dying to have a discussion with someone. Until then, I am off to source the film of her life!
hen I become interested in a topic, I really become interested in a topic and since I begun reading this book, I have compiled a whole store of knowledge about Gia Carangi.
Born This Way: Friends, Colleagues, and Coworkers Recall Gia Carangi, the Supermodel Who Defined an Era by Sacha Lanvin Baumann focuses on Gia Carangi, who is often referred to as the “world’s first supermodel”. Having quickly shot on the scene back in 1978, she almost as quickly went into decline due to heroin addiction and died in 1986 at the sorrowful age of 26. This is the timeframe the book delves into.
I knew nothing about Gia Carangi before receiving a copy of this book from the author. That is my favourite way to jump into a biography, with a completely open mind and a clear slate. However, biographies are not my favourite type of book and I was wary about how much I would enjoy it. By the end, I was completely enthralled. I can safely say this is one of the first biographies to have fully captivated me.
Gia’s short life was extremely interesting and I am sure that, no matter who the author was, I would have been sucked in by her story. Nevertheless, there was something about how Sacha Lanvin Baumann wrote the story that really resonated with me. The narrative of the book is mostly made up of direct quotes from some of Carangi’s former friends and co-workers. Because of this, I was truly able to feel the grief they felt at losing someone so special, but also the joy and excitement she also brought to their lives. In my opinion, it also showed how many fake people surrounded Gia as some of the stories recalled just sounded fake to me (not made up by the author, just insincerity from the interviewees). However, this style also had one negative aspect about it: it felt that many of the memories recalled we repetitive and at times I found myself slightly skimming through the book. But I guess that just shows how she was herself with absolutely everyone. If anybody was fake in the fashion industry, it certainly wasn’t Gia.
I already mentioned that this book only recalls the years 1978 to 1986. However, I would not say these years were told chronologically. The stories sometimes felt a bit mish-mashed between when Gia was at the top of her game and when she was starting her decline. This did not necessarily bring anything negative to the book, but I did find it hard to really visualise her fall. Yet, the stories were told in a great way; such a great way that I am yearning to get my hands on more information about Gia.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the fashion industry, and certainly to anyone who has never heard of Gia Carangi. It tells the story of a star whose light burned out too fast, while it also presents a cultural look into the industry during the late 70s/early 80s.
For those of you who have read this book or are interested in Gia, I urge you to leave a comment below – I am dying to have a discussion with someone. Until then, I am off to source the film of her life!
December 26, 2016
Having had a period of my life where I was quite fascinated with models of this era, I read just about everything that Janice Dickinson wrote, I was delighted to be approached and asked by Sacha Lanvin Baumann to read her novel about Gia Carangi. This is not a biography it is an insight, a short and tragic glimpse of Gia, who lost her battle for life on 18th November 1986 at the age of only 26.
At just under 5'8" tall, when most models were head and shoulders taller, she broke the mould to become what most considered the very first Super Model. If anything she was an accidental model, it wasn't a career choice but a profession that chose her, as a shy 17 year old she transformed into another persona at the front of the camera.
Sacha Lanvin Baumann's novel is a beautifully constructed work of art in itself with interviews from such a very wide circle of people that knew Gia, from agents, to photographers, to fellow models of the time, to close friends and lovers. Each one telling stories of what she meant to them and what she was like at different stages of her career and life. These are very personal accounts which are easy to determine how close the relationships were. It was a time of drugs and the start of aids when no-one really knew anything about it.
I was fascinated by this book and I felt that the author gave a very balanced insight into Gia's life. There were very positive accounts of this young woman, a woman that knew what she wanted and had a small circle of close friends that she allowed to know her. There were also tales of how the drugs affected her and took over her life. It seemed true friends are rare at such times, association could ruin careers. Very well constructed. So very pleased to have read this book that has a brutal honesty about it.
At just under 5'8" tall, when most models were head and shoulders taller, she broke the mould to become what most considered the very first Super Model. If anything she was an accidental model, it wasn't a career choice but a profession that chose her, as a shy 17 year old she transformed into another persona at the front of the camera.
Sacha Lanvin Baumann's novel is a beautifully constructed work of art in itself with interviews from such a very wide circle of people that knew Gia, from agents, to photographers, to fellow models of the time, to close friends and lovers. Each one telling stories of what she meant to them and what she was like at different stages of her career and life. These are very personal accounts which are easy to determine how close the relationships were. It was a time of drugs and the start of aids when no-one really knew anything about it.
I was fascinated by this book and I felt that the author gave a very balanced insight into Gia's life. There were very positive accounts of this young woman, a woman that knew what she wanted and had a small circle of close friends that she allowed to know her. There were also tales of how the drugs affected her and took over her life. It seemed true friends are rare at such times, association could ruin careers. Very well constructed. So very pleased to have read this book that has a brutal honesty about it.
April 4, 2017
Writing not very good.
Gia was one of the first brunette supermodels. She was very young, a teenager, with no supervision when she was discovered. She was also a lesbian. Her career took off so fast. Once she started doing drugs, she went into a downward spiral and it became worse when she started shooting heroin. It is interesting how she could not show up for work, be late, or just leave whenever she wanted and she still got work. She should have been fired and not hired anywhere. She set a bad example, especially for the ones who were doing it right. She contracted Aids. The first known woman to die from the disease. She made really poor choices. She had a choice and chose wrong.
Gia was one of the first brunette supermodels. She was very young, a teenager, with no supervision when she was discovered. She was also a lesbian. Her career took off so fast. Once she started doing drugs, she went into a downward spiral and it became worse when she started shooting heroin. It is interesting how she could not show up for work, be late, or just leave whenever she wanted and she still got work. She should have been fired and not hired anywhere. She set a bad example, especially for the ones who were doing it right. She contracted Aids. The first known woman to die from the disease. She made really poor choices. She had a choice and chose wrong.
November 2, 2016
Interesting that I instantly recognised the iconic face on the book cover yet I was unfamiliar with the name perhaps that is the author’s reason for writing as it has clearly been a labour of love for Baumann.
Gia Carangi is considered by some the world’s first supermodel, working in the era of model Janice Dickinson and paving the way for Cindy Crawford et al.
Born This Way is not a biography, it is less formal than that, instead it is a book of memories taken from those who knew and worked with Gia. Narcissistic and passionate Gia had the beauty and personality that could have made her one of the most successful models but the choices she made were wrong and she passed at the young age of 26 at a time when her career should have been at its peak. Gia was the first high profile woman to die of AIDS related illness.
The narrative is well written and with a certain amount of artistic licence from the author it is an enjoyable read, I do hope the book gets the success it should. I think what we are left with as readers is an essence of what Gia was and I would hope that would be the Baumann’s intention.
I think the book will go down well with anyone with an interest in the fashion and modelling industry but I also felt that in terms of social history Born This Way captures a moment in time before cell phones and social media or the heavy intrusion of paparazzi. The attention to detail that Baumann has included in the narrative allows the reader a glimpse back into an incredible era of celebrity.
Gia Carangi is considered by some the world’s first supermodel, working in the era of model Janice Dickinson and paving the way for Cindy Crawford et al.
Born This Way is not a biography, it is less formal than that, instead it is a book of memories taken from those who knew and worked with Gia. Narcissistic and passionate Gia had the beauty and personality that could have made her one of the most successful models but the choices she made were wrong and she passed at the young age of 26 at a time when her career should have been at its peak. Gia was the first high profile woman to die of AIDS related illness.
The narrative is well written and with a certain amount of artistic licence from the author it is an enjoyable read, I do hope the book gets the success it should. I think what we are left with as readers is an essence of what Gia was and I would hope that would be the Baumann’s intention.
I think the book will go down well with anyone with an interest in the fashion and modelling industry but I also felt that in terms of social history Born This Way captures a moment in time before cell phones and social media or the heavy intrusion of paparazzi. The attention to detail that Baumann has included in the narrative allows the reader a glimpse back into an incredible era of celebrity.
December 18, 2016
I received a free copy for a honest review.
I have to make a confession. I relieved this book a few months ago, and because of busy schedules and many other books to review I wasn't able to finish reading it soon. I also made this one of the last review books I'm reading because I was hesitant in reading it. Even when the author, Sacha Lanvin Baumann, asked me to review it I was hesitant because it's no the common genre I prefer to read. Especially a documentary about a famous model.
Man, was I wrong.
This book was based/inspired by a famous American fashion model Gia Carangi 1970s and early 1980s, and was considered to be the first supermodel. The book is narrated as a series of memoirs from friends, colleagues and co-workers. It was extremely well written, and it was very successful in mending the reader and the writer into one. Reading this book makes me feel like I'm stepping into Gia's skin and experiencing every single ounce of grief that she's experiencing throughout the book. Before this I never knew a non-fiction book is able to make me feel so connected to the story.
Either way, this book is a wonderful way to recall and remember a woman who 'defined an era', and you guys should all check it out.
I have to make a confession. I relieved this book a few months ago, and because of busy schedules and many other books to review I wasn't able to finish reading it soon. I also made this one of the last review books I'm reading because I was hesitant in reading it. Even when the author, Sacha Lanvin Baumann, asked me to review it I was hesitant because it's no the common genre I prefer to read. Especially a documentary about a famous model.
Man, was I wrong.
This book was based/inspired by a famous American fashion model Gia Carangi 1970s and early 1980s, and was considered to be the first supermodel. The book is narrated as a series of memoirs from friends, colleagues and co-workers. It was extremely well written, and it was very successful in mending the reader and the writer into one. Reading this book makes me feel like I'm stepping into Gia's skin and experiencing every single ounce of grief that she's experiencing throughout the book. Before this I never knew a non-fiction book is able to make me feel so connected to the story.
Either way, this book is a wonderful way to recall and remember a woman who 'defined an era', and you guys should all check it out.
October 12, 2016
It started with one of the best stubborn quote that summarises it: "If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun"
This novel reveals so many unheard stories and memories of Gia. There is a lot yet to be heard of this larger-than-life person. This novel reveals many of these precious memories looking through the eyes of a co-worker, overlooking the glitz and glamour.
For myself, I've never heard much of this personality up until some few months ago when I was writing a research on the industry. Her name was literary written down boldly in history, she consciously made sure of it down to the details.
Gia is an uncommon character with such a story trailing her with many beautiful pictures to illustrate it in history before she bowed out.
Despite the success and glory, fame and fortune, we all still are humans in the midst of it. What determines how your life turn out is your choices and action you do on an interpretation of it all. and there's no way of everyone else knowing except through the eyes of people that see the real you no matter how you try to hide. This is one of those accounts of an icon in history with the incredible memories and invaluable lessons.
This novel reveals so many unheard stories and memories of Gia. There is a lot yet to be heard of this larger-than-life person. This novel reveals many of these precious memories looking through the eyes of a co-worker, overlooking the glitz and glamour.
For myself, I've never heard much of this personality up until some few months ago when I was writing a research on the industry. Her name was literary written down boldly in history, she consciously made sure of it down to the details.
Gia is an uncommon character with such a story trailing her with many beautiful pictures to illustrate it in history before she bowed out.
Despite the success and glory, fame and fortune, we all still are humans in the midst of it. What determines how your life turn out is your choices and action you do on an interpretation of it all. and there's no way of everyone else knowing except through the eyes of people that see the real you no matter how you try to hide. This is one of those accounts of an icon in history with the incredible memories and invaluable lessons.
December 12, 2016
Born This Way is a non-fiction book about the life of American supermodel Gia Carangi. It mainly covers the eight years from 1978 until her death that she spent in and around New York modelling.
The book is narrated as a series of memoirs from friends, colleagues and co-workers. Gia cam from a broken home in Philadelphia, she was described as; fun, young, needy, shy, shocking and vulnerable. Yet when she stepped in front of the camera she took on a different persona, one which the cameras adored.
Sadly a mix of the industry she was in, her background and her choices led to drugs and then AIDS and she died aged just twenty-six.
I would say this is a niche read for those interested in either the industry or the model herself. I did not know anything about Gia, so was unfamiliar with any of her personal life-story.
The book is narrated as a series of memoirs from friends, colleagues and co-workers. Gia cam from a broken home in Philadelphia, she was described as; fun, young, needy, shy, shocking and vulnerable. Yet when she stepped in front of the camera she took on a different persona, one which the cameras adored.
Sadly a mix of the industry she was in, her background and her choices led to drugs and then AIDS and she died aged just twenty-six.
I would say this is a niche read for those interested in either the industry or the model herself. I did not know anything about Gia, so was unfamiliar with any of her personal life-story.
October 28, 2016
A Fine Biography of a Star
I have to say that this biography is well-written in the most neutral way possible yet it does not scrimp on the details of Gia’s life, most particularly her modeling career. It’s an eye-opener to those who are dreaming of going into the glamorous lifestyle of supermodels. One can definitely see how the author meticulously put together information from interviews and research to come up with a brilliant biography of a star. All vantage points considered, this is a well-rounded biography.
I have to say that this biography is well-written in the most neutral way possible yet it does not scrimp on the details of Gia’s life, most particularly her modeling career. It’s an eye-opener to those who are dreaming of going into the glamorous lifestyle of supermodels. One can definitely see how the author meticulously put together information from interviews and research to come up with a brilliant biography of a star. All vantage points considered, this is a well-rounded biography.
October 16, 2019
Supernova Model and the Ravages of Addiction
Gia was an extraordinarily stunning woman who rocketed into the seemingly glamorous modeling world in the late 70s/early 80s. She was an anomaly as a brunette. She rose to its high levels at supersonic
speed, beginning after 18 being discovered in Philadelphia. Her favorite modeling jobs were for Vogue although her first cover was for a now-defunct Italian fashion magazine.
This uneven, repetitive biography presents almost conflicting accounts of her personality, background and private life as told through the memories of acquaintances, those who worked with her a few times and then at last in the final chapters told by the rare voices of a very few true friends who remained close to her until the end of her short and tragic life.
Gia was by all accounts a rarity in many ways. She wasn’t ultimately motivated by the allure of commercial success, afflicted with the superficial qualities of the divas immediately recognize-able now by the use of only theire first names nor was she blinded by the vast sums of money modeling provided. At the start and through camera” by several world famous photographers and their assistants. She was considered a “natural” and easy to work with.
She was fiercely independent, genetically gifted by a striking beauty all her own yet lived her adult life for the most part on her own terms: most of her creativity inherent in her, giving the photographers great photos was often due to following her instincts and ignoring the photographers’ instructions. Gia “handled” her all-too-fast rise in modeling to its apex without much professional guidance in her financial affairs and little parental supervision, leaving holes in her personal growth and creating stagnation in her emotional maturity.
Gia’s rise to fame and fortune swept her into the fast lane during a landmark era in New York’s nightlife where she experienced the rise and fall of Studio 54. There she mingled with celebrities and rock stars, partying and using free and readily available cocaine all night. Her lifestyle was not yet effecting her burgeoning career.
With the closing of Studio 54, the music scene shifted downtown, Gia morphing with it as New Wave heralded a new era in music. She was a habitué of the newly-opened Mudd Club where her modeling “off-duty” uniform of tight jeans, white t-shirts, leather or denim jackets worn with high top Converse or cowboy boots complimenting her androgynous yet feminine dark looks was more reflective of her bisexual identity.
The atmosphere of nightlife in the downtown clubs probably introduced Gia to heroin. While coke use was as rampant in fashion as other industries and its use mostly tolerated; heroin was rightly regarded with grave suspicion.
Gia successfully hid her habit for years until inevitably spiraling out of control. Many of the book’s contributors wistfully admit wishing they would have intervened with Gia’s increasingly obvious heroin abuse; it seems no one actually knew how bad it was. Makeup artists began covering up needle marks in her hands after observing her poor attempts to cover up the marks. Later photographers were forced into shooting her (no pun intended) in long sleeves only. Her abuse was enabled in many ways.
Meanwhile AIDS was decimating New York’s gay male population in shocking numbers. They were often abandoned by their shame-filled families to the care of their lovers and/or inadequate medical facilities. Another population adversely affected were those who shared needles used by heroin addicts and IV drug users. Gia who shared needles with her lesbian lover became infected by AIDS and kept it a closely-guarded secret even to her closest friends almost to the end.
As her heroin use progressed, Gia finally sought professional inpatient treatment after trying numerous times to quit on her own and inevitably failing. Numerous anonymous contributors to the book failed to notice the effects of her heroin use although they had ample suspicions. These same people were filled with shame because they could have done “something,” Others proclaimed correctly the only person who could stop herself was Gia.
I found the book disturbing and sad. Many times within the first 1/2 I almost gave up due to the conflicting portrayals of Gia and her “loner” personality for which there are inadequate explanations. She was given remarkable leeway in her professional behavior (enabled) because she was so highly sought after. Then in end when calling those who were her “friends” from modeling and she was reaching out, no one would return her calls.
In closing, this is a story about the realities of the modeling business: a young girl’s amazing success not parlayed into another career after she retired, unprepared for huge early success, given no financial planning advice who because of her add
Gia was an extraordinarily stunning woman who rocketed into the seemingly glamorous modeling world in the late 70s/early 80s. She was an anomaly as a brunette. She rose to its high levels at supersonic
speed, beginning after 18 being discovered in Philadelphia. Her favorite modeling jobs were for Vogue although her first cover was for a now-defunct Italian fashion magazine.
This uneven, repetitive biography presents almost conflicting accounts of her personality, background and private life as told through the memories of acquaintances, those who worked with her a few times and then at last in the final chapters told by the rare voices of a very few true friends who remained close to her until the end of her short and tragic life.
Gia was by all accounts a rarity in many ways. She wasn’t ultimately motivated by the allure of commercial success, afflicted with the superficial qualities of the divas immediately recognize-able now by the use of only theire first names nor was she blinded by the vast sums of money modeling provided. At the start and through camera” by several world famous photographers and their assistants. She was considered a “natural” and easy to work with.
She was fiercely independent, genetically gifted by a striking beauty all her own yet lived her adult life for the most part on her own terms: most of her creativity inherent in her, giving the photographers great photos was often due to following her instincts and ignoring the photographers’ instructions. Gia “handled” her all-too-fast rise in modeling to its apex without much professional guidance in her financial affairs and little parental supervision, leaving holes in her personal growth and creating stagnation in her emotional maturity.
Gia’s rise to fame and fortune swept her into the fast lane during a landmark era in New York’s nightlife where she experienced the rise and fall of Studio 54. There she mingled with celebrities and rock stars, partying and using free and readily available cocaine all night. Her lifestyle was not yet effecting her burgeoning career.
With the closing of Studio 54, the music scene shifted downtown, Gia morphing with it as New Wave heralded a new era in music. She was a habitué of the newly-opened Mudd Club where her modeling “off-duty” uniform of tight jeans, white t-shirts, leather or denim jackets worn with high top Converse or cowboy boots complimenting her androgynous yet feminine dark looks was more reflective of her bisexual identity.
The atmosphere of nightlife in the downtown clubs probably introduced Gia to heroin. While coke use was as rampant in fashion as other industries and its use mostly tolerated; heroin was rightly regarded with grave suspicion.
Gia successfully hid her habit for years until inevitably spiraling out of control. Many of the book’s contributors wistfully admit wishing they would have intervened with Gia’s increasingly obvious heroin abuse; it seems no one actually knew how bad it was. Makeup artists began covering up needle marks in her hands after observing her poor attempts to cover up the marks. Later photographers were forced into shooting her (no pun intended) in long sleeves only. Her abuse was enabled in many ways.
Meanwhile AIDS was decimating New York’s gay male population in shocking numbers. They were often abandoned by their shame-filled families to the care of their lovers and/or inadequate medical facilities. Another population adversely affected were those who shared needles used by heroin addicts and IV drug users. Gia who shared needles with her lesbian lover became infected by AIDS and kept it a closely-guarded secret even to her closest friends almost to the end.
As her heroin use progressed, Gia finally sought professional inpatient treatment after trying numerous times to quit on her own and inevitably failing. Numerous anonymous contributors to the book failed to notice the effects of her heroin use although they had ample suspicions. These same people were filled with shame because they could have done “something,” Others proclaimed correctly the only person who could stop herself was Gia.
I found the book disturbing and sad. Many times within the first 1/2 I almost gave up due to the conflicting portrayals of Gia and her “loner” personality for which there are inadequate explanations. She was given remarkable leeway in her professional behavior (enabled) because she was so highly sought after. Then in end when calling those who were her “friends” from modeling and she was reaching out, no one would return her calls.
In closing, this is a story about the realities of the modeling business: a young girl’s amazing success not parlayed into another career after she retired, unprepared for huge early success, given no financial planning advice who because of her add
August 21, 2018
Honestly, I didn't hate this, but I certainly hoped for a lot more. I thought that it was interesting, and maybe I'm just not the right audience, but I hoped for more personal accounts, in oppose to many accounts from people who seemingly didn't know her much or care that much either to be honest. A lot of repetition throughout, about how beautiful she is (literally said pretty much on every page), which I understand because obviously she was a model, but I think the fact that 160+ pages of this focused on her model work and how boyish and mysterious she was almost glamorises what happened to her. The industry don't seem to hold any responsibility, which I think is ridiculous because 1, you're hiring this girl who's clearly high and yet paying her to get her more high without supplying support? And 2, this guy called Watson is basically saying that she should've helped herself and her not doing so affected others, so it became a problem? Honestly, so many of the people in this seem so selfish, like the people who ditched her when she got sick, denied all responsibility (I'm not saying they were solely responsible and yes she needed to help herself, but it just shows they just saw her as a marketing ploy), the ex who told her she slept with a friend even though clearly she's an emotional person, the other ex who makes her new girlfriend look and dress like Gia... All of this is so so wrong and glamorising a story that is actually grotesque. There should be less accounts saying how beautiful and sexy she was and more about the actual person. The only accounts about her actual personality seemed to be that she was narcissistic, playful, naïve and honest yet private, which is fair enough, but I feel as though naivety and innocence and someone in pain like she clearly was shouldn't be glamorised at all. She needed help and weirdly the only people who genuinely seemed to care and didn't just want to screw her weren't even mentioned until the end! I don't understand.
So yeah, maybe it should be a one star, because honestly I haven't learned much from this, other than people are trash quite frankly. I do realize I'm being quite harsh, but I just wish this has more heart in it because that's what I really wanted! I don't care about her buggs bunny stunt or German accent, I want to know about her values, her past, her memories.
So I'm giving this a two star because I think that some people who are more interested in the fashion industry may like this and a part of me feels as though this is partially my fault for having such different expectations.
Would recommend if you don't mind a bit of repetition and questionable characters, which usually I don't, but because of the pragmatics of this I really struggled to be okay with it.
So yeah, maybe it should be a one star, because honestly I haven't learned much from this, other than people are trash quite frankly. I do realize I'm being quite harsh, but I just wish this has more heart in it because that's what I really wanted! I don't care about her buggs bunny stunt or German accent, I want to know about her values, her past, her memories.
So I'm giving this a two star because I think that some people who are more interested in the fashion industry may like this and a part of me feels as though this is partially my fault for having such different expectations.
Would recommend if you don't mind a bit of repetition and questionable characters, which usually I don't, but because of the pragmatics of this I really struggled to be okay with it.
October 19, 2016
The first supermodel, Gia Carangi, is recalled by the people who knew her in this biographical homage.
When I was asked by the author, Sacha Lanvin Baumann, if I would be willing to read Born This Way for review I have to confess that I wasn’t sure it would be my kind of read. I have no interest in celebrity and had never heard of Gia Carangi so I didn’t think I’d find it especially engaging.
However, I found Born This Way unsettlingly interesting. I was uneasy in the reading as at times I felt like I was intruding into other people’s grief. Born This Way draws on the anecdotes and memories of those who knew model Gia well, with direct quotation giving a flavour of the woman she was and how her friends felt, and still feel, about her. I have to admit that I found this formula a little repetitive towards the latter half of the book, but there is no denying that Gia evoked strong emotions in those who knew her. I thought the translation from Italian worked very effectively so that the flavour of the speakers and the original writing remained true.
Gia was such a troubled soul that reading Born This Way made me feel her life and demise was an inevitability. She seemed to fight with every element of what made her who she was – her beauty, her sexuality and her addictions. The element of freefall I found quite shocking and terribly sad and it made me wonder how much has changed to protect the vulnerable in the fashion world today.
I would have liked photographic illustrations too in the book as I think they would have helped underline and celebrate the very brief life Gia led. An example might be ‘Gia’s Last Photograph’ mentioned by Borodulin, for example.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to read Born This Way. It made me thankful for the fairly ordinary life I’ve led and introduced me to a woman, Gia, I would have liked to have known and a world of fashion I’m glad I’ve never been a part of.
When I was asked by the author, Sacha Lanvin Baumann, if I would be willing to read Born This Way for review I have to confess that I wasn’t sure it would be my kind of read. I have no interest in celebrity and had never heard of Gia Carangi so I didn’t think I’d find it especially engaging.
However, I found Born This Way unsettlingly interesting. I was uneasy in the reading as at times I felt like I was intruding into other people’s grief. Born This Way draws on the anecdotes and memories of those who knew model Gia well, with direct quotation giving a flavour of the woman she was and how her friends felt, and still feel, about her. I have to admit that I found this formula a little repetitive towards the latter half of the book, but there is no denying that Gia evoked strong emotions in those who knew her. I thought the translation from Italian worked very effectively so that the flavour of the speakers and the original writing remained true.
Gia was such a troubled soul that reading Born This Way made me feel her life and demise was an inevitability. She seemed to fight with every element of what made her who she was – her beauty, her sexuality and her addictions. The element of freefall I found quite shocking and terribly sad and it made me wonder how much has changed to protect the vulnerable in the fashion world today.
I would have liked photographic illustrations too in the book as I think they would have helped underline and celebrate the very brief life Gia led. An example might be ‘Gia’s Last Photograph’ mentioned by Borodulin, for example.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to read Born This Way. It made me thankful for the fairly ordinary life I’ve led and introduced me to a woman, Gia, I would have liked to have known and a world of fashion I’m glad I’ve never been a part of.
November 15, 2016
We are all familiar with documentaries of famous people: a narrative of a person's life and a series of tightly edited interviews. In many ways, Born This Way is a documentary of supermodel Gia Carangi in book form. It is a collection of interviews from a wide range of people which range from personal friends to casual work acquaintances.
However, unlike most documentaries, there is a lightness of touch in the editing of the transcripts. Apart from learning more aspects of Carangi life, the voices of the various characters come through which makes the book come alive, even for those unfamiliar with the fashion world.
There are a couple of occasions in which the interviewees confess that they only want to remember the good times, and not when her life spirals out of control with drug abuse. While this irks the sharp-minded biographer, such refusals are equally telling and contributes to the intrigue of Carangi.
That said, this book could benefit from photographs to break up the barrage of interviews. This is especially so with the sections when the interviewees are saying more or less the same thing. The photographs, not only of Carangi but of the interviewees, also provide some much needed context especially to those unfamiliar with the fashion world. Otherwise, there is a risk of the interviews being a big blur after extended reading.
However, unlike most documentaries, there is a lightness of touch in the editing of the transcripts. Apart from learning more aspects of Carangi life, the voices of the various characters come through which makes the book come alive, even for those unfamiliar with the fashion world.
There are a couple of occasions in which the interviewees confess that they only want to remember the good times, and not when her life spirals out of control with drug abuse. While this irks the sharp-minded biographer, such refusals are equally telling and contributes to the intrigue of Carangi.
That said, this book could benefit from photographs to break up the barrage of interviews. This is especially so with the sections when the interviewees are saying more or less the same thing. The photographs, not only of Carangi but of the interviewees, also provide some much needed context especially to those unfamiliar with the fashion world. Otherwise, there is a risk of the interviews being a big blur after extended reading.
September 20, 2016
A woman not to be missed in the flow of time!
Sacha Lanvin wrote an excellent biography about wonderful and beautiful women whose life was taken in sacrifice of beauty. The detail in this book is incredible, and the interviews with different people who were part of Gia’s life are so rich and intriguing; it is truly a great read. All of the questions I had wondered about Gia Carangi, the Supermodel who defined an era have been answered in this book.
Each one of us has a story to tell, though most of us will never find an audience. Life is complicated, and there is much misery and potential hardship along the way. Some people overcome these barriers, some people don’t, and only a few actually become a legend.
Gia Carangi is a woman who travelled from the future, only instead of historic share prices, she brought with her a short story with poetic contemplation of women as a miracle of nature.
Sacha Lanvin wrote an excellent biography about wonderful and beautiful women whose life was taken in sacrifice of beauty. The detail in this book is incredible, and the interviews with different people who were part of Gia’s life are so rich and intriguing; it is truly a great read. All of the questions I had wondered about Gia Carangi, the Supermodel who defined an era have been answered in this book.
Each one of us has a story to tell, though most of us will never find an audience. Life is complicated, and there is much misery and potential hardship along the way. Some people overcome these barriers, some people don’t, and only a few actually become a legend.
Gia Carangi is a woman who travelled from the future, only instead of historic share prices, she brought with her a short story with poetic contemplation of women as a miracle of nature.
October 19, 2016
Habe heute angefangen das Buch zu lesen,da ich mich viel mit dem Thema Gia im Internet beschäftigt habe.Dort liest man allerdings mehr die negativen Ereignisse.
Dieses Buch allerdings zeigt die andere Seite,eine glückliche,lebensfrohe und lustige Gia.Tolle Geschichten von Freunden und Kollegen.Jeder der begeistert von Gia ist sollte dieses Buch lesen,es bringt sie ein bisschen zum leben zurück, daher 5 Sterne.
In loving memory
Dieses Buch allerdings zeigt die andere Seite,eine glückliche,lebensfrohe und lustige Gia.Tolle Geschichten von Freunden und Kollegen.Jeder der begeistert von Gia ist sollte dieses Buch lesen,es bringt sie ein bisschen zum leben zurück, daher 5 Sterne.
In loving memory
April 2, 2016
Amazing book! Read in a couple of days!
November 11, 2017
Nice little antidote book.
“Thing of beauty” by Stephen fried is the quintessential “Gia” book, met him years ago at a writers conference when I was struggling with my own addictions And he was a wonderful guy. This author took a different approach but I would read Thing of Beauty first then this book, it’s actually a nice companion to it and the stories about Gia are told very lovingly because what happened to her was just too much too fast too much money to buy heroin that ultimately destroyed her probably more than AIDS Did yes, aids killed her ( or rather the illnesses brought from aids ) but heroin DESTROYED her,
My friend Renée was a good friend of Gia’s having went to the same ( Lincoln) high school which is about 3 blocks from where I live now.
When she got sick her mom just literally shielded her from the world they had a very very odd relationship ; when Gia cried for her in NYC she wasn’t there yet when she got aids she wouldn’t let anyone see her it was extremely dysfunctional relationship
But back to this book. I liked it because it delved into stories from just people who knew her and they are interesting and do paint a great portrait of a girl who had so much to give to the world but heroin STOLE HER SOUL make no bones about it; it’s downplayed even here; heroin is an evil drug and to take down someone who was a bright shiny star and trash it; obliterate it, just shows you how evil that drug is.
Sorry to go off a little from the message of the book which was about Gia’s brilliance, which is wonderful,
But man that heroin is the devil and takes too many souls too many,,,,,,and she was on of them .. RIP Gia you were a beautiful thing ....gone way too soon.
“Thing of beauty” by Stephen fried is the quintessential “Gia” book, met him years ago at a writers conference when I was struggling with my own addictions And he was a wonderful guy. This author took a different approach but I would read Thing of Beauty first then this book, it’s actually a nice companion to it and the stories about Gia are told very lovingly because what happened to her was just too much too fast too much money to buy heroin that ultimately destroyed her probably more than AIDS Did yes, aids killed her ( or rather the illnesses brought from aids ) but heroin DESTROYED her,
My friend Renée was a good friend of Gia’s having went to the same ( Lincoln) high school which is about 3 blocks from where I live now.
When she got sick her mom just literally shielded her from the world they had a very very odd relationship ; when Gia cried for her in NYC she wasn’t there yet when she got aids she wouldn’t let anyone see her it was extremely dysfunctional relationship
But back to this book. I liked it because it delved into stories from just people who knew her and they are interesting and do paint a great portrait of a girl who had so much to give to the world but heroin STOLE HER SOUL make no bones about it; it’s downplayed even here; heroin is an evil drug and to take down someone who was a bright shiny star and trash it; obliterate it, just shows you how evil that drug is.
Sorry to go off a little from the message of the book which was about Gia’s brilliance, which is wonderful,
But man that heroin is the devil and takes too many souls too many,,,,,,and she was on of them .. RIP Gia you were a beautiful thing ....gone way too soon.
January 9, 2018
I read this book in conjunction with Stephen Fried's "Thing of Beauty." It was great to get a deeper glimpse into Gia's personality than is provided by the dominant narrative of her tragic arc and a sense of the person behind the star-crossed junkie. At the same time, the input from so many people, some of whom barely crossed paths with Gia at all, got repetitive in both its sameness and its self-contradiction very quickly -- especially since the contradictions didn't seem to parallel anything else going on in her life at the time. I realize that many of the people who knew her best are long gone, and that others have their own reasons for not wanting to volunteer too much about their interactions with her, but still would have preferred more in-depth insight from a shorter cast of characters.
January 1, 2022
So this was....not good. Boring, badly written and not at all insightful. I feel like nobody here had anything much to say about Gia beyond the fact that she was beautiful and a bad time-keeper. I can't get over how repetitive this book was - I mean, if I have to read one more time about how Gia did not care for modeling and should have tried her hand at acting instead. With the subject matter (1980's, supermodels, fashion industry, drug use, AIDS), this could have been - should have been - a really interesting read. Alas, it was not. A miss.
If you want to read a book on Gia, I recommend Thing of Beauty by Stephen Fried
If you want to read a book on Gia, I recommend Thing of Beauty by Stephen Fried
April 21, 2019
Unfortunately, the memories of friends, colleagues and coworkers who recall Gia Carangi are just that. The book is wholly their memories of working and partying with Gia which in the book leaves Gia as a flat, one dimensional character. Some of their recollections are touching or humorous, but I was hoping to learn more about Gia, not that she was beautiful, sassy, late to jobs, ran from photo shoots...over and over and over again. The author has an engaging way of writing, which made the book interesting, even if what I had expected to read was missing.
December 18, 2018
I started this book right after completing Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia, the excellent biography on Gia Carangi by Stephen Fried. By comparison, Born this Way is a bit of a disappointment. It lacks the depth and information in Fried's book. And it's strange that for a book on a fashion model, there is not a single photo in Born this Way. As it's Gia, I enjoyed this book but Thing of Beauty is far superior.
July 1, 2023
The old adage "the good they die young" often applies to famous and creative people and heroin overdose and death. This is another story about a supermodel, famous suddenly and overwhelmed with it all and loses their way in life. I don't know much about the modeling business but the ruthlessness of it all was an eyeopener.
October 27, 2020
The author tirelessly and most accurately gathered interviews from people who knew Gia Carangi. First-hand personal perspectives of encounters with this most intriguing woman. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to know Gia honestly and not just from the viewpoint of editorialization.
February 10, 2020
Gia
Such a beautiful soul full of life n loss
I do hope you're at peace now Gia. Go fly on your wings in heaven. The is only one "Gia" 😇😇😢😢
Such a beautiful soul full of life n loss
I do hope you're at peace now Gia. Go fly on your wings in heaven. The is only one "Gia" 😇😇😢😢
Read
March 19, 2022Read this a couple years ago. Pretty lightweight book. There’s a better biography about her.
October 5, 2024
estuvo ok
January 1, 2026
Long live Gia. A soul untethered till her final days.
June 25, 2022
I’ve always been fascinated by the tragic tale of supermodel Gia Carangi, and was thrilled to nab this one from Kindle Unlimited. This book was disappointing and poorly written. It was mainly just quotes from memories of acquaintances and people who knew her — friends, lovers, fellow models, photographers, make up artists, agents, etc. This formula brought so much repetition with most people saying basically the same thing, and unfortunately, there were too many from people who hardly knew her or worked with her just once or twice. It would have been nice to hear more from those who knew her best. Another annoying factor was there was not one single photo image in the book. Not one!
December 31, 2025
Great read for anybody interested in Gia Carangi as a person, her character and interactions with friends and coworkers.
For more details regarding her life and modeling career see book by Stephen Fried "Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia".
For more details regarding her life and modeling career see book by Stephen Fried "Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia".
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