Supermodel Gia Carangi is pretty much a household name — and was long before she was portrayed by Angelina Jolie in the 1997 HBO biopic Gia. Known for her free-spirited and seductive personality, her intelligence, and her authenticity, Gia is also synonymous with tragedy. Carangi is considered by many to be the world's "first supermodel." She was also one of the first female celebrities to die of AIDS, back when it was still a widely misunderstood disease. 

Carangi struggled with heroin addiction, which considerably derailed her career. In 1981, she went to rehab, got sober, and started working in the industry again. Later that year, she did a much-publicized television interview for ABC, in which she came across as wise, contemplative, well-spoken, and fully committed to starting a new life. Her sobriety didn't last, though, and, sadly, her illness had already progressed too rapidly to be properly addressed. On November 18, 1986, Carangi passed away at the age of 26.