From Gia's Last Cosmo Cover Appearance April 1982 by Lisa Interollo


"A model has to create moods," says twenty two year old, Philadelphia born Gia, whose strikingly successful four year career already qualifies her as an expert on the subject. "You have to be careful not to get stuck in a mood - emotions have trends just like fashion." With a wry half smile playing on her lips, Gia goes on to confess that getting into the spirit of a shoot hasn't always been easy. "How am I supposed to feel beautiful if they give me an ugly dress, plastic jewelry and an atrocious hairdo that's so tight it could cause brain damage?" she demands, her dark eyes flashing mischievously. "You have to be a magician and make it work," Gia continues. "Sometimes I've felt like running out of a shoot - I had to contain myself - but the pictures turned out nice. Often the idea that you don't look good is all in your head."


Imagining Gia not looking good is virtually impossible - her natural attractiveness awes: even in jeans, she turns almost as many heads as a presidential motorcade. What beauty tips does this heavenly creature have for us mortals? To maintain her weight at 120 lbs., 5'11" [note from webmaster: Gia's height was often mis-quoted, see below for details] Gia eats mostly fruits and nuts - and fasts occasionally on juices. "Stay away from TV," she cautions. "It has non stop junk food ads and everything looks great."


After a shoot, Gia uses Diane von Furstenberg makeup remover, than dabs astringent to close pores. Not surprisingly being on magazine covers throughout the world brings problems as well as pleasures. "Old friends look at you differently," Gia muses. "They don't see you as their sixth grade chum, they see you as an ideal of fashion." She pauses, lights a cigarette, then proceeds in a lower voice. "It's hard to live up to that image. When I get out of work, I throw on a T shirt, jeans and my sneaks just to get back down to earth." When not posing in front of the camera, she ponders life after modeling. "I want a job where I can be out of the limelight making things happen, possibly cinematography," Gia says. "Modeling is a short gig - unless you want to be jumping out of washing machines when you're thirty!"

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