Based on the life of self-destructive supermodel/drug addict Gia Carangi (Jolie), who died from AIDS at the age of 26. Gia grew up in an abusive Philadelphia family and hid her insecurities under a tough and wanton persona. Taken under the wing of New York modeling exec Wilhelmina Cooper (Dunaway), Gia's exoticness gets her noticed but the hedonistic lifestyle of the late '70s quickly leads to her downfall. Jolie goes all out for the title role.