Gia Allemand

Gia Allemand
Born Gia Marie Allemand
(1983-12-20)December 20, 1983
Howard Beach, Queens, New York, U.S.
Died August 14, 2013(2013-08-14) (aged 29)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Cause of death Brain damage from attempted suicide
Occupation Actress, model
Years active 2002–2007

Modeling information

Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)[1]
Hair color Brown
Eye color Brown

Gia Marie Allemand (December 20, 1983[2] – August 14, 2013) was an American actress, model, and reality television contestant. She was known for appearing in Maxim and competing on two ABC reality shows, The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love and Bachelor Pad.

Career

Modeling and acting

Gia Marie Allemand[3] was born to Eugene and Donna Allemand[4][5] in the Howard Beach neighborhood of Queens, New York City, and grew up in the borough of Staten Island and nearby in suburban Manorville, New York, on Long Island,[6] where she graduated from Lindenhurst High School in 2001.[7] Allemand's parents separated in 1992, later divorcing; Donna Allemand married Tony Micheletti, whom she described as closer to Gia than was Gia's biological father.[4]

Gia began modeling early, and as a baby she appeared in Johnson & Johnson ads and as a Gerber Baby.[1] As a teenager, Allemand initially never thought about a career in modeling.[8] However, at 19 she began modeling after she was asked to enter a swimsuit competition she says she won.[8] Allemand finished second in the Miss Hawaiian Tropic competition and the Miss Red Hot Taj Mahal Super Bowl contest in 2005.[9] She is best known for appearing as a swimsuit model in Maxim in 2007.[1] In 2008, she was named Miss Bikini-USA's Model of the Year.[10] The following year Allemand placed first in the bikini short class of the NPC Arnold Amateur Championships.[11] In addition to modeling, Allemand worked for the modeling and creative-fields consultancy Dream It Make It.[1]

Allemand said in an interview that she has always had a passion for acting and performing.[8] She was a former professional ballet dancer,[8] but her dancing career was shortened after she injured her hamstring and Achilles tendon.[12] Nevertheless, Allemand took acting classes in high school and at Hartford College.[8][13] In 2010, she was selected to play a role in an upcoming film produced by Brett Ratner on the life of actor Gianni Russo. She was cast to play the supporting role of actress Ava Gardner.[14] Russo cast her for the role saying, "Gia looks a lot like Ava, but it's really the passion that she had that convinced me to cast her."[15]

Television

Allemand's work in television began when she was selected as a cast member on ABC's reality show The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love, season 14 of The Bachelor series, which first aired on January 4, 2010. The show placed her with 24 other women all contending for the affection of pilot Jake Pavelka. She was the second to the last contestant eliminated by Pavelka.[16] On February 18, 2010 Allemand appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where she discussed her life after being on The Bachelor.[17]

Afterwards, Allemand joined the cast of ABC's Bachelor spinoff, Bachelor Pad.[18] The show premiered August 9, 2010, on ABC. Allemand cited the relationship as the reason why she refused to participate in the show's "kissing contest" game which led to her elimination in the third episode.[18] Before appearing on Bachelor Pad Allemand was featured in a special edition of ABC's 20/20: Inside the Bachelor: Stories Behind the Rose.[19]

Allemand appeared in the episodic short film Ghost Trek: The Kinsey Report, a horror-comedy about a paranormal reality show, in which Allemand plays the role of producer Shawna Leibowitz.[20]

Death

On August 12, 2013, Allemand was admitted to University Hospital in New Orleans after an attempted suicide by hanging.[21] She was declared brain dead and removed from life support two days later at age 29.[3] At the time of her death, she was living in New Orleans and dating NBA player Ryan Anderson[6] of the New Orleans Pelicans.

A video tribute for Allemand aired during a 2014 episode of The Bachelor.

Her funeral was held at Trinity Grace Church, a nondenominational Christian church in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.[3][22]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Gia Grows Up". Queens Tribune. December 9, 2010. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
  2. ↑ Smith, Michael (August 14, 2013). "Gia Allemand Former Bachelor Star Dead From Apparent Suicide Bid". Las Vegas Guardian Express. Archived from the original on October 29, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Jean, Penelope (August 14, 2013). "Official Statement on Behalf of the Family". Penelope Jean Media (Allemand publicist). Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Siemaszko, Corky (August 19, 2013). "Gia Allemand's father opens up about fateful fight he had with 'Bachelor' star before her death: 'I said some things that I regret'". Daily News. New York City. Archived from the original on December 1, 2015.
  5. ↑ Macatee, Rebecca (August 16, 2013). "Gia Allemand's Mother Breaks Silence on Bachelor Star's Death". E!. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014.
  6. 1 2 Lovece, Frank (August 14, 2013). "Gia Allemand dead, 'Bachelor' finalist was 29". Newsday. New York / Long Island. Archived from the original on February 21, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  7. ↑ Badia, Erik; Siemaszko, Corky (August 16, 2013). "Gia Allemand dead at 29: Best friend says 'Bachelor' star sounded 'stuffy' from crying night before she hanged herself". Daily News. New York City. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Sammie-T (2010-10-27). "The Bachelor: Gia Allemand Interviewed". TVGrapevine.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
  9. ↑ Rovell, Darren (2007-06-26). "Gia Allemand: Still "Pitching" If Pavano Isn't". CNBC. Archived from the original on January 4, 2014. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
  10. ↑ "Interview with Gia Allemand: After the Final Rose". Bikini-USA.com. 2010-02-27. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
  11. ↑ "2009 NPC Arnold Amateur Championships". Bodybuilding.com. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  12. ↑ Weinreb, Michael (n.d.). "Money For Nothing: What Makes Carl Pavano Not Tick?". ESPN. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
  13. ↑ Lauinger, John; Brosh, Brendan; Lisberg, Adam (2006-09-17). "Gia Speaks Out. Porsche Pinup Stands By Her Yankee". Daily News. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
  14. ↑ Carbone, Gina. "Gia Allemand to Play Ava Gardner in Upcoming Film". Wetpaint. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
  15. ↑ Reiher, Andrea (October 5, 2010). "'Bachelor Pad's' Gia Allemand cast as Ava Gardner in film". Zap2it.com. Retrieved 2013-08-14.
  16. ↑ Martin, Lara (2010-02-18). "Gia Allemand ('The Bachelor')". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
  17. ↑ Reifer, Jodi (2010-02-18). "'The Bachelor's' Gia to appear on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show'". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
  18. 1 2 Martin, Lara (2010-08-24). "Gia Allemand ('Bachelor Pad')". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
  19. ↑ Schnee, Steve; Pisarcik, Kristin (2010-07-26). "Where Are They Now? Life After 'The Bachelor'". ABC News. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  20. ↑ Clinton, Josh (2010-11-29). "Ghost Trek TV Pilot Shooting in Charlotte, NC December 10–13, 2010". Inside Pulse. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
  21. ↑ Badia, Erik; Hutchinson, Bill; Eby, Margeret (August 14, 2013). "Gia Allemand dead at 29: Former 'Bachelor' contestant dies in suicide by hanging". Daily News. New York. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  22. ↑ Toomey, Alyssa (August 22, 2013). "Gia Allemand's Funeral Held in New York". E!. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014.

External links

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