Gia Carangi journeys to New York City with dreams of being a fashion model. Within a few minutes of arriving, she meets Wilhelmina Cooper a high-powered and shrewd agent who takes Gia under her wing. Together with her own instincts and Cooper's help, Gia shoots to the top of the modeling world. However, Gia turns to medication If Cooper dies of lung cancer -- and her livelihood begin to spiral out of control.