# Gia Allemand
**Gia Marie Allemand** (December 20, 1983 – August 14, 2013) was an American actress, model, and reality television contestant best known for appearing on season 14 of ABC's *The Bachelor* and on its spinoff *Bachelor Pad* in 2010[1](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983, Howard Beach, Queens, New York City[1](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3730444/bio/) |
| Died | August 14, 2013, University Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana, age 29[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reality-tv-star-gia-allemand-dies-at-age-29/) |
| Known for | Season 14 of *The Bachelor* (2010) and the spinoff *Bachelor Pad*[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reality-tv-star-gia-allemand-dies-at-age-29/) |
| Modeling | Swimsuit model in *Maxim* in 2007; Miss Bikini USA's Model of the Year 2008[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3730444/bio/) |
| Bachelor result | Third runner-up on Jake Pavelka's season, eliminated second to last[1](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography) • [7](https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2013/08/15/reality-actress-gia-allemand-dies-new-orleans/vpM5ZHa07g6JLmHOURd3FO/story.html) |
| Later work | Pure Barre instructor in New Orleans; advocacy for rescuing homeless pets[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reality-tv-star-gia-allemand-dies-at-age-29/) |
## Early life and modeling
Born in Queens, New York City's Howard Beach area to parents Eugene and Donna Allemand, she spent her childhood on [Staten Island](https://www.edgepedia.org/staten-island) and, close by, in the [Long Island](https://www.edgepedia.org/long-island) suburb of Manorville, New York, finishing high school at Lindenhurst High School in 2001[1](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography). As a teenager she initially did not think about a career in modeling, but she competed in beauty pageants and eventually began modeling in swimsuit competitions[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-gia-allemand-bachelor-dead-20130814-story.html).
Her early work included [Johnson & Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/johnson-and-johnson) advertisements and an appearance as a [Gerber Baby](https://www.edgepedia.org/gerber-baby)[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reality-tv-star-gia-allemand-dies-at-age-29/). She appeared as a swimsuit model in *Maxim* in 2007 and was named Miss Bikini USA's Model of the Year in 2008[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3730444/bio/).
## Television career
Allemand's television work began when she was selected as a cast member on ABC's *The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love*, season 14 of *The Bachelor* series, which first aired on January 4, 2010[1](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography). The show placed her with 24 other women contending for the affection of pilot [Jake Pavelka](https://www.edgepedia.org/jake-pavelka); she was the second-to-last contestant eliminated, which places her as third runner-up[1](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography) • [7](https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2013/08/15/reality-actress-gia-allemand-dies-new-orleans/vpM5ZHa07g6JLmHOURd3FO/story.html). On February 18, 2010, she appeared on *The Ellen DeGeneres Show*, where she discussed her life after being on the show[1](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography).
Afterward, Allemand joined the cast of the ABC spinoff *Bachelor Pad*, which premiered August 9, 2010, in which former *Bachelor* and *Bachelorette* contestants competed for a $250,000 prize[1](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-gia-allemand-bachelor-dead-20130814-story.html). She cited a relationship as the reason she refused to participate in the show's "kissing contest" game, which led to her elimination in the third episode[1](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography). Before appearing on *Bachelor Pad* she was featured in a special edition of ABC's *20/20*, *Inside the Bachelor: Stories Behind the Rose*[1](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography).
She also acted. Allemand appeared in the episodic short film *Ghost Trek: The Kinsey Report* (2011), a horror-comedy about a paranormal reality show, playing producer Shawna Leibowitz[1](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography). In a 2010 interview with the *Queens Tribune* she said she had modeled for years, was working on an acting career, and wanted to return to college for a master's degree[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-gia-allemand-bachelor-dead-20130814-story.html). More recently, before her death, she worked as a Pure Barre instructor in New Orleans and worked on raising awareness about rescuing homeless pets[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reality-tv-star-gia-allemand-dies-at-age-29/).
## Death
On August 12, 2013, Allemand was admitted to [University Hospital](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-hospital) in New Orleans after an attempted [suicide by hanging](https://www.edgepedia.org/suicide-by-hanging) at her home[1](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography). Her boyfriend, NBA player Ryan Anderson of the [New Orleans Pelicans](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-orleans-pelicans), found her at the home on Monday evening and called 911[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reality-tv-star-gia-allemand-dies-at-age-29/). She was declared brain dead and was removed from life support two days later, on August 14, at age 29, after a critical loss of brain and organ function[1](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography) • [4](https://www.eonline.com/news/448971/gia-allemand-apparent-suicide-bachelor-star-hanged-herself-sources-confirm). A New Orleans Police Department report that ABC News obtained indicates the two had quarreled that afternoon over her belief that Anderson had been unfaithful, hours before the attempt; the document says her suicide was by hanging, using a vacuum cleaner cord fastened to the handrail of a spiral staircase in her house[8](https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/report-disturbing-details-gia-allemand-death/story?id=20035629). A resident doctor told police she had been without oxygen for 30 to 40 minutes during the attempt[8](https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/report-disturbing-details-gia-allemand-death/story?id=20035629). Her mother, boyfriend, and friends were at her bedside when she died, and her family's statement said that as a practicing Christian she had received the sacrament of last rites[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reality-tv-star-gia-allemand-dies-at-age-29/) • [6](https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/bachelor-contestant-gia-allemand-dead-apparent-suicide/story?id=19961770).
Anderson later spoke publicly about her death. In a November 2014 interview with *Sports Illustrated* he described finding Allemand hanging from a vacuum-cleaner cord and his struggle to come to terms with the suicide; he had returned to basketball in September 2013[9](https://time.com/3584590/gia-allemand-suicide-awareness-ryan-anderson/).
## Memorials and reaction
A public viewing was held at Papavero Funeral Home in Maspeth, New York, and a funeral service took place at Trinity Grace Church, a nondenominational Christian church in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan[1](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography) • [10](https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2013/08/19/Gia-Allemands-viewing-funeral-to-take-place-in-New-York/UPI-43141376919602/).
The Bachelor franchise paid tribute to her during *The Bachelor: Countdown to Juan Pablo* special in January 2014, showing a video in which Allemand spoke about how she hoped to be remembered; she said in the clip, "I just hope people remember my kind heart"[11](https://www.eonline.com/news/495979/gia-allemand-remembered-during-the-bachelor-special-i-hope-people-remember-my-kind-heart). A video tribute also aired during a 2014 episode of *The Bachelor*[1](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography).
Her death drew wide reaction from the show's community. Jake Pavelka wrote on Twitter, "I had to pull over, I can't stop crying. We have lost an angel," and other alumni including [Sean Lowe](https://www.edgepedia.org/sean-lowe-television-personality), Vienna Girardi, and host [Chris Harrison](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-harrison) posted tributes[3](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reality-tv-star-gia-allemand-dies-at-age-29/) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-gia-allemand-bachelor-dead-20130814-story.html). When *The Bachelorette* lost contestant Eric Hill in 2014, host Chris Harrison noted that Allemand had taken her own life months after appearing as a contestant and that producers had opted for a brief mention of the loss[12](https://time.com/106222/the-bachelorette-death-eric-hill-andi-dorfman/).
## References
1. [Gia Allemand Biography, RealityTVworld](https://realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/gia-allemand/biography)
2. ['Bachelor' star Gia Allemand dead after apparent suicide, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-gia-allemand-bachelor-dead-20130814-story.html)
3. [Reality TV star Gia Allemand dies at age 29, CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reality-tv-star-gia-allemand-dies-at-age-29/)
4. [Gia Allemand Suicide: Bachelor Star Hanged Herself, Sources Confirm, E! News](https://www.eonline.com/news/448971/gia-allemand-apparent-suicide-bachelor-star-hanged-herself-sources-confirm)
5. [Gia Allemand - Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3730444/bio/)
6. ['Bachelor' Contestant Gia Allemand Dead in Apparent Suicide, ABC News](https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/bachelor-contestant-gia-allemand-dead-apparent-suicide/story?id=19961770)
7. [Gia Allemand, 29; reality show contestant, actress, The Boston Globe](https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2013/08/15/reality-actress-gia-allemand-dies-new-orleans/vpM5ZHa07g6JLmHOURd3FO/story.html)
8. [Disturbing New Details on Gia Allemand Death, ABC News](https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/report-disturbing-details-gia-allemand-death/story?id=20035629)
9. [NBA's Ryan Anderson Reveals Struggle to Overcome Girlfriend Gia Allemand's Suicide, Time](https://time.com/3584590/gia-allemand-suicide-awareness-ryan-anderson/)
10. [Gia Allemand's viewing, funeral to take place in New York, UPI](https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2013/08/19/Gia-Allemands-viewing-funeral-to-take-place-in-New-York/UPI-43141376919602/)
11. [Gia Allemand Remembered During The Bachelor Special, E! News](https://www.eonline.com/news/495979/gia-allemand-remembered-during-the-bachelor-special-i-hope-people-remember-my-kind-heart)
12. [The Bachelorette and the Death of Eric Hill, Time](https://time.com/106222/the-bachelorette-death-eric-hill-andi-dorfman/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Food, customs, and everyday culture › Clothing, textiles, and domestic crafts › Fashion and commercial models › Glamour and pin-up models*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license