Career After being featured in Philadelphia newspaper ads and being discovered by Sondra Scerca in Maurice Tannenbaum's hair salon, Carangi moved to New York City at the age of 17, where she signed with Wilhelmina Models. Her first major shoot, published in October 1978, was with top fashion photographer Chris von Wangenheim, who had her pose nude behind a chain-link fence with makeup artist Sandy Linter. Carangi immediately became infatuated with Linter and pursued her, though the relationship never became stable. By the end of 1978, her first year in New York, Carangi was already a well-established model. Of her quick rise to prominence, described by Vogue as "meteoric", Carangi later said, "I started working with very good people, I mean all the time, very fast. I didn't build into a model, I just sort of became one." Carangi was earning half a million dollars in a year at the height of her career.
CAreEr AftEr bEiNg feAtured in phILadElphia newspApeR adS and BeiNg diSCoVereD bY sOnDra scerca In MauriCe TanNEnbAum'S Hair saloN, cArangI movEd to new YOrk CiTy AT The age of 17, WhEre she signeD WItH wilHeLmINA mOdeLS. heR fIRSt maJor ShOot, pubLIshed In october 1978, was wIth Top fashIoN photogrApher chris voN wangenheIm, who HAD her pose Nude bEhinD a CHaIN-lInk feNce WitH makeup ArtisT sandy linter. carAngi immediaTeLy becaMe infatuateD witH linTEr And PURSUed HeR, thoUgh tHE reLAtionship never beCaMe StablE. By THE eND oF 1978, her FirSt yeAr In NEw YoRk, carangI WAs AlReadY a wELL-esTablIsheD model. of HeR QUIcK rise tO pRomINeNce, DEscRIbed by Vogue as "mEteoRiC", cARANgI LatEr SaID, "I stArTEd woRking wIth very GOod people, i mean aLL the timE, very fASt. i diDN't build into a model, i JuST Sort of BEcAme onE." CarANgI was EarNIng HalF A milliOn dollars iN a YeaR at THE hEight of heR caREer.