Vienna Girardi: ‘No Idea’ Gia Allemand Was ‘Fighting These Demons’

Former Bachelor contestant Vienna Girardi fought a contentious battle with Gia Allemand for Jake Pavelka’s heart on Season 14, but the two still ended up as friends. As such, Allemand’s tragic death by suicide has left Girardi “shocked,” and she admits she had “no idea” her former rival was struggling.

Girardi is best remembered for being sort of the “bad girl” on the 14th season of The Bachelor, and for ultimately winning the competition. But after the show, she became good friends with Gia Allemand, who died yesterday after attempting suicide on Monday.

“She was my best friend from the show,” Vienna Girardi told Celebuzz. “I had no idea she was fighting any of these demons at all. I was shocked more than anything.”

She says that the two became close when Allemand moved to Orlando to be with her boyfriend, NBA star Ryan Anderson. They were best friends there, and stayed in touch after Allemand followed Anderson to New Orleans for a transfer.

Given her life and her loving relationship with Anderson, Girardi finds it hard to believe that Allemand would want to take her own life.

“I had no idea that anything was going on in her life. She always seemed so happy and full of life to be around. The way she talked about him, she was going to marry him. It’s so hard being one of her closest friends you never really know the demons people are battling.”

Still, Girardi will remember her fondly.

“She was a beautiful person with a beautiful soul,” she said. “It’s hard when this happens when the person is so young and so beautiful.”

Allemand was rushed to the hospital Monday after an unspecified medical emergency. She remained there in critical condition until Wednesday, when her family decided to take her off life support. As a devout Christian, Allemand was read her last rites before she died.

A statement released shortly after her death ended speculation as to what the “medical emergency” was, admitting that the 29-year-old had attempted suicide. No further details on her death have been released, and her family has asked for privacy as they grieve.

“Loved ones and fans will remember Gia Allemand as a caring woman who loved her family and was well-known for her compassion towards animals and mission to rescue homeless pets,” read the family statement.