Gia Paloma, born Karen Christine Catanzaro on June 27, 1984, in Diamond Bar, California, is a retired American adult film actress and director of Italian descent who grew up in Walnut, California. She entered the porn industry in 2003 after briefly attending California State University, Fullerton, and working at Starbucks, motivated by financial needs and personal reasons. Her stage name honors the 1998 film Gia starring Angelina Jolie and the Spanish word for dove.
Paloma gained fame for her bold performances in extreme hardcore scenes involving anal, double penetration, and intense acts across studios like Evil Angel, Extreme Associates, and others, appearing in over 200 films. She also directed features and underwent breast augmentation in 2005. As a mother of two, she retired after a notable career in the 2000s marked by edgy content and industry recognition.