She has modeled for some of the biggest names in the world of fashion like Jean Paul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs and Vogue. However, Andreja Pejic, 25, is not just another model – she was till 2014 referred to as an 'androgynous model' and is now a transwoman. She is also the first openly transgender model profiled by Vogue in its May 2015 issue. Pejic has broken down many barriers since she was discovered at the age of 16 working in a McDonald's.
How did she feel about her androgyny?
Pejic, who was born in Bosnia in 1991, told i-D, "Androgyny was a way of expressing my femininity when I was younger. Then the modelling came up and that was definitely based on me having this sort of unique look, so it extended that period for longer than I'd intended. I needed the money, frankly — to support myself and to give back to my mum. She's a working-class, single mother."
From a refugee camp to modeling
The young model was living in a Serbian camp before they moved to Melbourne, Australia in 2000. "I was living in a refugee camp before we moved to Australia. The last time I went back there properly was 2010, but I'm hoping to visit soon. It will probably be a very emotional experience to see my dad," she told i-D. "He does say Andreja, but Serbian is not like English — there are a lot of masculine and feminine words, so he struggles with that. But at the same time I haven't really been around him. When it comes to family and people who've known you all your life, you have to show them how you've changed."
Why did she choose to have the life-changing surgery?
The blonde beauty told Vogue that when she decided to have the surgery that, "There was definitely a lot of, 'Oh, you're going to lose what's special about you. You're not going to be interesting anymore. There are loads of pretty girls out there. It is about showing that this is not just a gimmick."
But Pejic is very clear on what she wants to achieve through this surgery. "I didn't want anyone to stand in my way. It was just something I had to do, career or not. When the issue came up in conversations with my previous agent it was clear to me that, from a professional perspective, it would be better for me if I didn't transition. It might seem strange to a lot of people, because obviously it's a very gay-friendly industry, but there is ignorance in the fashion industry and it's my mission to change that," she told i-D.
Is Andreja Pejic now tying the knot?
In 2013, there were rumours that she was getting married but that turned out to be false. She has always wanted to settle down and start a family. Pejic revealed sometime earlier this year that she had met someone 'special' but she didn't reveal who he was. Guess we'll just have to wait!
