Andreja Pejic

Andreja Pejic is a Bosnian-born Australian model and actress, known for redefining beauty norms with her androgynous modeling and later becoming a high-profile transgender woman. Explore her journey, career milestones, and influence.

Introduction

Andreja Pejic (née Andrej Peji?, born 28 August 1991) is a model and actress whose life and career have intersected with conversations about gender, beauty, identity, and visibility. Known early on for her striking androgynous look, she gained international recognition by modeling both men’s and women’s fashion. In 2013–2014, she publicly came out as a transgender woman, transitioning while maintaining a presence in the fashion world. Over time, she has become one of the most widely recognized transgender figures in modeling, with influence far beyond just runways.

Early Life and Family

• Pejic was born on 28 August 1991 in Tuzla, then part of Yugoslavia (now Bosnia & Herzegovina).

• Her parents—Jadranka Savi? (mother, Serb) and Vlado Pejic (father, Bosnian Croat)—divorced soon after her birth.

• During the Bosnian War, Pejic, her older brother Igor, mother, and grandmother fled to Serbia, spending time in a refugee camp near Belgrade.

• They later settled in a village (Vojska) near Svilajnac.

• In about 2000, when Andreja was eight, her family migrated to Melbourne, Australia, as political refugees.

• In school (at University High, Melbourne), she was regarded as academically gifted.

Her early years established themes that would resonate through her life: displacement, identity, adaptation, and resilience.

Youth, Identity, and Discovery

From a young age, Andreja expressed feelings of difference, though in a time and place when language and social understanding around gender identity were limited. In interviews, she has said she became aware of transgender concepts around age 13, through online research.

Her entry into modeling occurred in her mid-teens. She has recounted being scouted just before her 17th birthday, while working at a McDonald’s in Melbourne.

Because of her distinctive androgynous appearance—long blond hair, lean physique, delicate features—she was able to cross traditional gender boundaries in fashion early on.

In 2011, she made a striking dual presence: at the Paris fashion shows, she walked in both the men’s and women’s shows for Jean-Paul Gaultier, and in the men’s show for Marc Jacobs.

This capacity to navigate both masculine and feminine representations marked her as a boundary-pushing figure in fashion.

Career and Achievements

Modeling

• Early in her career, Pejic appeared in editorials and covers for major publications: Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, i-D, Dazed & Confused, Numéro, Love, and more.

• On runway, she walked for high fashion houses such as Jean-Paul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs, Raf Simons, Paul Smith, John Galliano, among others.

• In 2011, ranked her among the Top 50 models.

• In 2012, she was guest judge on Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model.

• In 2015, she became the first openly transgender model profiled by Vogue.

• She also became the first transgender woman to sign a major cosmetics contract.

• In 2017 she made a historic cover as the first trans woman on GQ.

Acting & Film

• Over time, Andreja expanded into acting. Her film credits include: The Girl in the Spider’s Web (2018), Dalíland (2022), Habit (2021), and more.

• She has also appeared in short films and took diverse roles.

• In Dalíland (2022), she portrayed Amanda Lear—a bold casting choice given Lear’s own layers of identity and history.

Public Identity & Advocacy

• In late 2013, Andreja underwent sex reassignment surgery (often referred to in media as gender confirmation surgery).

• In mid-2014, she publicly announced her name change to Andreja (while retaining the “J” to preserve continuity) and affirmed her identity as a transgender woman.

• She launched a Kickstarter campaign for a documentary about her transition and life, which successfully raised funds.

• Over time she has used her platform to speak on gender, representation, visibility, and the challenges and joys of trans life.

Historical & Cultural Context

Andreja’s life and career unfolded amid shifting social attitudes toward gender identity, transgender rights, and representation in media and fashion. In the 2010s, fashion began embracing more fluid, queer, and non-binary aesthetics, and she was among the most visible models to bring that into mainstream campaigns and publications.

Her public transition—after already having established a successful modeling profile—was itself historically significant. Few high-profile models have made that shift in the public eye while retaining a fashion career.

Moreover, her status as a refugee-turned-model, crossing cultural, national, and identity boundaries, gives her story a geopolitical dimension: born in Bosnia, escaping war, resettling in Australia, then gaining global visibility.

Legacy and Influence

• Redefinition of beauty & gender norms: Andreja helped push the fashion industry toward greater inclusivity, challenging binary templates of femininity and masculinity.

• Trans visibility: Her public transition and continued success offered a model for transgender youth and others seeking representation in media.

• Trailblazing “firsts”: From the first trans model in Vogue to the first major cosmetics contract for a trans woman and a GQ cover, her path broke barriers.

• Cross-media impact: Beyond modeling, she acts, directs, speaks, and shapes narratives about identity and embodiment.

• Inspiration for others: Her journey is often cited in discussions about transgender rights, representation in fashion, and the intersections of art, identity, and activism.

Personality, Talents & Character

Andreja is often described (by interviews and profiles) as introspective, conscientious, and artistically driven. She has spoken about the discomfort and power of being misread or misunderstood, and she strives to take control of her own narrative—whether through modeling, film, interviews, or documentary work.

Her fluency in both visual and performative arts enables her to cross bridges: runway, camera, storytelling, and identity. She has talked about periods of self-grounding—e.g. working as a waitress after filming—to reorient and connect with everyday life.

She also embraces a carefully curated aesthetic: transitioning gradually in her fashion choices, selecting shoots meaningful to her, and prioritizing authenticity over novelty.

Famous Statements & Quotes

While Andreja Pejic is more known for interviews than for short “soundbite” quotes, several of her remarks offer insight into her mindset:

• “I have to be true to myself and the career is just going to have to fit around that.”

• “We are in the 21st century … why should I not take the opportunity?” talking about access to gender-affirming care.

• On transition: “Same person, no difference at all, just a different sex” (in her public announcement).

• On visibility: she has expressed that the media often misunderstands her, and thus she aims to take control of her storytelling—via documentary work and creative projects.

These remarks reflect her commitment to integrity, identity, and narrative agency.

Lessons from Andreja Pejic

1. Authenticity is enduring: Even amid outside pressures, staying true to one’s identity can become a source of strength and influence.

2. Representation matters: Visibility in high-visibility industries like fashion can offer hope and validation to marginalized communities.

3. Barriers can become bridges: Andreja turned the “otherness” she was often perceived as into a signature, enabling her to shift expectations rather than conform to them.

4. Narrative control is powerful: She has taken steps to direct or shape stories about her life (documentaries, selective interviews) rather than letting others define her.

5. Intersectionality shapes experience: Her identity is not just trans, but also refugee, immigrant, model, artist—each facet interacts and enriches her perspective.

Conclusion

Andreja Pejic is more than a model or an actor—she is a cultural figure whose personal journey and professional achievements intersect with pressing social themes around gender, identity, and representation. From a child displaced by war to a refugee in Australia, from a teenager scouted at McDonald’s to a supermodel walking in both men’s and women’s fashion shows, and then to a visible transgender woman owning her narrative—her life embodies transformation, resilience, and courage.

Her legacy is still unfolding, but it already includes expanding the parameters of beauty, pushing the fashion world to evolve, and offering a living example that one’s selfhood can transcend conventional boundaries.

Explore more of her work, her interviews, and her upcoming documentary—her story continues to influence how we think about identity, art, and possibility.