Andreja Pejić
A trailblazing model who shattered gender norms on the runway, becoming the first openly transgender woman to front major global campaigns.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Australian model and actress·Birthday: August 28·Millennials
Biography
Andreja Pejić's story is one of seamless transformation, both personal and cultural. Discovered while working in a Melbourne McDonald's, her androgynous beauty quickly made her a unique sensation in fashion, walking both men's and women's shows for designers like Jean Paul Gaultier. In 2013, she publicly came out as a transgender woman, a move that could have ended her career but instead catapulted her into a new realm of significance. She became a visible symbol of change, landing historic covers and campaigns as her authentic self. More than a model, Pejić used her platform to advocate for transgender rights, speaking with candor about her journey. Her career redefined what is possible in an industry obsessed with categories, proving that identity itself could be a powerful form of artistry.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Andreja was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andreja Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Andreja's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first openly transgender model to be profiled by Vogue magazine, in its 2015 feature.
- Landed a global campaign for Make Up For Ever, one of the first major beauty contracts for an openly transgender woman.
- Walked for major fashion houses including Marc Jacobs and Jean Paul Gaultier both before and after her transition.
- Appeared on the cover of Elle Serbia, cementing her status in high fashion media.
- Acted in the 2018 film 'The Girl in the Spider's Web', playing a role aligned with her identity.
Did You Know?
She was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina and spent part of her childhood as a refugee in Serbia before moving to Australia.
She is a dual citizen of Australia and the United States.
Before transitioning, she was ranked as one of the top male models by models.com, a rare double achievement.
She is an outspoken advocate for transgender rights and has written essays on her experiences for major publications.
She studied political science and French at university in Melbourne.
“I think androgyny represents a freedom that we don't really have in society—the freedom to not have to fit into a box.”
