Andreja Pejić

Andreja Pejić is an Australian model and actress who has become one of the most visible transgender figures in mainstream fashion and film. Born Andrej Pejić in Bosnia and Herzegovina, she first made headlines as an androgynous runway model, walking for houses like Marc Jacobs and Jean-Paul Gaultier before publicly coming out as a woman in 2013. Her transition, covered extensively by Vogue and other outlets, marked a cultural shift in how the industry viewed transgender models.

Today Pejić is celebrated not just for her striking look but for her advocacy. She has been recognized as a pioneer for transgender representation, earning distinctions such as being the first transgender woman to win GQ's Woman of the Year and the first to address The Oxford Union. She has since moved into acting, appearing in films like The Girl in the Spider's Web and Daliland, and remains a passionate activist on social media, where she connects with hundreds of thousands of followers. Her journey from a boy model to a celebrated transgender woman continues to inspire and challenge norms in the fashion and entertainment industries.[edit]

Andreja Pejić was born on August 28, 1991, in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, during the Yugoslav Wars. Her family fled the conflict when she was a child, eventually settling in Australia. Growing up, she has said she always knew she was a girl but felt forced to present as male to avoid bullying. "I had to integrate into a boy," she told BuzzFeed. "In order to not be bullied, and not be seen as weird, and not be an outsider. I learned how to behave like a boy."

As a teenager, she began researching transgender identity at her local library and started taking Androcur, a puberty-suppressing medication, without medical supervision at the time. Her androgynous appearance caught the attention of Chadwick Models, who signed her while she was still in school. Before long she was walking runways for Marc Jacobs and Jean-Paul Gaultier, and in 2011 New York Magazine dubbed her "The Prettiest Boy in the World." This early recognition set the stage for her later groundbreaking career.[edit]

Pejić's breakthrough came in 2013 when she publicly came out as a transgender woman. The announcement made international headlines and transformed her career. In 2014 she underwent sex reassignment surgery, a decision Vogue covered exclusively, and that same year she became the first transgender woman to win GQ's Woman of the Year and the first transgender model to speak at The Oxford Union.

She also launched a gender-neutral jewelry line in 2014, designed to be worn by anyone. Her acting debut came in 2018 with The Girl in the Spider's Web, making her one of the first transgender actresses in a major Hollywood franchise. She followed with roles in Habit (2021) and Daliland (2022), and continues to model and advocate for transgender visibility. In 2017, she gave a widely-covered interview to Refinery29 discussing the risks of her transition, further cementing her role as a trailblazer.[edit]

Pejić's public image has evolved from her early days as an androgynous "boy model" to her current status as a celebrated transgender woman. She is known for her ethereal, boundary-pushing look and her willingness to speak openly about her transition. The media has consistently framed her as a pioneer, and she has used her platform to advocate for transgender rights. Her social media presence blends professional modeling shots with activism and personal posts, and she has been praised for her authenticity. Her Instagram bio describes her as a "passionate activist," and she has expressed support for social causes, including a statement supporting the general strike in Minnesota.[edit]

Andreja Pejić commands a distinct global profile defined by professional milestones in fashion and political activism rather than the chaotic fervor typical of pop culture icons. While her visibility remains high within industry circles and advocacy communities, she does not currently hold a placement in the published iFANN Global Top 1,000 rankings or any scope-specific list as of August 2026. The iFANN evaluation confirms that while her career has shifted the cultural landscape regarding transgender representation, she is not ranked among the top tier of global celebrities by current metrics. Consequently, no specific ordinal position can be assigned to her standing in the broader hierarchy of fame. Her audience consists primarily of fashion enthusiasts, industry professionals, and supporters of LGBTQ+ rights who engage with her work through media coverage and direct social interaction rather than organized fandom structures. Unlike musicians or actors with dedicated fan clubs, Pejić has no documented official fandom name; her public interactions are characterized by direct engagement on platforms like Reddit and Instagram rather than coordinated fan campaigns or ritualistic support. She maintains an active presence where she shares political views and personal updates, including her recent candidacy for the US presidency, yet these activities have not coalesced into a structured fanbase with collective identifiers or chart-pushing initiatives. The lack of a formal group name reflects a dynamic where admiration is expressed through individual appreciation of her trailblazing career rather than collective action.[edit]

Pejić began taking puberty-suppressing medication as a teenager after researching transgender identity at her local library without medical supervision. A skincare enthusiast, she credits her complexion to drinking lots of tea, especially green and herbal varieties. Her jewelry line was explicitly designed to be gender-neutral, and she has said she believes anything can be worn by both men and women. She was told by many in the industry not to transition but proceeded anyway, stating her transition was worth risking everything. Dubbed "The Prettiest Boy in the World" by New York Magazine in 2011, she later made history as the first transgender model to appear on the cover of Vogue Paris in 2010. In September 2013, she publicly announced her transition from male to female, followed by detailed coverage of her surgery in July 2014. She became the first transgender woman to receive the GQ Woman of the Year award in 2014 and was the first transgender model to speak at The Oxford Union. Most recently, she entered the political arena as the Socialist Equality Party's candidate for president in the 2024 US elections.[edit]

Pejić was born in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and her family fled the country during the Bosnian War, eventually settling in Australia. She has not publicly shared details about her parents or siblings. She keeps her personal life private, and there is no public information about her current household or pets. Her family's decision to emigrate was pivotal in shaping her early life and eventual career.[edit]

Pejić is closely associated with Chadwick Models, the agency that discovered her, and with designers Marc Jacobs and Jean-Paul Gaultier, for whom she walked in her early career. She also starred alongside Claire Foy in The Girl in the Spider's Web. [edit]

Andreja Pejić has kept her romantic life extremely private. There are no confirmed public relationships, marriages, or engagements documented in credible media sources. She has not publicly discussed her dating history, and her social media focuses on her career and activism rather than personal partnerships. As of 2026, she is reported to be single, with no public information about a current partner. Her personal life remains largely out of the public eye, and she has not shared details about any children.[edit]

iFANN currently estimates Andreja Pejić's net worth at $5 Million as of 2026. This figure reflects a diverse portfolio of income streams built over more than a decade in the public eye. Her modeling career provided a strong financial foundation through campaigns for major brands like Marc Jacobs and Jean-Paul Gaultier. Acting roles in films such as The Girl in the Spider's Web, Habit, and Daliland have added further revenue. In 2014 she launched a gender-neutral jewelry line and lifestyle brand, which established another consistent revenue stream. She also works as an influencer on social media, where she has over 486,000 followers on Instagram. While specific figures are not publicly disclosed, her steady financial growth stems from this combination of fashion, film, and business ventures.[edit]

Andreja Pejić won GQ's Woman of the Year in 2014, an award that recognized her impact on fashion and culture. She was the first transgender woman to receive this honor, a milestone that underscored her influence as a trailblazer. [edit]