Model Andreja Pejic has publicly come out as a transgender woman.
The 22-year-old formerly known as Andrej Pejic has previously walked the runway for Jean Paul Gaultier and appeared on the covers of French Vogue and Elle.
Pejic, who was born in Serbia and raised in Australia, told People that she knew she identified as female at a young age, but said her plans to transition were put on the backburner when she became a model at age 17.
However, “about a year and a half ago, I reevaluated things,” she told the magazine.
“I was proud of my gender nonconforming career,” she said. “But my biggest dream was to be comfortable in my own body. I have to be true to myself and the career is just going to have to fit around that.”
Pejic has appeared in both men’s and women’s fashion shows. According to GLAAD, Pejic “will only be modeling women’s fashion going forward.”
She revealed that she underwent sexual reassignment surgery earlier this year, and that her family and friends have been supportive.
“I think we all evolve as we get older and that’s normal, but I like to think that my recent transition hasn’t made me into a different individual,” Pejic wrote on Facebook. “Same person, no difference at all, just a different sex.”
“As a transgender woman I hope to show that after transition (a life-saving process) one can be happy and successful in their new chapter without having to alienate their past,” she added. “Most importantly differences should not equal divisions; let’s all stand together in union.”
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