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In this Jan. 27, 2012, photo, transgender model Andrej Pejic has makeup applied by Cecelia Romero for a fashion shoot in New York. Transgender models have promoted the work of Marc Jacobs and Jean Paul Gaultier, but it’s a man with no plans for gender-reassignment surgery who’s straddling the line like no other. the associated press
On a chilly winter afternoon, Andrej Pejic settles into a Manhattan cafe with a cup of Earl Grey tea, sitting gracefully, long legs crossed. The blue-eyed fashion model gazes out a window, unaware that almost every man sitting at surrounding tables is transfixed. A man in a black leather jacket walks up to the window, presses his face against the glass and kisses it. Pejic giggles and admits: “I find it flattering.” The admirers are likely unaware that the beautiful blond is actually a man. As Fashion Week gets under way in New York City, Pejic is one of the most recognizable — and controversial — faces in the industry. He’s the only top-tier fashion model who can walk down the runway as either a man or a woman. And his androgynous beauty has turned him into a trendsetter in an industry that’s always seeking to push the envelope. He has the kind of face that makes even the vainest woman jealous: high cheekbones, flawless skin and plump, shapely lips. When he speaks, his ever-so-slight Adam’s apple is the first sign of his masculinity. Though Pejic isn’t trying to be a woman, many in the
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metronews.ca Tuesday, February 28, 2012
fashion’s ‘james blond’ Androgenous model Andrej Pejic is a seen as a maverick for embracing his sexuality, without any need for justification or explanation. But can his appeal last?
transgender community have already claimed him as their own. He is seen as a bit of a maverick, someone who has embraced his sexuality without any need for explanation or justification. Last year, the gay and lesbian magazine Out named him “stylemaker of the year” and put him on its cover wearing a bridal veil and flowers in his hair. Pejic took to the Canadian catwalk last fall, walking the runway in the Arthur Mendonca show on the opening night of Toronto Fashion Week, as well as in the spring-summer showcase for Kimberley Newport-Mimran’s label Pink Tartan. French photographer Sebastien Micke, who has photographed transgender models, says Pejic’s femininity is effortless. “Andrej’s got this thing that supermodels have — how to pose in front of the
camera,” Micke says. “It’s just natural.” But life hasn’t always been so easy or glamorous for the 20-year-old. Born in Bosnia, Pejic spent much of his childhood living in a Serbian refugee camp before his family fled the country
for Australia. He was discovered by a talent scout while working at a McDonald’s as a teenager. From an early age, Pejic exhibited qualities thought of as traditionally feminine, for instance, preferring Barbie dolls over toy cars. As
Designer muse • Pejic graced the covers of 14 magazines last year alone, including an ad campaign for a Dutch push-up bra. • In 2011, he was the face for a fashion line by designer Marc Jacobs. He has walked the runways for heavyweight designers, including John Galliano and Jean Paul Gaultier. • French designer Gaultier was so enamoured of Pejic that he used his gender-bending
look as a source of inspiration for his 2011 men’s and women’s wear shows, both of which Pejic modelled in. • In the Gaultier men’s show, a pistol-packing, bare-chested Pejic wore a sleek black suit as “James Blond.” • He’s worn a couture bridal gown.
a teenager, he often hung out with girls and was once busted for stealing makeup from a drugstore. Pejic says acceptance from his friends and family made him comfortable in his own skin. “I’m lucky in that sense,” he says. “If I had big muscles and were hairy with a beard, I
might not be comfortable with that.” At 6-feet-1, he’s rail-thin, a women’s size 2 or 4. His shoe size is the most problematic. Technically a women’s size 11, he’s forced to squeeze his feet into a size 10 to walk in women’s shows. Gene Hogan, a representative at DNA models, the agency representing Pejic in the U.S., says dozens of calls pour in every week touting a slew of hot new androgynous models: “They say, ’Oh, you’ve got to see this guy! He’s the black Andrej Pejic!” For Pejic, every fashion season brings a new surge of headlines and opportunities, including talks of a fragrance line or a possible reality TV show. With New York Fashion Week — when designers debut their fall collections — beginning Thursday, it’s unclear which shows he will walk in — if any at all. With the frenzy of media attention over the past year, industry insiders say Pejic runs the risk of overexposure. Given his niche look, Pejic’s ability to stay relevant may become difficult. And as his star rises, it’s possible designers could hesitate to book him, fearing his persona may overshadow the clothes. the associated press