Quotes from Andreja Pejic

I was lucky to grow up in a family where your parents loved you no matter what you were or what you came out as, and a lot of kids don't have that ride.

The first time I came to New York - and the first time I saw the movie 'Paris Is Burning' - I learned about the homeless LGBT culture in New York City that goes back to the '80s. I found that very interesting, and it's definitely something that I care about.

I wasn't always confident; it took me awhile to kind of assume my role in fashion and feel attractive and be able to walk into a room.

I want to see creativity that breaks boundaries and isn't just about money.

I kick off my metabolism with a glass of O.J. and a pretty big smoothie. I put in chia seeds, flax seeds, raw organic honey, fresh spinach, hemp seeds, avocado, matcha, spirulina, raw almond butter, almond milk, berries, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds.

The way I need to look, it's a very personal thing. When I started experimenting, it was to make myself feel happy, to look in the mirror and be satisfied. I never did drag or anything like that. It was always that I wanted to be pretty, to look beautiful, as a girl would want to.

I'm comfortable in my skin, and for my look to be celebrated is great.

I came out to my mom at the age of 14. She didn't understand it at first, but she's been very supportive since.

When childhood ended, I had to suppress feminine characteristics and try and be a boy. I didn't want to grow up at all because it meant becoming someone else.

People would be surprised by me if they knew I was humble.

You can wax on so much about your figure and your skin and your face and all of those really important, and I'm all about skin and keeping it healthy, but if you don't have confidence, none of it matters.

I wanted to be a good kid, and I wanted to please my parents.

Growing up, I was quite self-conscious about getting too tall, but then I realized, 'You know what? I can use it to my advantage. Big is beautiful.'

I know people want me to sort of defend myself, to sit here and be like, 'I'm a boy, but I wear make-up sometimes.' But, you know, to me, it doesn't really matter.

The Internet gave me the sense that there were words to describe my feelings and medical terms.

I do have to thank my mother for my eyebrows.

I guess professionally I've left my gender open to artistic interpretation.

I take biotin and silica for my hair to grow faster, but it's good for your skin, too.

Makeup is a very delicate thing for me - I've got sort of defined features, so I don't like to do too much contour, as it can be a bit severe.

I have a very angular face, so my makeup routine is focused around softening my features, and I've finally learned how to contour to my advantage.

It just so happens that some of the things I like are feminine.

It's not like, 'Okay, today I want to look like a man, or today I want to look like a woman.' I want to look like me. It just so happens that some of the things I like are feminine.

I've given up trying to convince the world about the authenticity of my femininity.

Mum's very proud. She finds every picture of me and has them on every wall.