video transcript

The latest gender bending trend in fashion is seeing a growing number of androgynous, cross-dressing or transgender models hitting the catwalks of New York, London, Milan and Paris for major fashion houses. Serbian-Australian model Andrej Pejic, 19, is just one of these models in hot demand. Pejic was discovered while working at a McDonald's in Melbourne by a modelling scout who had no idea that he was not a she. SOUNDBITE Model, Andrej Pejic, saying (English): "My look was very personal to me so I just sort of at some point stopped caring and decided to wear what I felt comfortable in and then I looked at fashion magazines and that's how my image started to develop." He has since been embraced by mainstream fashion designers like Paul Smith, and Marc Jacobs. French designer Jean-Paul Gaultier dedicated a whole meanswear show to the androgynous model. A few days later, Pejic walked again for Gaultier's haute couture collection. SOUNDBITE Model, Andrej Pejic, saying (English): "When I started I was told I was told I was avant-garde, very avant-garde but now I suppose I'm getting mainstream attention." And with Pejic providing a little more competition to models of both sexes, who is the more accepting among his peers? SOUNDBITE Model, Andrej Pejic, saying (English): "The male models are usually really cool and really accepting. I don't think they care so much about modelling whereas the girls like to calculate things. But backstage at the Louis Vuitton show at Paris Fashion Week, there was certainly no cattiness from Czech model Karolina Kurkova. She modelled alongside Pejic for a Gaultier ad campaign. SOUNDBITE Model Karolina Kurkova, saying (English): "He does a pretty good job. He looks great on (the) runway. And if feels comfortable in it and enjoys it, hey!" Pejic says beyond modelling he is looking to a possible career in film acting or television presenting. Doug MacLaurin, Reuters.