Miss Ex-Yugoslavia

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A “funny and tragic and beautiful in all the right places” memoir about the immigrant experience and life as a perpetual fish-out-of-water, from an acclaimed Serbian-Australian storyteller. Sofija Stefanovic’s journey begins in 1982, born in socialist Yugoslavia amidst a blackout, gasoline shortages, and bickering parents. Her early life unfolds against a backdrop of ethnic tensions fueled by totalitarian leaders, filled with Yugo rock, crushes, and the quirky ups and downs of a socialist state. As the political climate worsens, her family oscillates between distant, peaceful Australia, where they struggle to fit in, and their chaotic homeland, which they cannot escape. This tumultuous backdrop coincides with the collapse of Yugoslavia into a bloody conflict. Featuring an array of vivid characters—from warlords to beauty queens—Stefanovic’s memoir offers a glimpse into a complex culture she both cherishes and resents. Through her lens, the narrative reveals the experiences of women and children during war and immigration, chronicling her coming-of-age as both a woman and an artist. Refreshingly candid and poignant, her story is as unique and wacky as it is significant.