Hunter Schafer bio, age, height, partner, relationship, family 2025

Hunter Schafer's Biography

Hunter Schafer is an American model, artist, LGBTQ+ activist, and actress best known for her breakout role as Jules in HBO's hit series "Euphoria". Hunter transitioned during her school years and uses she/her pronouns.

Childhood

Hunter Schafer was born in 1999 in Trenton, New Jersey, to parents Katy and Mac Schafer, who's a Presbyterian church pastor. She spent most of her childhood in Raleigh, North Carolina.

As the eldest of four kids, Hunter has two younger sisters and a brother. She describes her family as "very open."

Hunter Schafer (right) with her sisters and brother

Hunter is a transgender woman who began realizing her gender identity in middle school - a period she describes as the most difficult time in her life.

Hunter Schafer was a boy in her childhood

To get through this difficult time, Schafer worked with a therapist. However, she strongly disliked having to convince doctors she needed hormone therapy. "It's just madness when some doctor determines your identity, while you've known the truth about yourself for many years," Hunter says.

She couldn't expect much support from classmates, so Hunter turned to the internet for comfort. Through YouTube and social media, she found her community – and everything changed. Their support showed Hunter that fighting for her rights actually mattered.

In high school, she became a passionate advocate against the so-called "bathroom bill" - legislation that would restrict trans people's access to public restrooms, locker rooms, and other gender-separated facilities. Under Barack Obama, trans individuals in all states were given the right to choose which restroom to use - male or female. In 2017, Donald Trump let states decide their own "bathroom policies," leading several conservative states to require transgender people to use facilities matching their birth certificates.

These days, Hunter often identifies as genderqueer - someone who exists across the full spectrum of gender identity, beyond just male or female. "I've let go of the idea that I need to pick one thing and just allowed myself to live," she says.

Modeling Career

Art has always been Hunter's main passion. As a child, Schafer used to sketch clothes, and as a teenager, she began sharing her projects on social media. Her posts caught the attention of Tavi Gevinson, the creator of the fashion website Style Rookie. Soon, Hunter's drawings and photos were featured on the fashion blog, and she got her first taste of fame.

Hunter Schafer has loved art since childhood

In 2017, Hunter graduated from the School of the Arts at the University of North Carolina. During her final years there, the school's photographer suggested she approach a modeling agency. Schafer took his advice and it paid off: she was offered a contract with Elite Models, a legendary modeling agency that has introduced the world to Cindy Crawford, Gisele Bündchen and Alessandra Ambrosio. With her first paycheck, Hunter bought tickets to New York to continue her career in the fashion capital of the USA.

Hunter Schafer | Runway Collection

People quickly took notice of Schafer's striking beauty. The buzz around her name only boosted her popularity. Now, Hunter graces the runways at New York and London Fashion Weeks and appears in spreads for ASOS and Vogue Japan. Collaborations with the brand Tommy Hilfiger and leading fashion designers Rick Owens and Marc Jacobs have brought her absolute success.

Hunter's achievements in the modeling business have earned her a prestigious spot on Teen Vogue's "21 under 21" list, and soon she had the chance to participate in an interview with the former senator and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Hunter Schafer at a meeting with Hillary Clinton

Acting Career

Hunter originally planned to enroll at Central Saint Martins in London, but fate had other plans – a breakthrough project that would launch her to international stardom. Schafer landed one of the main roles in the series "Euphoria," which premiered on June 16, 2019.

Euphoria: Hunter Schafer on Jules Vaughn

The teen drama follows a girl named Rue (Zendaya), who's struggling to overcome drug addiction with help from her new friend Jules – Hunter's character.

The creators of the series didn't want to repeat the mistakes of the creators of the movie "Rub & Tug," who cast Scarlett Johansson as a transgender character. This decision caused outrage in the LGBT community. "A transgender person should play a transgender character," critics argued against the casting directors. Therefore, the creators of "Euphoria" set a condition - the actress playing Jules had to be transgender herself.

Hunter Schafer played a transgender character in 'Euphoria'

Friends quickly told her about the casting call, but at first, she wasn't interested in the project. But later, her agents convinced her to attend the life-changing audition. The actress' mother insisted that Hunter gain acting experience. The intimate scenes in the script didn't faze her: "What's the difference, it's art!"

Hunter's character is a transgender girl trying to find her place in life. She's new in town and trying to start over, quickly befriending Rue.

Hunter and the producers worked to weave the actress's personal story into the script, helping Schafer fully connect with the role. On set, Schafer met such talented young actors as Barbie Ferreira, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Maude Apatow, and others.

In July 2019, it was announced that the second season of "Euphoria" was in production. Hunter Schafer returned for the sequel, now a rising star following the show's debut.

The second season of "Euphoria" was released in 2022 and was renewed for a third season, expected to premiere in 2025.

Personal Life of Hunter Schafer

Hunter Schafer has been open about her romantic interests. In January 2018, she shared on Instagram, "My gender identity has been greatly influenced by the need to be with men." However, in summer 2019, the actress revealed she was dating another trans woman, model Massy Dee (short for her pseudonym Massima Desire, which means "maximum desire"). They broke up in 2022.

For about a year and a half (from February 2022 to June 2023), Hunter dated fellow "Euphoria" actor Dominic Fike.

Schafer is a member of the Arts Not Parts community. The organization creates posters calling for the fight against transphobia in public bathrooms and similar spaces. However, in an interview with The New York Times, Schafer admitted she doesn't consider herself a real activist. "When I think of activists, I picture serious organizers who work directly with community members and care for them every day. I don't think that's me just because I sometimes speak publicly about my identity."

Hunter Schafer Now

In 2023, Hunter appeared in the prequel to "The Hunger Games". In the dystopian blockbuster "The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes", she portrayed Tigris Snow, the cousin of future President Coriolanus Snow.

She's also involved in developing Hideo Kojima's new game, OD. Plus, she's directed several music videos, including Girl in Red's "Hornylovesickmess" and ANOHNI and the Johnsons' "Why Am I Alive Now?"