Hunter Schafer before: The stunning transformation of the Euphoria star

Hunter Schafer is an American actress, supermodel, and LGBTQ+ rights activist best known for playing Jules Vaughn in HBO's Euphoria. Born on 31 December 1998 in Trenton, New Jersey, she came out as transgender in ninth grade and has since become one of the most prominent trans voices in entertainment.

Key takeaways

• Besides being an activist, Hunter Schafer is a renowned supermodel and actress who has modelled for Prada, Dior, and Marc Jacobs.
• She developed skills in visual arts, including watercolour painting and clothing design.
• Hunter played Tigris in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023).
• In 2025, her replacement passport was issued with a male gender marker following Trump's executive order, despite her checking "female" on the application. She responded, saying she would "never stop being trans."

Profile summary

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The life of Hunter Schafer before and after transformation

The American actress was born in Trenton, New Jersey, USA. Her father is a pastor at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church. The family moved between churches and congregations in New Jersey and Arizona. Eventually, they settled in Raleigh, North Carolina, where Hunter was raised.

She has three younger siblings: sisters Hannah and Tory, and a brother.

Was Hunter Schafer born a boy?

The actress uses the pronouns she/her even though her birth certificate states she is male. Katy and Mac Schafer (her parents) registered Hunter Schafer's gender as male at birth. Two years later, they realised she behaved more like a girl than a boy.

Hunter Schafer's mother would show her superheroes in movies and comics, but that did not stop Schafer from adoring female characters like Catwoman and Hawkgirl. At age three, her parents noticed Hunter preferred wearing a pink dress to school while other little boys wore fireman coats.

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Was Hunter Schafer gay before coming out as transgender?

While in seventh grade, she told her parents that she was a gay boy. Her mother did not understand what it meant, but her father started to comprehend her orientation. At that time, she had not yet discovered her gender identity and used the pronoun "he."

Hunter began worrying about her male adolescent body changes in the eighth grade. She was terrified when she grew facial hair, which did not resonate with her appearance.

She came out as a transgender girl in ninth grade after being diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a psychological distress related to a strong desire to be of another gender.

How did Hunter Schafer learn her gender identity?

Hunter learned about her gender identity on the internet. She turned to YouTube and social media to learn about people's transition journeys.

One day, she had a fashion design camp with a fashion show on the final night. Hunter asked her dad whether he would mind if she wore heels. He was hesitant but still allowed her to wear them.

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Hunter Schafer's surgery

After her 18th birthday, she (male) underwent a surgical procedure to become female. Later, Schafer used hormone therapy to make her body appear more feminine. Nonetheless, she still does not feel like identifying as male or female.

Instead, Hunter feels comfortable using the binary gender but uses the she/her pronouns. Furthermore, being binary makes it easier for the actress not to have any of the labels people use on the trans community.

She uses the title Mx. Schafer, where Mx does not indicate gender. It is an alternative to gendered honorifics such as Mr. and Ms.

Are Hunter Schafer's before-surgery photos online?

Pictures of the young Hunter Schafer are not on her social media. The actress prefers to share posts about her current life rather than old ones.

Did Hunter Schafer have any acting experience?

She had no acting experience when she auditioned for a role on Euphoria. Schafer made her acting debut as transgender high school student Jules Vaughn in the HBO television series. She later helped co-write and co-produce an episode of Euphoria.

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What did Hunter Schafer do before Euphoria?

Before landing a role in the American teen drama TV series, Hunter was already famously known as one of the top American fashion models. She has modelled for high-end brands like Dior, Miu Miu, and Marc Jacobs.

Schafer has also been in the public eye since age 17 as an LGBTQ activist fighting against North Carolina's bathroom bill in 2017.

The bill stated that users of public restrooms were to visit the restroom that corresponded to their assigned gender at birth rather than the room that corresponded to their gender identity.

Acting as a plaintiff in the ACLU's lawsuit against North Carolina's bathroom bill, Schafer argued that the bill put trans people at risk, in particular those who exist outside of and in between gender binaries.

The bill was repealed, but more laws have been put in place since then that put trans people in danger, and Hunter continues to fight them.

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Her parents were right by her side. When scared of public speaking, her dad sometimes made public statements on her behalf as she sat comfortably behind a pulpit. He and Katy, Hunter's mum, often gave interviews about supporting their child and her legal fight.

What is Hunter Schafer's religion?

Hunter Schafer was raised in a devout Presbyterian household. Her father, Reverend Dr. Mac Schafer, is a pastor whose Christian faith directly informs his advocacy for trans rights.

After coming out, Hunter stepped back from organised religion to find her own footing. She has described the pendulum swinging back, not to Christianity, but towards a personal sense of spirituality she is still exploring.

Hunter Schafer's education

At age 17, Schafer was in her senior year at the North Carolina School of the Arts and had been accepted to study fashion design at the ultra-prestigious Central Saint Martins College in London.

She put those plans on hold when she got her first modelling job in New York. At 18, she signed with a modelling agency and left North Carolina, moving to Bushwick. Her acting career started in 2019 in Euphoria.

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What movies and TV shows has Hunter Schafer been in?

Some of her upcoming films and series include Blade Runner 2099 and Mother Mary, as well as A24's period horror film Cry to Heaven, directed by Tom Ford.

What did Hunter Schafer play in The Hunger Games?

Hunter Schafer played Tigris, the loyal cousin and closest confidante of young Coriolanus Snow. The role required a very different approach to performance compared to Euphoria, something Schafer described as a genuine challenge.

Is Hunter Schafer still on Euphoria?

No, she is no longer on the show since the entire series concluded its run on May 31, 2026, when the Season 3 finale aired on HBO and Max. Since there is no season 4, the entire cast has moved on to other projects.

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Hunter was part of the series from season 1 to 3, playing the transgender character, Jules Vaughn. However, speaking to GQ magazine in 2024, Schafer stated that she no longer wants to play transgender roles.

"I worked so hard to get to where I am, past these really hard points in my transition, and now I just want to be a girl and finally move on."

She continued:

"I've been offered tons of trans roles, and I just don't want to do it. I don't want to talk about it."

What is Hunter Schafer's net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, her wealth is around $6 million as of 2024, with most of her wealth coming from her activities as an actress, model, and influencer.

In 2023, the actress paid almost $3.9 million, nearly $200,000 over the asking price, for a midcentury-modern home in the Brentwood hills. Her sources of income include:

• Euphoria (HBO)
• High-fashion modelling (Prada, Dior, Marc Jacobs, Versace, Calvin Klein)
• Brand endorsements and influencer work
• Film roles (The Hunger Games, Cuckoo, upcoming projects)

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Who is Hunter Schafer's boyfriend?

The actress is heavily speculated to be dating American actor/singer Dominic Fike, barely three years after they broke up. Several entertainment sources, such as Yahoo, reported in September 2026 that the two rekindled their relationship after they were spotted together.

Hunter also attended Fike's show in Chicago around August 2026, which further fueled their relationship. However, neither of them has confirmed they are officially back.

Hunter Schafer and Dominic Fike's relationship

In May 2022, Dominic admitted in an interview with GQ that he was in love with Hunter. Fans began to speculate they were dating when they were snapped holding hands in Los Angeles shortly after Euphoria season 2 premiered on 9 January 2022.

Before that, the actress had been spotted backstage at one of Dominic's shows the day before. Since then, Hunter and Dominic have confirmed they were in a relationship.

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They met while filming season two of Euphoria in 2021, where Dominic played Elliot. Hunter said she had never dated a man before Fike.

The two dated from 2022 to 2023, before eventually breaking up. The actress later stated that she caught Fike cheating after going through his phone.

Did Hunter Schafer and Rosalia date?

The actress confirmed having a five-month relationship with Spanish singer Rosalía in 2019. She told GQ in 2024:

"People who care enough and have done their research probably know what's up."

Hunter Schafer and Rosalía have maintained a beautiful friendship even after ending their romantic relationship. She consulted the singer before making it public that they once dated.

Are Zendaya and Hunter Schafer dating?

Schafer is close friends with Zendaya, her Euphoria co-star, but they are not dating. Their Euphoria characters, Rue and Jules, have a relationship in the series, which has extended to the actresses maintaining a real-life friendship.

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Zendaya has been in a long-term relationship with actor Tom Holland, and they reportedly secretly tied the knot in early 2026.

Latest news

• Red carpet events: In September 2026, Hunter Schafer made a highly publicized appearance at the Prada Spring/Summer 2027 show and also appeared at the Vogue World: Milano red carpet, wearing a minimalist crop top and embellished skirt from Prada's forthcoming collection.
• Upcoming projects: Hunter stars as Cora in the upcoming Prime Video series Blade Runner 2099, featuring alongside Michelle Yeoh. She is also set to star alongside Lux Pascal in an upcoming Anne Rice adaptation, Cry to Heaven, directed by Tom Ford.
• Relationship speculation: Her recent reunion with her ex-boyfriend, Dominic Fike, has also rekindled their relationship rumours.
• In 2025, Hunter Schafer's passport was stolen while she was filming in Barcelona. When she applied for a replacement, the State Department issued it with a male gender marker, a direct consequence of President Trump's January 2025 executive order requiring documents to reflect assigned gender at birth.

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FAQs

1. Who is Hunter Schafer? She is an American actress, model, and LGBTQ+ rights activist, best known as Jules Vaughn in Euphoria.
2. How old is Hunter Schafer? As of 2026, Hunter is 27 years old. She was born on 31 December 1998.
3. Where was Hunter Schafer born? The actress was born in Trenton, New Jersey, USA. She later moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, where she was raised.
4. Is Hunter Schafer a man? No, she is a transgender woman. She was assigned male at birth but transitioned to female during her teenage years.
5. Is Hunter Schafer trans? Yes, she publicly came out as transgender during her high school years and has been an advocate for transgender rights.
6. What was Hunter Schafer diagnosed with? Hunter was diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a psychological distress caused by a mismatch between one's gender identity and the identity assigned at birth. The diagnosis came in ninth grade.
7. What is Hunter Schafer's gender identity in Euphoria? In Euphoria, Hunter Schafer plays Jules Vaughn, a transgender girl. Jules's gender identity as a transgender woman is central to the character's arc across both seasons.
8. What religion is Hunter Schafer? The actress was raised in a Presbyterian household, and her father is an ordained minister. She stepped back from organised religion after coming out, but has described a growing personal sense of spirituality she is still exploring.
9. What did Hunter Schafer play in The Hunger Games? Hunter Schafer played Tigris, Coriolanus Snow's devoted cousin, in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023).

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Hunter Schafer rose to fame as a high-fashion runway model before captivating global audiences in her breakout role as Jules Vaughn in HBO's Euphoria. She has also established herself as a powerful artist, co-writer, and prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

Yen.com.gh published an article about Trevor Donovan's wife. Trevor Donovan is an actor, producer, and model, famous for starring in TV series such as 90210 and Sun Records.

Trevor is not married and keeps his personal life private, focusing on his acting career. Despite rumours, there is no confirmed evidence that he dated Sonia Rockwell from 2006 and 2009.

Source: YEN.com.gh