Hunter Schafer is an American actress, model, and LGBTQ+ rights activist born December 31, 1998, in Trenton, New Jersey. She gained national prominence as the youngest plaintiff in an ACLU lawsuit against North Carolina’s House Bill 2, after converting to transgender at age 15. Schafer achieved international recognition starring as Jules Vaughn in HBO’s Euphoria, while simultaneously building a successful modeling career with luxury brands including Dior and Tommy Hilfiger. Her multifaceted career encompasses additional film roles and advocacy work that continue to shape contemporary culture.
Hunter Schafer, a multifaceted talent who has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most prominent young transgender actresses and activists, was born on December 31, 1998, in Trenton, New Jersey, before relocating to Raleigh, North Carolina, where she grew up as the eldest of four siblings in a Presbyterian minister’s family.
During her early years, Schafer demonstrated exceptional artistic abilities, particularly in watercolor painting and clothing design, drawing inspiration from creative figures like Tim Burton and Skottie Young.
Schafer’s journey with gender identity began at a young age, initially coming out to her parents as a gay boy at age 13 before experiencing gender dysphoria during puberty and evolving as a transgender girl at age 15. Her activism emerged prominently when she became the youngest plaintiff in the American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s controversial House Bill 2, which restricted transgender bathroom access, bringing her national recognition as an LGBTQ+ rights advocate.
Academically, Schafer attended Needham B. Broughton High School before transferring to the prestigious North Carolina School of the Arts, where she graduated from their High School Visual Arts program.
Her artistic talents gained attention through Instagram posts featuring her watercolor paintings and photography, while her politically-charged clothing designs earned coverage from major publications including the Huffington Post. Schafer’s academic excellence was recognized when she became a semi-finalist in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program in 2017.
Her modeling career launched at New York Fashion Week, leading to collaborations with luxury brands including Dior, Tommy Hilfiger, Miu Miu, Versus Versace, and Maison Margiela. She has worked with renowned designers such as Rick Owens, Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs, Ann Demeulemeester, and Emilio Pucci, establishing herself as a significant presence in high fashion while appearing in prominent magazines like Teen Vogue.
Schafer’s breakthrough acting role came with HBO’s critically acclaimed series Euphoria, where she portrays Jules Vaughn, a transgender high school student. The role, which she performs alongside Zendaya, brought widespread recognition and allowed her to co-write an episode with series creator Sam Levinson, incorporating her personal experiences. Standing at 5’8, Schafer’s commanding presence has contributed to her success across modeling, acting, and advocacy work.
Her film career includes starring roles in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and Cuckoo, both released in recent years. She also directed the music video for “Girl in Red – Hornylovesickmess” in 2022, showcasing her expanding creative talents behind the camera.
Recognition for Schafer’s impact includes placement on Teen Vogue’s “21 Under 21” list, where she was interviewed by Hillary Clinton, inclusion among 50 LGBTQ+ Heroes commemorating Pride’s 50th anniversary, and selection for Time magazine’s 2021 Next 100 List of emerging leaders shaping the future.
