Hunter Schafer

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Hunter Schafer – Life, Career, and Inspiring Voice

Explore the life of Hunter Schafer — American model, actress, artist, and activist. Learn about her early years, breakthrough roles, advocacy, and notable quotes that reflect her journey.

Introduction

Hunter Schafer is an American model, actress, artist, and LGBTQ+ rights advocate. Though she first gained recognition in fashion, her role as Jules Vaughn on HBO’s Euphoria cemented her as a rising star in entertainment. Her journey is not only about personal success, but about visibility, representation, and using her platform to challenge norms and promote change.

Early Life and Family

Hunter Schafer was born on December 31, 1998, in Trenton, New Jersey. Raleigh, North Carolina, where she was raised.

She is the eldest of four children, with two younger sisters and a brother.

Education & Artistic Beginnings

In high school, Schafer enrolled in the North Carolina School of the Arts (visual arts program) and graduated with a focus on visual art.

Even before her modeling and acting career, Schafer was making art, sharing watercolor paintings, illustrations, photography, and fashion design experiments online. Central Saint Martins in London for fashion design, with plans to open a studio or gallery for trans and queer visual artists. But her path shifted toward modeling and acting instead.

Modeling Career

Schafer’s modeling career began soon after high school. She signed with Elite Model Management and paused her formal art studies to pursue modeling full time.

She quickly worked with high-profile brands including Dior, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Helmut Lang, Versus Versace, among others. New York Fashion Week and appeared internationally in magazines and campaigns.

In her modeling work, Schafer has spoken about using the privileges associated with visibility in fashion to question and deconstruct gender expectations:

“What I'm trying to do in all senses is deconstruct our idea of gender and use the privileges that come with looking like a model to bring attention to that.”

She has continued modeling alongside her acting work, serving as a face for high fashion and beauty brands.

Transition to Acting & Breakthrough

Though modeling brought her exposure, Schafer’s pivot into acting was transformative. In 2019, she auditioned for Jules Vaughn, a trans teenage character in HBO’s Euphoria.

As part of the role, she collaborated with the show’s creator, Sam Levinson, in shaping some of Jules’s story elements, especially to ensure authentic portrayal of trans experiences.

She also co-wrote a special Euphoria episode titled “Fuck Anyone Who’s Not a Sea Blob”, which explores introspective themes and mental health.

Beyond television, Schafer has branched into film roles:

• She played Tigris Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)

• Starred in Cuckoo (2024) in a lead role.

• She also voiced a character in Belle (English dub)

These roles mark her growing presence as a versatile actress beyond modeling.

Activism & Public Voice

Hunter Schafer is more than a model or actor—she has positioned herself as a vocal advocate for transgender rights and visibility.

HB2 Lawsuit & Early Activism

In 2016, still a teenager, Schafer became one of the youngest named plaintiffs in the lawsuit Carcaño v. McCrory, challenging North Carolina’s Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act (often called HB2), which restricted bathroom access for transgender individuals.

Because of her activism, Teen Vogue named her to their “21 Under 21” list in 2017.

Identity, Representation & Speaking Out

Schafer has spoken candidly about her gender identity and the complexity of representation in media. Over time, she has expressed ambivalence about being categorized or reduced to her trans identity in roles or interviews.

“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 attempts to balance responsibility to LGBTQ+ visibility with a desire for artistic freedom and not being boxed in.

In February 2025, she publicly spoke out after discovering that her U.S. passport’s gender marker had been changed without her knowledge or consent—a move she criticized as a violation of dignity and transparency.

In February 2024, Schafer was arrested (later issued a summons) while protesting for a ceasefire in Gaza, taking part in a sit-in at Rockefeller Plaza organized by Jewish Voice for Peace.

Personality, Influences & Approach

Intersection of Art & Identity

Hunter Schafer often integrates her background in visual arts into her work, treating modeling, acting, and activism as parts of a broader creative practice.

Style & Self-Expression

Schafer embraces a distinct personal style that blends ethereal, edgy, and fashion-forward elements. She adapts between red carpet elegance and more personal, expressive looks.

Resilience & Growth

Her journey has involved public scrutiny, identity negotiation, and navigating the pressures of representation. Schafer has shown resilience in asserting control over her narrative and career choices.

Notable Quotes by Hunter Schafer

Below are some meaningful quotations that reflect her mindset and philosophies:

1. “What I’m trying to do in all senses is deconstruct our idea of gender and use the privileges that come with looking like a model to bring attention to that.”

2. “In the entertainment world, you can have more of a personality and be yourself. You don’t have to look like a standard of beauty. You can have something provocative to say.”

3. “We are on the forefront of a revolution in which identity and expression will take priority over the labels assigned to us at birth; in which self-identification will take priority over perception; in which gender will fall away entirely.”

4. “Walking runway has been something I didn't even think would be a possibility in my lifetime with my circumstances and my origins.”

5. “I slowly came to realize that this job of being an actor, you spend most of your time looking for work.” (often quoted in relation to creative life)

These quotes illustrate her conviction around identity, expression, representation, and perseverance.

Lessons from Hunter Schafer’s Journey

1. Visibility can be a powerful tool
   Schafer uses her platform not just for self-advancement but to elevate marginalized voices and challenge norms.

2. You don’t have to choose just one medium
   Her life shows that it’s possible to integrate modeling, visual arts, acting, and activism into a cohesive path.

3. Ownership of narrative matters
   Despite external pressures, she asserts agency over how her identity is represented in public and private.

4. Art & identity interweave
   Expression—through art, fashion, or performance—can serve both personal exploration and social impact.

5. Growth includes change
   Her evolution from model → actor → advocate reflects willingness to adapt, to let roles evolve, and to refuse static labeling.

Conclusion

Hunter Schafer is much more than a model or a breakout actress—she is a multifaceted artist and a voice for a generation that refuses to be constrained by outdated binaries. Her journey combines creativity, courage, and activism. She continues to push boundaries, both in her career and in the collective conversation around identity, representation, and art.