Daily Facts: Hunter Schafer’s

Early Life & Background

Hunter is a transgender woman and came out during her teenage years.

She began transitioning in high school, during a time when LGBTQ+ issues were contentious in North Carolina.
Her personal experiences as a trans teen later shaped her activism, creative vision, and acting roles.
In interviews, Schafer has described her identity as "trans, queer, and evolving", emphasizing the fluidity of gender and sexuality.

Attended the North Carolina School of the Arts for high school, focusing on visual arts, especially drawing and fashion design.
Was selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts in 2017.
Deferred enrollment to Central Saint Martins, a top fashion school in London, to pursue modeling and eventually acting.

At age 17, Schafer made national headlines by:

Joining a lawsuit against North Carolina’s House Bill 2 (HB2), the so-called “bathroom bill,” which mandated people use bathrooms based on the sex assigned at birth.
She testified publicly, becoming a prominent trans youth voice advocating for equal rights.
Her efforts earned her a spot on Teen Vogue’s “21 Under 21” list in 2017, and she was invited to guest-edit for the magazine.

Before acting, Schafer had an accomplished modeling career:

Signed with Elite Model Management
Walked for major fashion houses including:
- Prada
- Dior
- Marc Jacobs
- Miu Miu
- Coach
- Rick Owens
Appeared in editorials for Vogue, i-D, Dazed, and Interview Magazine

Role: Jules Vaughn, a trans teenage girl and love interest of Rue (played by Zendaya)
Impact:
- Schafer’s portrayal of Jules is considered one of the most authentic and sensitive depictions of a transgender teen on mainstream television.
- She co-wrote and co-executive produced “Part Two: Fck Anyone Who’s Not a Sea Blob”*, a special episode focused on Jules’s psyche and identity.
- She drew directly from her own life, shaping Jules’s emotional depth and narrative arc.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)
- Role: Tigris Snow, cousin and confidante of Coriolanus Snow
- A prequel set decades before the original Hunger Games series, Schafer’s performance was praised for its emotional resonance.
Cuckoo (2024)
- Psychological horror/thriller by German director Tilman Singer
- Schafer plays the lead role, Gretta. The film premiered at Berlinale 2024 and has received critical buzz for its stylized suspense.
Mother Mary (TBA)
- Directed by David Lowery (The Green Knight, A Ghost Story)
- Co-starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel
- A drama set in the world of music and fame

Hunter has continued to sketch, paint, and design — visual art remains her personal passion.
She blends her fashion sensibility with queer aesthetics, often wearing avant-garde, gender-fluid outfits on red carpets.

Hunter Schafer is often cited as a Gen Z icon and trailblazer for trans youth.
She challenges Hollywood's traditional beauty standards and helps normalize transgender visibility in mainstream media.
She has spoken candidly about the mental health struggles that come with gender dysphoria and fame.

Passport Controversy (2024): Publicly criticized U.S. policies after her passport listed her gender as “male,” despite her being a transitioned woman.
LGBTQ+ Advocacy: Regularly speaks out for trans rights, including access to healthcare, gender recognition, and legal protections.

“There’s no handbook for being trans. I had to invent myself—my way, my rules.”
Hunter Schafer, Vanity Fair Interview