Hunter Schafer is speaking publicly for the first time about a major personal milestone: the 27-year-old "Euphoria" star revealed in a new Elle cover story that she underwent gender-affirming bottom surgery in December 2025, calling the decision one of the best of her life.

"I just had bottom surgery in December, which was amazing, and I love it so much," Schafer said, according to the interview, which was widely picked up by entertainment outlets on Oct. 19 and 20. She described a difficult but ultimately affirming recovery process, saying she rented an apartment where friends and family could visit and was restricted to minimal movement for weeks. "I think my limit was 150 steps per day, which is nothing," she said.

A Long Road to the Decision

Schafer, who has spent years publicly embracing a gender-expansive identity, told Elle she initially resisted medically transitioning because she valued what she called the "cool and badass" nature of existing outside a binary. Ultimately, she said, she reached a point where surgery felt like the right step for her specifically — while stressing that every trans person's path looks different.

"I'M A WOMAN. I'M A GIRL … I FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE MAGICAL THING ABOUT QUEERNESS," Schafer said, per the interview.

The actress also addressed an ongoing complication tied to U.S. policy: after a 2025 executive order directing federal agencies to recognize only male and female sex markers as assigned at birth, her passport was issued listing her gender as male despite her applying as female. "I'm never going to stop being trans. A letter on a passport can't change that," she said, according to TMZ's report on the interview.

The disclosure comes as Schafer's profile continues to rise beyond the role that made her famous. "Euphoria" wrapped its third and final season earlier this year, and she recently appeared in the psychological thriller "Mother Mary." She's set to star opposite Michelle Yeoh in "Blade Runner 2099," premiering in November — a project Variety notes marks one of her biggest roles yet.

Schafer has previously pushed back on being defined solely by her trans identity or framed as an activist, saying she wants recognition for her acting and modeling work on its own terms. Industry reaction to the Elle piece has been largely supportive, with outlets including Yahoo Entertainment framing the interview as a candid, unguarded moment from a star typically private about her personal life.

No further public comment from Schafer or her representatives has been issued since the interview's publication. The full Elle cover story is expected to roll out alongside additional excerpts in the coming days.