Actress Hunter Schafer recently revealed that she underwent gender-affirming bottom surgery in December, keeping the personal milestone private for nearly a year before sharing the news in an interview published in October.
The Euphoria and Blade Runner 2099 star, who began transitioning at age 14, explained to Elle that coming to the decision took time. For years, she embraced a gender-expansive identity and initially tried to maintain her previous body, believing there was something powerful in doing so. Over time, however, her sense of self settled into feeling firmly like a woman.
Schafer decided to speak publicly about the operation to address the ongoing tension between ideological concepts of queerness—which emphasize expansion and growth—and the realities of living in the public eye. During her recovery, which limited her to 150 steps a day, she relied on visits from loved ones at home before returning to work on set.