Hunter Schafer confirms gender‑affirming bottom surgery in interview with Elle

Schafer told Elle the procedure was “amazing,” and explained how it fits her broader philosophy of queerness.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 19 Oct 2026 22:50:31 GMT

Actress and activist Hunter Schafer said she underwent gender‑affirming bottom surgery in December, describing the operation as “amazing” and affirming her identity as a woman.

What happened

Schafer disclosed the surgery in an interview for Elle’s cover story published on Oct. 19, 2026. She said the operation took place in December of the previous year and that she “love[s] it so much.” The interview also covered her reflections on gender fluidity and queerness.

What the reports add

Variety noted that Schafer framed the decision as a response to repeatedly “hitting a wall… where this theoretical queer utopia didn’t match up with the world she encountered every day.”
Both Variety and Elle reported that Schafer said she now feels “flatter” in her gender identity, adding, “I’m a woman. I’m a girl.”
She described her post‑surgery recovery limits, saying doctors advised her to stay flat and restrict herself to about 150 steps per day while she rented a large apartment where friends and family visited.
Variety cited Schafer’s earlier remarks to GQ in 2024 about resisting being labeled a “transsexual actress,” emphasizing her desire to be seen simply as a girl and an artist.
The reports highlighted her upcoming role opposite Michelle Yeoh in the Amazon miniseries “Blade Runner 2099.”

What was said

“I just had bottom surgery in December, which was amazing, and I love it so much.”

— Schafer, quoted in Elle and reported by Variety.

“For a long time I’ve embraced the gender‑expansive part of myself, and I really wanted to try to make that previous body work, because I thought there was something really cool and badass about it.”

— Schafer, Variety.

“The magical thing about queerness is that on an ideological level, it’s about possibility and expansion and growth, and being on that journey and finding yourself.”

— Schafer, both outlets.

“I’m a woman. I’m a girl.”

— Schafer, Elle and Variety.

“I feel like there’s always a tension there.”

— Schafer, Variety.

How it came about

Earlier in October, Schafer appeared at New York Comic Con wearing a fresh‑off‑runway Prada look (look 35) featuring a pink‑black pencil skirt, mint‑green tube top and patent‑mule stilettos, as detailed in Felo News’s coverage of the event. The appearance, alongside a panel for the Prime Video series “Blade Runner 2099,” raised her public profile ahead of the Elle interview.

Key facts

Hunter Schafer underwent gender‑affirming bottom surgery in December 2025. (elle.com)
Schafer described the surgery as "amazing" and said she loves the result. (variety.com)
She now identifies as a woman and says "I’m a woman. I’m a girl." (variety.com)