Jules may have been Rue’s first love, but Hunter Schafer isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Long before setting foot in Tinseltown, she was already a successful model, working with major fashion houses like Miu Miu, Marc Jacobs, and Maison Margiela. After coming across an Instagram casting call for transgender girls with no prior acting experience, she made her acting debut in 2019 as the ethereal Jules Vaughn in HBO’s smash hit Euphoria. The series—which catapulted co-stars Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, and Jacob Elordi to fame—cemented Hunter’s place on Hollywood’s radar and firmly secured her spot on our make-up mood boards with her kaleidoscope of glitter and daringly bold hues.
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The multi-hyphenate Schafer has since solidified her status as an on-screen It girl, with standout roles including Tigris Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, Gretchen in Cuckoo, and appearances in the upcoming Blade Runner series alongside Michelle Yeoh as well as Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele's horror video game OD.
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Off-camera, Hunter commands an audience of over six million followers on Instagram, serves as the face of Mugler's Angel fragrance, and holds the title of global brand ambassador for Shiseido. Most recently, she teamed up with the Japanese beauty brand to launch a limited-edition collection, complete with packaging illustrated by Hunter herself and a short film directed by the star.
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Here, Hunter speaks to ELLE Singapore about her collaboration with Shiseido, her creative process, the intersection of beauty and art, and much more.
How would you describe yourself?
I'm an artist who explores many different forms of expression. I think I've discovered a sense of lightness and tranquillity in the pursuit of joy and peace that comes with creating art.
Tell us about your partnership with Shiseido.
Collaborating with Shiseido has been instrumental in my growth as an artist. They’ve done an incredible job of recognising and honouring my identity as an artist, while also broadening my perspective on what make-up and skincare can achieve and how they can enrich my life. We share similar artistic values, which have been at the heart of our collaboration and really came to the forefront with this campaign. Every time we’ve worked together, whether on shoots or projects, they’ve shared their unique views on art and beauty, which I’ve been able to integrate into my own life. It’s this synergy that makes our partnership so special.
Tell us about your creative process.
As an artist, my creative process is deeply rooted in my personal experiences. Art offers a beautiful way to process life, explore ideas, and respond to the world around you—your surroundings, environment, and broader context. It’s not only an important source of joy but also an incredibly useful tool for self-expression. This collection is like a small assemblage of products that seamlessly fit into a daily routine, yet also have the versatility to elevate a look to the next level.
In what ways do you use make-up for self-expression?
When it comes to make-up, I use it as a way to express how I want to feel that day or to highlight certain elements of my beauty that I wish to accentuate. Paired with skincare, it not only enhances my appearance but also gives me a sense of routine, which I find so important. It’s a way of taking care of myself, helping me feel grounded, and presenting the best version of myself to the world.
You directed and collaborated with Andrew Onorato and Chop Studio on the animated film tied to the collection. Can you tell us about the experience?
This was my first time directing an animated film. I’ve directed a few music videos before, but it was incredibly exciting to step into the world of animation. Andrew Onorato and Chop Studio were amazing collaborators. The inspiration for the short film centred around the elevated sense of self that make-up can evoke—the way it should make you feel and how it makes me feel personally. It’s about transformation, represented through the contrast of colours as the character begins applying her products. She enters a new, vibrant world and emerges on the other side, feeling inspired and enlightened. The main character is a reflection of me in some ways—it was meant to be a personal portrayal. However, I also wanted it to be universal, so that anyone watching could step into her shoes and relate to the experience of using products that make them feel good, elevating their look and their confidence.
The collection features illustrations designed by yourself. What was your process behind them?
I engage in a variety of art forms, but painting and drawing have always been my go-to, something I’ve loved since I can remember. When selecting the illustrations for the packaging, I went through many of my old sketchbooks to see if any of the pieces would fit into the world we wanted to create. I also created some new illustrations specifically for this collection, which was really fun. Some of the artwork is years old, while others are freshly made for this project, so it’s a blend of the old and new versions of myself.
The Hunter x Shiseido limited edition collection is available at Shiseido's stores nationwide and on its website.
*The interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.