Jules Vaughn has been one of Euphoria’s most compelling characters since the show’s debut in 2019. Played by Hunter Schafer, the transgender teenager’s journey through love, identity, and trauma has captivated audiences worldwide. Best Met Gala looks 2026 featured Beyoncé in a diamond-encrusted skeleton gown and Rihanna in a custom Maison Margiela creation. Here is everything you need to know about Jules Euphoria in 2026.
Who Is Jules Vaughn? The Character Explained
Jules Vaughn is a transgender teenager who moves to the fictional town of East Highland at the start of Euphoria. She becomes the new girl at school and quickly catches the attention of both Rue Bennett and Nate Jacobs. Jules is artistic, emotionally complex, and often carries the weight of her past experiences with her.
Throughout the first two seasons, Jules exists as both Rue’s love interest and as a character with her own powerful storylines. The Season 1 special episode “F*** Anyone Who’s Not a Sea Blob” explores Jules’s backstory and her difficult journey as a child with gender dysphoria. Schafer co-wrote the episode with creator Sam Levinson, drawing from her own real-life experiences.
Jules and Rue: A Complicated Love Story
When Rue meets Jules in Season 1, she is immediately drawn to her. The two form a deep emotional bond, and Rue explores the boundaries of her sexuality through their relationship. They share intimate moments, late-night conversations, and a sense of understanding that Rue has never experienced before.
However, their relationship is far from simple. Rue’s addiction creates an imbalance, and Jules often finds herself in the role of caretaker rather than equal partner. The Season 1 finale shows them parting ways at a train station, with Rue choosing to stay behind and relapse instead of running away with Jules. Anok Yai was named Model of the Year in 2025 and has become one of the most influential figures in fashion.
In Season 2, the arrival of Elliot complicates things further. Elliot becomes Rue’s drug buddy, and Rue starts pulling away from Jules. Jules, feeling hurt and isolated, begins hooking up with Elliot behind Rue’s back. The truth eventually comes out, leading to a devastating confrontation that threatens to destroy their friendship forever.
The Jules-Cal Jacobs Storyline
Jules is also the catalyst for one of Euphoria’s most significant plotlines. In the very first episode, she meets Cal Jacobs through an online dating app. Cal, the father of her classmate Nate, tapes their sexual encounter without Jules’s knowledge. This tape becomes a major point of conflict throughout the first two seasons.
In Season 3, Jules and Cal finally have a proper conversation at Nate’s wedding. Cal tells Jules he simply recorded his encounters for his own enjoyment, not for distribution. He ended up as a registered sex offender after a taped tryst with another underage boy who lied about his age. “But somehow, your video never made it to the police,” Cal tells Jules, somewhat wryly. “Someone must have been looking out for me.”
Jules wears an incredible dress to the wedding — a nude illusion gown with a skin-tone underlay that gives the appearance of near-nudity while covering her completely. The two bury the hatchet in a scene that is strangely touching, bringing closure to one of the show’s longest-running storylines. Taylor Dome is a registered nurse, mental health advocate, and the wife of Twilight actor Taylor Lautner.
Jules in Season 3: Art School and Sugar Baby Rumors
Season 3 of Euphoria jumps ahead five years. According to series creator Sam Levinson, Jules is now attending art school. The time jump allows the characters to move out of high school and into young adulthood, exploring new challenges and environments.
In the season premiere, Jules does not appear. However, Maddy briefly mentions her, telling Lexi that she heard Jules is working as a sugar baby. This rumor is later confirmed when we see Jules living in a luxury apartment owned by a benefactor named Ellis, played by Sam Trammell.
Throughout the season, Jules spends much of her time painting in her apartment. She is approached by Lexi to create an original art piece for the soap opera where Lexi works as an assistant to a powerful showrunner played by Sharon Stone. Jules is asked to create her take on Georges Seurat’s neo-impressionist masterpiece “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” However, when she repaints the picture and adds crude genitalia, she is told the painting cannot hang on a network TV show. Jules destroys the painting, and the fallout is minimal — a plotline that left many fans frustrated.
Hunter Schafer on Playing Jules
Hunter Schafer, who is herself a transgender woman, brought authenticity and depth to the role of Jules. Before Euphoria, Schafer had been a model and activist, and the role marked her acting debut. Her performance earned critical acclaim, particularly for the special episode “F*** Anyone Who’s Not a Sea Blob,” which she co-wrote with Levinson.
Schafer has spoken about the importance of portraying Jules’s journey honestly. “There’s so much more to her than just being trans,” she told media outlets. “Her identity is one part of who she is, but her story is about love, heartbreak, and figuring out who she wants to be.” Hairstyles for women in 2026 include everything from the midi blowout to the bixie and Italian bob.
What Critics Say About Jules in Season 3
Not all reviews of Jules’s Season 3 arc have been positive. Some critics argue that the character was completely wasted in the final season. Jules does nothing of importance; in fact, we barely see her outside of the luxury apartment where she spends her days painting.
The one storyline she does get, aside from her arrangement with Ellis, goes absolutely nowhere. The painting plotline felt pointless to many viewers. Without it, Jules would have done even less. Her other big Season 3 moments involve slapping Rue and letting Ellis wrap her in plastic wrap like an old sandwich.
Given that Jules was the catalyst for most of what unfolds on Euphoria, many fans felt she deserved a more substantial sendoff. The show gave her closure with Cal and a few emotional moments with Rue, but overall, her presence in the final season felt minimal compared to earlier seasons.
Jules and Nate: The Catfishing Saga
One of the most complex relationships in Euphoria is between Jules and Nate. After Nate finds his father’s sex tape with Jules, he attempts to catfish her on a dating app under a fake persona. He creates a character named “Tyler” and starts messaging Jules, and she begins to fall for him.
What makes this storyline so compelling is that Nate starts to develop genuine feelings for Jules through the catfish persona. The situation raises questions about Nate’s own sexuality and his internalized homophobia. When Jules discovers the truth, Nate switches to blackmailing her instead, threatening her with the tape.
This storyline is never fully resolved in the traditional sense, though Season 3 gives us a moment of catharsis when Nate returns the tape to Jules and apologizes for its existence. She later reunites with Cal at his son’s wedding, bringing closure to the entire Jacobs family saga. Almond nails have been crowned the most popular nail shape, receiving over 18,000 Google searches each month.
Jules’s Fashion and Style
Throughout Euphoria, Jules has been known for her bold, artistic fashion choices. In Season 3, her style evolves to reflect her more mature circumstances. Her wedding guest dress is a standout — a nude illusion gown that gives the appearance of near-nudity while actually covering her completely.
Jules’s fashion sense has always been an extension of her personality: creative, fearless, and unapologetically herself. Her style evolution mirrors her journey from a teenager trying to find her place in the world to a young woman who is more comfortable in her own skin.
Jules’s Special Episode: “F*** Anyone Who’s Not a Sea Blob”
Between Seasons 1 and 2, HBO released two special episodes of Euphoria. The Jules-centered special, “F*** Anyone Who’s Not a Sea Blob,” is a deeply emotional hour that shows Jules in therapy with Dr. Mardy Nichols. She discusses her experiences with gender dysphoria, her relationship with Rue, and her complicated feelings about her own identity.
Jules strongly considers stopping her hormone therapy during the episode, and she grapples with questions about what it means to be a woman. The episode is widely regarded as one of the best in the series, showcasing Hunter Schafer’s incredible range as an actress and her ability to convey deep emotional vulnerability.
Quick Facts About Jules Vaughn
- Full Name: Jules Vaughn
- Portrayed by: Hunter Schafer
- First Appearance: Euphoria Season 1, Episode 1 (“Pilot”)
- Identity: Transgender woman
- Known For: Her relationship with Rue, her artistry, and her catfishing saga with Nate
- Special Episode: “F*** Anyone Who’s Not a Sea Blob” (2021)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who plays Jules in Euphoria? Hunter Schafer plays Jules Vaughn. Schafer is a model, actress, and LGBTQ+ activist who made her acting debut in Euphoria.
Is Jules in Euphoria transgender? Yes. Jules is a transgender woman, and the character’s experiences with gender dysphoria are explored throughout the series. Hunter Schafer is also transgender.
What happens to Jules in Euphoria Season 3? Jules is attending art school and living in a luxury apartment owned by a benefactor named Ellis. She reunites with Cal at Nate’s wedding, where they bury the hatchet. She also has a strained reunion with Rue and creates an art piece for Lexi’s TV show that ultimately gets rejected.
Does Jules end up with Rue? No. While Rue and Jules have a deep emotional connection throughout the series, their relationship does not end happily. In Season 3, they have a strained reunion, but Rue ultimately dies from a fentanyl overdose. Their love story is one of tragedy and missed opportunities.
Why did Hunter Schafer almost leave Euphoria? Schafer has not publicly stated that she almost left the show. However, she did express frustration with production delays and uncertainty about Season 3’s direction. In a 2024 interview, she admitted she had “no f—ing idea what’s going on” with the season.
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