Amelia Gray Hamlin, Lisa Rinna’s Daughter, on Y2K Style, Modeling, & Flip Phones
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Amelia Gray Hamlin has had one hell of a year. The model and daughter of former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin, Amelia burst onto the fashion scene with a bold look that immediately caught the eyes of fashion’s elite, putting her in the same category as household names like Kendall Jenner and those Hadid sisters. At just 22, she’s walked the runway for luxury brands like Balenciaga, Chanel, and Diesel, and recently starred in the Fall 2023 Miu Miu campaign. Clearly, her rocketing trajectory shows no signs of stopping.
Outside of fashion month and magazine spreads, she’s also made a name for herself thanks to her uniquely Y2K-inspired way of dressing. From Matrix-esque futuristic fits to looks that channel peak Hollywood socialite vibes (think: vintage Louis Vuitton x Murakami bags, baby doll tees, and transparent shield sunglasses), Amelia’s style is like opening a fun 2000s fashion vault. Just this week, she turned heads in a nipple-baring, see-through Azzedine Alaïa dress at the 2023 CFDA Awards and in an all-black leather look at Glamour‘s Women of the Year awards. So it’s no surprise she partnered with Motorola to spotlight the Razr+, arguably one of the most iconic and stylish phones from the aughts.
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Like the original Razr, the reimagined device is not just a phone but also a fashion accessory, with a folding OLED display that modernizes its look and ups the tech ante. (Yes, you can still sassily snap it closed to hang up a call.) The new smartphone comes in a variety of hues and finishes sure to fit your unique style. Amelia herself opts for a cool shade of blue, joking, “I actually went with the light blue instead of the light pink—shocking.”
Below, Amelia chats with StyleCaster about Y2K fashion and tech, her blossoming modeling career, and of course, the Rinna of it all.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
StyleCaster: The Motorola Razr was one of my first phones, so when I saw you partnered with the brand, I was pumped.
Amelia Gray Hamlin: OMG, mine too! I remember getting it at the Verizon store. It was black and the texture was very soft—I can’t really explain it—and then it had red accents, so it was very fitting. That’s still very much my aesthetic. Razr raised me!
SC: Is that why you chose to team up with Motorola for the relaunch of the Razr?
AGH: It’s so nostalgic for my generation, and it’s such a full-circle moment. My generation and this phone, like, we grew up together. For the reiteration of it, they did it all so beautifully. The concept is so cool and smart. It’s a smartphone that you can fold into your pocket. It does every single thing that every other phone does, and it has a major camera.
SC: Because of its aesthetic, it’s almost like a fashion accessory itself.
AGH: I’m obsessed. I do have some designing inspirations [and tips] for them: maybe little shells that you can pop on in different colors. I feel like that was a thing back in the day.
SC: That was! I forgot about those.
AGH: Right?! I’m looking at mine. She’s gorg. She’s blue. It makes me really happy when I look at it. And I put little stickers on it. It’s kind of just perfect.
SC: You’re gearing up to attend Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards with Motorola. Do you have any must-do getting-ready rituals for major events?
AGH: I think I’ve started to finally enjoy the process. In the past, I’ve done everything alone. And I haven’t known my people. When you don’t know your people or what you like, it’s hard to feel comfortable in a situation like a big event where you get all dressed up. Now, I love to play dress-up. These events are so freeing and so inspiring for me because I get to choose what I want to wear, and that’s really fun.
SC: The Razr was super popular in the 2000s. What do you think of the resurgence of 2000s, Y2K-inspired style?
AGH: I’m loving. I’m bringing back tattoo chokers! Fun fact: I was actually on a Zara shoot not too long ago and the stylist knew to bring this tattoo choker—that was the end. I took that choker home with me. I’ve decided that is the new trend that we’re bringing back. Sorry if you hate it, it’s gonna happen. It’s happening. I also love all of the 2000s trends coming back because I was young and couldn’t really express myself with those trends the way that I can now. It’s major to have a resurgence and a take-two.
SC: I love that. You’ve had a crazy year, and your modeling career has just skyrocketed. Have you had pinch-me moments, or any designer runways you’ve really been excited to walk for?
AGH: Every single one. Every single moment has been a pinch-me moment. Every single designer I’ve worked for, I’ve dreamt of working for. It’s all just so insane. And I’m just so over the moon—grateful and excited. I just really love my life and everyone involved. It just makes me want to cry. I’m really lucky.
SC: Do you have other models that you look up to or turn to for inspiration in terms of your walk or poses?
AGH: I am really trying to learn to be my own inspiration. I’m trying to answer that question with me, but I can’t because I’m not totally there yet. But I think that I more so gravitate towards any ’90s supermodel—I can’t just pick one though.
SC: I like what you said about being your own inspiration.
AGH: I just saw North West’s i-D interview, and she said her fashion icon is herself. That’s that.
SC: I mean, she’s not wrong.
AGH: Right? I think we should all be our own.
SC: We’ve seen your mom all over fashion month this year. What’s it like to have her in the front row?
AGH: When I have her in the audience, I know that I’ll at least get, well, I think that I’ll get one really great video of myself walking. But she never seems to know when I’m coming and always gets either the girl in front of me or after me. God bless her. But you know what it feels like? It feels like growing up. I don’t know if you resonate with this, but I’m sure other people do: I was always forced to do, like, theater and plays and musicals and things like that. I think I did about 15 throughout my childhood, and my mom and dad would always come into my plays and musicals. And when she’s sitting in the audience of a show that I’m walking, it feels like my mom’s coming to my high school play or middle school musical. It’s really fun, really cute like that. And I get more nervous having her there.
Actually, my dad has never been to one of my shows. I really, really want him to, but I just know he’s gonna cry. Bless him. I’m always, like, in the lineup, super nervous being like, my mom’s in the audience. God forbid I trip in front of my mom, like, I do be tripping. Like, thank God, nobody ever sees but like, I’m human. It’s happened and if it happened in front of her I’d be really sad.
I feel like I’m just getting started and I’ve only just scratched the surface.
Amelia Gray Hamlin
SC: On RHOBH, she’s showcased her expansive fashion archive. Do you have any specific pieces that she’s passed on to you that are very treasured?
AGH: She’s given me nothing. I have absolutely nothing. She kind of forgot to archive and didn’t do it. See, in our genes, we have this really fun little OCD bug that we were bit by, from my grandma, and sometimes I think it’s easier for us to just get rid and let go and not have to deal with clutter and mess and things like that. I have that gene just as my mom does. I’m being very conscious and cognizant of keeping whatever I can physically keep so that when the time comes with my, hopefully, daughter in the future, I don’t skimp out on her.
My mom didn’t save much. She saved great dresses but I don’t know if you guys have noticed, I don’t really wear dresses like that. My favorite archive that she has is her first designer dress, which happens to be an Azzedine Alaïa that my dad got her when they first started seeing each other. It’s one of the most incredible pieces I’ve ever seen. But it would be so fun to be able to wear her vintage Levi’s and tops from when she was in high school. All of my friends wear their moms’ things. I’m gonna do that for my daughter. Thank you for nothing, mom!
SC: The casual pieces are much easier to wear than an Alaïa gown.
AGH: But I’m loving my Azzedine Alaia. I’m grateful for it. Not mine! But I will steal it.
SC: Looking towards the future, what are some of your goals? Would you ever follow in your mom’s footsteps and get into acting?
AGH: I don’t know. I think that I’ve got to check all the boxes in [modeling] before I even can comprehend checking boxes in another field. That being said, I feel like I’m just getting started and I’ve only just scratched the surface. I’m really excited for all that is to come and I’m now riding the wave, enjoying the process, seeing where it all takes me. I think it would be sick to act, but I… listen, Linda Evangelista has this major quote. She says, “I don’t want to be an actress because I can’t wear the same dress for more than a day.” And like, not no! You know? I feel like I’ve been dipping my toes in the whole acting thing with this modeling job that I have. And I’m like, damn, I really respect these actors. So we’ll see! I mean, it would be cool. I think. I think that I’m kind of good at it already. That’s sort of how I do my job now, it’s all acting. But yeah, we’ll see, won’t we?
SC: It’s acting when you’re personifying different styles for designers.
AGH: Exactly. I act every day.
SC: What advice would you share with the younger you just getting started in the industry?
AGH: I would say, Girl, chill out. Like, it’s gonna happen for you. Don’t stress, you don’t need it right now. Divine timing. You’re not ready right now. I think it was so hard for me to be patient. And I think that there’s a blessing and a curse in this life in regards to knowing what you want and dreaming at a very young age. I couldn’t understand that I wasn’t ready and that I was too young and that life brings everything when it’s supposed to happen. As woo-woo and cheesy as it may sound, like, yes, divine timing. Whatever is meant for me is never going to pass me. And I don’t have to fight and beg for something if it wasn’t even for me in the beginning.
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