If you’ve been scrolling through fashion week coverage or caught clips of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, you’ve probably wondered: who is Amelia Gray? She’s the model daughter of Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin, who has carved out her own lane in high fashion. No silver spoon vibes here—well, okay, maybe a little—but she’s walked for Chanel, Versace, and Victoria’s Secret while being brutally honest about mental health, plastic surgery, and the nepo baby conversation. Let’s break down how she went from reality TV cameos to becoming one of fashion’s most booked faces.
She Grew Up in Hollywood’s Spotlight
Born June 13, 2001, in Los Angeles, Amelia Gray Hamlin didn’t exactly have a low-key childhood. Her dad’s the guy from Mad Men and Clash of the Titans. Her mom? Lisa Rinna—soap opera legend turned Real Housewives icon who basically invented the term “own it.” Growing up with cameras around wasn’t unusual; it was Tuesday. She’s got an older sister, Delilah Belle Hamlin, who also models, plus a half-brother named Dimitri Alexander.
The family dynamic played out on national TV when Lisa joined RHOBH in 2014. Amelia and Delilah became fixtures on the show during their teen years, giving fans a front-row seat to their lives. That exposure came with perks—instant name recognition, massive social media followings—but also scrutiny that most teenagers never face. Still, Amelia has never shied away from the nepo baby label, telling Vogue she’s “well aware” and “extremely grateful” for the advantages her last name provided.
Unlike some celebrity kids who stumble into modeling, Amelia knew what she wanted by age five. No joke—she told Vogue’s podcast The Run-Through that she actively scouted agencies instead of waiting to be discovered on some random street corner. That kind of drive got her signed to IMG Models at just 15 in April 2017. Her runway debut came later that year at Dennis Basso’s Spring/Summer 2018 show, and she hasn’t looked back since.
The Modeling Career That Took Off in College
Amelia moved to New York in 2020 to study nutrition, wellness, and psychology at The New School. Sounds ambitious, right? But the modeling gigs kept stacking up, and eventually, she made the call to drop out and go all-in on fashion. Within five years, she became one of the industry’s most recognizable faces, known for her dark features and that edgy off-duty style you see plastered across street style blogs.
Her resume reads like a fashion editor’s dream: Max Mara, Fendi, Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli, Michael Kors, Coperni, Chanel, Victoria’s Secret. She’s graced the covers of international editions of Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue, plus appeared in W Magazine, CR Fashion Book, Dazed, and Document Journal. Campaign-wise, she’s repped Vivienne Westwood, Miu Miu, Courrèges, H&M, Givenchy, and Versace. The one gig that’s eluded her? Tom Ford’s runway show. She’s been to the casting every season in Milan, gotten fitted, and still hasn’t booked it. Her response? “I love a challenge.”
What sets Amelia apart isn’t just the designer co-signs—it’s her willingness to be real. In an industry obsessed with perfection, she’s opened up about struggling with anorexia and body image issues. She doesn’t sugarcoat the nepo baby conversation or pretend she grinded from zero. That authenticity resonates, especially with younger followers who are tired of performative vulnerability.
She’s Been Honest About Mental Health and Plastic Surgery
In 2018, Amelia posted a throwback photo of herself in a white bikini from the year before, revealing she’d been battling anorexia. Her mom wouldn’t let her post it at the time because she looked visibly unhealthy. Sharing that image sparked conversations about beauty standards and eating disorders that went viral again when her recovery was shown on The Real Housewives.
She told Glamour that recovery is a daily battle. Bad days still pop up where old habits feel tempting, but sharing her story keeps her accountable. She wants to be a role model for people who look up to her, which is a heavy responsibility for someone in her early twenties. But she handles it with grace, never playing the victim while also not pretending everything’s perfect.
Then there’s the plastic surgery talk. In a January 2025 interview with Variety, Amelia set the record straight: she’s had a nose job, a breast reduction after an infection from a piercing at 16, and later got implants she now regrets. The implant surgery went sideways—she woke up different from what was agreed, and complications led to a 14-hour reconstruction surgery. She was 12 hours from sepsis at one point. The whole ordeal stemmed from dating someone older who influenced her decisions, a situation she’s clearly processed and learned from.
What’s refreshing? She owns it all. No deflecting, no excuses. She’s doing SkinVive injections (a hydrating treatment, not filler) but swears her lips are natural. In an era where influencers get work done and then claim it’s just good lighting, Amelia’s transparency is a cheat code for building trust with her audience.
The Nepo Baby Question Everyone Wants Answered
Let’s address the elephant in the room: who is Amelia Gray without the famous parents? Would she have gotten signed to IMG at 15 without Lisa Rinna’s connections? Probably not. But here’s the thing—she’s never pretended otherwise. She’s one of the few celebrity kids who’ll straight-up say, “Yeah, I’m a nepo baby, and that helped.”
The nepo baby debate exploded in late 2022 when New York Magazine published that now-infamous cover. Kendall Jenner, the Hadid siblings, and Amelia all got mentioned as examples of how family ties open doors in modeling. Critics argue these connections take opportunities from non-connected talent. Supporters counter that genetics, work ethic, and personality still matter. Amelia’s take? Acknowledge the privilege, then prove you deserve the spot.
And prove it she has. Walking for Chanel or Versace requires more than a famous last name—you’ve got to deliver on the runway, show up on time, and work with teams of stylists, photographers, and creative directors without acting entitled. Industry insiders say Amelia is professional, easy to work with, and genuinely passionate about fashion. That counts for something, even if her foot was in the door before most people knew the door existed.
The discourse around nepotism isn’t going away, and it shouldn’t. But Amelia’s approach—owning it, being grateful, and then grinding—is probably the healthiest way to navigate a rigged system. She’s not crying about being called out, but she’s also not apologizing for the circumstances of her birth. That balance is rare.
What She’s Up To Now
These days, Amelia’s splitting time between New York and LA, juggling modeling gigs with her influencer presence. On Instagram, she shares behind-the-scenes content from shoots, runway appearances, and editorial spreads. She’s also shown an interest in acting, making her debut in the Hulu body horror series The Beauty. Whether acting becomes a serious pivot or just a side project remains to be seen.
She’s become known for her eccentric style—vintage finds, bold prints, and that effortless “I just threw this together” energy that’s actually meticulously curated. Fashion insiders call her an “it girl,” which is industry code for someone whose taste influences trends. From matcha spots in New York to vintage sourcing tips, her lifestyle content performs as well as her modeling work.
Relationship-wise, she keeps things private now. After some high-profile dating rumors in the past, she’s learned to guard that part of her life. Smart move—letting your work speak louder than your love life keeps the focus where it belongs.
The Verdict on Amelia Gray
So, who is Amelia Gray? She’s a 23-year-old model who’s walked the biggest runways, fought eating disorders, survived botched surgeries, and navigated the nepo baby discourse with more honesty than most. She’s the product of privilege and hard work, reality TV exposure, and high fashion credibility. She’s flawed, authentic, and unapologetically herself in an industry that usually demands polish over personality.
Whether you discovered her through Real Housewives clips or fashion week coverage, her story is a masterclass in leveraging advantages while still putting in the work. She’s not reinventing modeling, but she’s carving out a lane that feels genuine in an oversaturated market. And in 2025, when everyone’s trying to be an influencer-slash-model-slash-entrepreneur, that authenticity is the real flex.
