Amelia Gray Hamlin is (Still) Tired of Your Misconceptions

0:05This is The Run Through. I'm Chloe Mal. And today we are bringing back one of our favorite episodes with model Amelia Gray. She came to the Vogue offices earlier this year to chat with Irene Kim and Willow Lindley. The trio discussed Amelia's deep passion for modeling and fashion, passion for fashion, and how she deals with online haters and the one runway she dreams about walking. So without further ado, here's Amelia. Amelia, we are so happy to have you here at the studio. I'm very happy to see you. Welcome, welcome. It's great to see you again. When we first met, actually in this building, was that the first time you'd come to the building?

0:46Okay, so the first time Amelia and I met, we had Amelia come to the World Trade Center for the first time and it was ahead of the Met Gala last year. It was three days ahead of the Met Gala. It was three days ahead. You were fresh off a flight from Chanel. Marseille. Yep. Yep. And we had quite a dress for you to try on. Well, the first time I met you, you were pretty much on the floor under my dress, screwing me in. That's true. Exactly. And most dresses don't require screwdrivers. In my, you know, I've been at Vogue for 10 years. It was the first time I had to ask maintenance for a screwdriver.

1:18Screwdrivers or a beautiful blonde woman on the floor. Looking up your skirt. Hi, nice to meet you. It's so nice to meet you. I'm Amelia. Yeah. And Amelia was such a trooper because that dress was a terrarium. It was an undercover dress that was in the exhibition. It was actually the dress that was the cover of the catalog too, which was very impressive. But it was an actual terrarium. Actual. And so it was plexiglass or plastic or a variety of things. And you kindly held it up while I screwed you in from a variety of— Gotta help a sister out. You know, and you held it together well. And then do you remember what we did after we screwed in the dress?

1:58We turned the lights on. We took pictures. Well, no, we couldn't turn the lights on. So there were electrical strips in the dress that we couldn't figure out how to turn on. But we made you go to the cafeteria and practice walking up and down the stairs. Right. Of course. They told me don't go to the cafeteria because they were like, someone's going to be in their Met Gow outfit and you can't look. But you know that Met fitting. It's interesting because I don't think many people know, like, the story behind that Met look. And it's interesting that right now, what is it? Now it's February, and I'm already having conversations of the Met.

2:29Blessed, by the way. Blessed dreams come true. But last year, I didn't have conversations about the Met until four days before the Met, in which I was told that I needed to fly to New York and try on this dress. Crazy. And that if the dress fit me, then I could go. Yes. So it's very Cinderella. Very Cinderella. I didn't know that they had really broken it down that much. Oh, they broke it down. Yeah. And I was just like, you know what? If it's meant to be, it's going to be. I had no idea what to expect. I didn't know if the dress would be the size of like a pinky finger or if it would be huge.

3:08And it ended up actually being quite big. Yeah. Which was nice because I had space to put padding and protect my hips. Yes. Because it was hard as a rock. It was hard as a rock. Yeah. But in an incredible memory. And then tell us a little bit of the Day of the Met experience, because I heard there was an electrician involved. God bless the Carlisle Hotel. I walked into my room because I actually had a photo shoot also the Day of the Met for Katie Grand. Perfect. Anything for Katie. So I woke up at 5 that day, shot, went straight to the Carlisle after shooting, and there was an electrician in my room.

3:46And he was the electrician from the Carlisle. I'm horrible with names, and I sadly forgot his name, but we love him so much. And we made sure we took care of him. And he was in my room for like two hours, like going downstairs, getting parts, coming back up, going downstairs, coming back up. All for the terrarium dress. All for the terrarium. I mean, it was incredible, so it was worth it. It really was. And speaking of experiences, we've been loving seeing photos of you and videos of you at, you know, couture. How was it? couture was amazing. I think for me, I still can't really wrap my head around the fact that I do couture and that that's my life.

4:28I dreamt and I still dream of so many things. But that being said, I think there were dreams that almost felt too far away, if that makes sense. I'm very well aware of the fact that I'm a Nepo baby and I'm extremely grateful for that. I'm aware of everything that I am. But couture was just never something I thought I would be accepted into. So Jean-Paul Gaultier was actually my first ever couture show. And it was Heider Ackerman. Oh, that's a good one. Which was, oh my gosh, like, and Heider had already been someone that I had looked up to so, so much. And just like his idea of a woman, and I hadn't even known him as a human being yet.

5:11And then And it just takes it to another level because he's one of the most incredible people, I think, in this industry. But so I was always a fan. And so to have that moment was just insane. And then to now continue having these insane couture moments, I'm still not really – I don't understand how this is my life. And that being said, I really don't understand that I walk Chanel. Yeah, that's major. Like I've done, I think, 11 Chanel shows. I don't understand. There's couture and then there's Chanel couture. In every Chanel couture, we see your runway photo. I don't get it. I don't get it. Like, how is, like, it's so insane to me, and I love what I do so much.

5:50Like, to be able to do all these different runways and couture for brands that I felt were too big to dream about, it's just crazy. And it's like, pinch me, wake me up from the dream, you know? You're fitting at Vogue World, actually, which happened during last couture. Oh, my gosh. It was one of my faves. You were wearing Chanel. 19, 20. Exactly. And your excitement over that dress. I mean, we were doing a million fittings a day in the Westin, and it was such a crazy environment. And it was, you know, what's so great is it can start to feel a bit run-of-the-mill, right? You're just doing fittings, and you're busy, and you're running around.

6:26And then you come in, and you were such a ray of sun. And you were so excited about the dress, and you were so excited that the Chanel team was there fixing the beading. And it was very special to watch your reaction to that 1920s vintage dress. It was a recreation of a vintage dress. Right, which was insane. Thank you for saying that. You know, I think it's really interesting because the career that I have and the industry that I'm in, it's not usually one that people choose. Almost every girl's story is I was walking on the street and someone scouted me. But that's completely opposite to my story.

7:01I scouted everyone else. Like, I had already known that this is what I wanted to do since I was five years old. I have no idea why. I swear, like, I have this intuitive feeling that, like, either I was a model in my past life and I died. Like, maybe Gia. Okay, don't come for me. But, like, I'm just saying. It's just an idea. We're just spitballing. It's just an idea. Okay? And Many Lives, Many Masters, my new favorite book. This one woman has had 86 lives. I'm just saying. Okay. It could have been one. Yep. But that being said, I went out and had to like find everyone. And so my story is different, but also my passion is different.

7:42And I think that I don't really understand how a lot of the girls don't feel the same way that I do because to me it's so exciting and it's my dream and it's what I love to do. and I could not imagine doing anything really else. I mean, I feel really lucky that I love what I do. My dad always said, if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. Love that. And it's so nice to meet fashion obsessives, I think. I think we all can get busy and it can feel like a lot, and it's so nice to remember why we're here. Yeah, and I don't think I'm necessarily obsessed with fashion in itself, which is interesting because I was reading this interview that Lata did, and I'm not sure her exact verbatim, but she said something like, I just love clothes or something like that.

8:30And I think for me, I'm the opposite. Like, I don't really care about clothes that much. I love the art and collaborative experience that takes place in fashion. And I love women. And I think that, I mean, it's true that fashion is one of the only industries where women make more and are sort of on the pedestal more. And I think that that's such a beautiful thing. And that's also why I love doing it. And I love the people. There's good people in fashion. Yeah. Before we move on, I do want to ask, are you excited for Hyder's Tom Ford? Because you brought him up. I am so excited for Hyder's Tom Ford.

9:15You know, it's funny because I have been to the Tom Ford casting every single time I land in Milan since my career started. And I have gotten so close to getting it. They fit me in clothes, this and that, and I've never gotten it because it's always just been one person doesn't support me, which is fine. I love a challenge. Like make it harder for me because it's so boring if you get everything all at once. Like that, you know, careful what I wish for. I need to like careful what I put out there. But, you know, you have to work for things. And I think that hopefully I can finally do Tom Ford. Okay.

9:54We're manifesting in here. Manifesting. And it's in Paris, so that's exciting. Oh, my gosh. Wait, I didn't know that. You heard it first. Yay. So Vogue France did a really fun video with you where they spent 24 hours with you. And you said before you go on the runway, you like to channel a character. Yeah. Who are some of the characters you channel? And, you know, what are you thinking about in your mind when you're walking? You know, the character is all dependent on the outfit that I'm given. And I think that I was raised, obviously, in a household of actors. but that being said I was also raised to be an actress I was forced I really did not like this growing up but I'm so grateful for it now I was forced to do plays I have done like 11 or 12 musicals and I always played a man Who's your favorite man?

10:49I played Teddy Roosevelt for Annie was that the Roosevelt that was in Annie? I was in a wheelchair and then for High School Musical cool. My sister was Troy Bolton and I was Mr. Fulton. I love that. That's amazing. The way that I work is just very like an actor in the sense that like no runway that I go on is ever really the same. And I don't really think about my walk ever unless it was like the Chanel show for your couture that we did last week was probably one of the hardest shows I've ever done in my career because it was uphill. And so both of the C's were uphill and then downhill, and we had to do both C's.

11:36So we did that essentially four times because the show is twice. So my shin splints were like on fire because we couldn't bend our knees going uphill because we had to look chenelle. So it's like going uphill in a poised way and manner. So that is hard. And when it's hard, I'm in my head and I have weird thoughts. Just kind of like, Amelia, you got this. You're almost done. One more C. You can breathe at the end. Like, just hold it in. But, like, for instance, the Gaultier show, I didn't have anything going through my mind during it. And I think that's when it's really such a beautiful experience and an energizing experience.

12:13When it's just, like, you put the outfit on and the character is already in you. Like, it's not even like I'm necessarily thinking about the character that I'm going to portray. It's all about the outfit. And that is the character. and so I think that when I'm really passionate about an outfit then it just makes the experience so much more beautiful and authentic to me but you never really know what you're going to get when you go out there. It's always different than rehearsal and I'm always like listen I'm going to do my best but we're going to wing it and yeah. Do you try to like see your mom from the corner of your eye?

12:51I tried but you know she didn't warn me that she was wearing a blonde insane wig So I'm looking for Lisa Renna Hare and I couldn't find her because she wasn't there. There was a different woman there. Yeah. And your mom, she said she cried when she watched you, which was so sweet. Like, is it like comforting to have your mom at the shows? And she's always with you. You guys are shopping, eating. It's funny. She's my BFF. Like, I am so beyond grateful to have her as a mother in this life. And I truly do believe that I chose her. I don't know if those are your guys' beliefs, but that is mine. Like, I chose this woman to be my mom.

13:31But side note, my dad doesn't get enough credit, and he's great, too. Takes two. Love him, love him. Takes two. His pasta sauce, it's going viral. Had it last night. Yes, I did see your story. It's so good. I should have brought some. I know. Shoot. Because I heard Harry Hamlin's pasta is so good that, like, people take it home after they leave your house. Maybe he should come in. I know. We can do a now serving. Oh, my God. With the two of you. That'd be cute. Great.

13:57More with Amelia Gray after a quick break.

14:12Hi, I'm Rebecca Ford, Senior Awards Correspondent at Vanity Fair and co-host of Little Gold Men. Oscar season is upon us. Little Gold Men takes you behind the scenes of the race for the biggest prize in Hollywood. There's a hundred wrestlers in the room, but only one can be Oscar nominated. Whether you're a movie lover or an industry buff, Little Gold Men from Vanity Fair has everything you need to know about this year's Oscar race. Follow and listen to Little Gold Men wherever you get your podcasts.

14:54We had such a blast on the subway. On the subway. Can I break the news that it was your first subway ride on this podcast? Well, technically it was my second. But the first with your sister. I'm going to get so much shit for that. No, the first with your sister. You're a new New Yorker. It was the first with my sister. Yeah, but also now people have been seeing the news. Guys. Oh, no. I want to live. I love my life. I take the ferry. Sometimes I walk. And I walk further down to Brooklyn. So I'm on the subway for as little time as possible. It's scary. I need to take the ferry with you now that I'm a BK girl.

15:31Exactly. So we're BK girls. But this, we had a really fun, it was for our February issue. And we went down into that subway. We went down. You and Delilah. Yep. It was so fun. Our first Vogue shoot together. Your first Vogue shoot together. We were gossiping about boys the entire time. I have a lot to tell you, by the way. I'm so excited. Off-air conversation. And we had so much fun. You almost touched the ground of the subway. Oh, my God. I was going to just, like, harp on that for a second. Because it's so funny. Because when I'm myself, like, when I'm Amelia, just a girl, First of all, I am so afraid of germs and I don't like being dirty and I don't like weird feelings on my body.

16:16Like I don't like to be all oily and weird and like dirty. But when I'm Amelia Gray at work, nothing matters. Tell me why I was touching every single subway rail. I could have rolled around. You were rolling around. I was. I have video. Yeah, I was rolling around. I touched everything. I would never do that. Delilah laid down. She laid down. I mean, there's some crazy things that I do that I would never do in my real life. Well, the photos came out great, so. And just in case you thought we'd shut down a subway car, there were other riders. Right. We went three stops? Maybe four. Maybe four. Yeah.

16:56It was probably their first time seeing a supermodel and Prada. Right. Yeah. Irene was very nervous that we'd taken the Prada looks and the Burberry look on her sister on the subway. Irene was having a meltdown to the clothes. Yeah, I was like, sometimes you sit on the subway and you sit on water. No, we took some clean carts. But it's also interesting because I'm so shy in my real life. I'm like, I don't want people looking at me and I don't want to cause a scene and I don't like trespassing or doing things that aren't right. But then it's like, here I am on the subway. I mean, I did a way crazier thing than the subway last week in Paris where I was painted gold head to toe naked at the Pompidou Museum.

17:38And I had to go to Gautier in an hour. And now I'm painted gold. And I ran through the Pompidou Museum with Louis Vuitton myrkami bags covering my boobs. Okay. There were people in the museum. There were children. And I'm pretty sure I traumatized them. And everyone saw that. But to me, when I'm at work, nobody's watching me. And I don't care. You're in the zone. I'm in the zone. You're in a character. But if that was like my real life, painted gold naked, I would have cried. It's a weird way to go to a museum if you're just like strolling through on a Sunday. Right. But no judgment. I mean, you do you.

18:10Speaking of children you haven't traumatized and characters you've played. When we were on that shoot, I heard a really cute story that you saw Candice Swanepoel's kids. And they had seen a picture of you. As Violet from The Incredibles. Oh, my God. And Candice was showing her son a picture of me on the plane being like, this is who we're going to work with, whatever. and it was the violet picture of me. And he was like, Mommy, does she have superpowers? So he came up to me and he was like, do you have your superpowers with you? And I was like, you know, I need my suit to have my invisible bubble powers.

18:52But next time I promised him that next time I see him, I will have my suit and my powers. So Candace, I can never see your son again. It's off the table. Yes. That is the cutest story ever. That's so cute. But maybe next Halloween you can dress up and go. Right, yeah. I need to, like, figure out the superpower part. But, yeah. A little time. A little time.

19:17The Run-Through will be back in just a moment.

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20:00Do you have a Valentine, Amelia? Maybe. Yeah? Maybe. Drop some pins. Yes. The thing about this industry is it's very adjacent, similar to high school. Yeah. And I went to an all-girls school, and I kept thinking to myself, why did I go to an all-girls school? Like, what was my lesson? in going to an all-girls school because I really hated that. And now I realize it was to prep me for the all-girls school that is my life, which is great. But I think that it's interesting navigating this industry because it's similar to high school in the sense that you feel like you need to be friends with all the people at your school and you need to sit with the cool girls at lunch.

20:43And I did that. I did that. I've dated people in the industry. I'm very private about my dating life after one situation that I had. So I learned a lot. But, you know, I don't think I'll ever do that again. It's hard. The overlap. You have to go to school with them again. And, you know, we change in front of each other. And that's really awkward when you're broken up with someone to see them naked and have them see you naked. So that's interesting. Yeah. This industry is very interesting. And it definitely forces an issue. Yeah. And, you know, just the people from the outside have no idea. No.

21:27Like sometimes I'm just like the comments that I get on TikTok and the things, I'm just like, you guys have no idea. Oh, I love. And it's important to find someone who also travels a lot, I feel, because it's really hard to be in a relationship when you're the only person leaving. because that's like a whole weird guilt thing. And like you just need someone that's as busy as you, if not busier. And so I'm not the only one leaving or unable to participate, which is really nice. And I think it's just all about, yeah, finding someone who has a similar life to you, but that isn't a model. Okay. Good advice.

22:05I like that. I mean, you're very introspective and very positive, which I really appreciate Because I think as a model and as someone who works in fashion, it's a – I don't want to say it's a negative industry, but it is a small world, right? And it is a bit of a clicky girl school sometimes. Very much. Not just the girls. But I think it's really important to keep such a positive attitude and I appreciate your positive attitude. Thank you, Willow. Is there anything that you do to keep that up? Because I'm sure not every day is some beams and roses. No, it can be hard. You know, I think that a support system, a beautiful support system, a positive support system is so important.

22:48And I'm really blessed to have such a strong, beautiful group of amazing women around me. My mom raised me and it was so annoying growing up. Like, think positively, think positively, think positively. And sometimes I was like, but mom, I'm angry. It's not a good day. I don't want to. There's little things that I say to myself that I do, rituals that I have to keep on track. And I think that, you know, rejection is hard for anyone in any industry. But I think it's all about perspective. In my career, I've always been a yes person, right? So if you say yes to doing things, you tend to learn new skills that you don't even know exist.

23:29I'm a big yes person and it gets me in trouble sometimes. Sometimes my agents are like, girl, why are you bold in the pumpy-doo naked? you have an hour to get to the show we gotta get that gold off it was a whole thing three people had to help me shower i showered in the security quarters of my pampy do it was like intense but you still made it i need to write a book no kidding because i have done some weird stuff yeah and then i had to go to the doctor yesterday because turns out i'm like allergic to whatever they put on me the gold pain yes oh no it's like really toxic and scary yeah i mean i used what i I mean, I think they used one that was fine, but I don't know.

24:07Like paint? Like the Wizard of Oz has some crazy stories about being gold. And I didn't really think about it in the moment. They also asked to paint me silver at the end of the shoot. On top of the gold? By that time it was 3 a.m. And it was the last day. That was like a couple days ago. Yeah, anyways. Yeah, I do some crazy things. Would you ever have cameras follow you around? You know, it would make for a great reality show. but I think it's not my it's not my path in this life for now at least I think it's almost interesting that people don't really know my personality and I like that like people have so many ideas of me on the internet which we could go into for hours and it's so it's weird when people try to tell you who you are and it's scary because sometimes you can start believing it especially in a case that I've had for the past couple of years that have a lot to do with my eyebrows.

25:06Really? I love that you don't know. I have no idea. I'm so sorry. Irene knows. She's nodding. Irene, everyone knows. And that has been, what was I talking about? I don't know, but that has been really hard for me being told who I am and being told that I do things and no, no, no, because you can really start to believe these people. and like I don't know I like to keep my personality and my heart private because people are so mean but it's also almost like this fun little game like everyone thinks that I'm gonna be so horrible and like diva on set or like when they meet me and then people meet me and it's like I have this opportunity to change their mind about me because everything that they had in their head was like this false, made-up, just, like, perspective of me that doesn't exist.