Amelia Gray Hamlin Talks Her Love of ‘Iconic’ Flip Phones and How to Take The Perfect Selfie (Exclusive)
Plus, the rising supermodel, who partnered with Motorola to help introduce its new Razr+, chats with PEOPLE about the Y2K accessories she wants to make happen again
As a kid of the early aughts, Amelia Gray Hamlin definitely owned one thing: a Motorola Razr flip phone.
“It was literally the first phone that I texted on,” the model tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I have vivid memories of sitting on the floor in my parents' bedroom and pressing [a button on the keypad] multiple times to get to the letter of my choice," she remembers of how she would chat with her friends the old-school way.
Now Hamlin, 22, decided to return to her roots and partner with Motorola to welcome its Razr+ phone, an reimagined version of the 2004 original.
“For me, and I think for most people in my generation, the Razr was, and still is, such an iconic statement. It was a part of my childhood and my early adolescence,” she says of why decided to collaborate with the tech company following its new launch. “There’s nostalgia behind it, which is really special.”
Related: Lisa Rinna Cheers On Daughter Amelia Gray Hamlin Walking in Her First Chanel Show: 'Proud Momma'
The new-and-improved Motorola foldable smartphone brings back all the early aughts feels, but with a more modern silhouette. And, it's available in three vibrant futuristic colorways including Glacial Blue, Infinite Black and Viva Magenta, Pantone’s 2023 color of the year.
Out of the phone’s hi-tech features — including its immersive sound system, the Flex View design (allowing the device to stand on its own at multiple angles) and its long-lasting battery life — Hamlin's favorite is the high-definition camera, which includes a photo booth option that collages four photos taken with the front lens.
Hamlin admits that she isn’t “the biggest selfie girl” and instead likes to snap pictures of herself in the mirror (and a scroll through her Instagram feed also shows she’s keen on capturing outfit photos taken backstage at the runway shows she's walked in).
“But,” she notes, “if you're going to do an OG selfie, it's really all about lighting and angles. It's about learning what works for you. Know your face, that's how you take a good selfie."
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The flip phone is just one of the Y2K accessories Hamlin wants to see thrive again. (The trendsetter even styled the icy blue Razr+ with a Marc Jacobs look at this year's Glamour Women of the Year red carpet event.)
She also tells PEOPLE that she hopes rope chokers make a stylish comeback. "I'm already bringing that back as we speak actually,” she says, noting that her outfits growing up were "very Hot Topic-esque.”
It goes to show that Hamlin has been having a blast revisiting the aesthetic as an adult and on her own terms.
“It's been really fun to explore these trends as the person I am today and with the freedom that I have. I think that trends are all about the timing and where you are in your life when they unfold,” she says.
Related: Amelia Gray Hamlin Wears Sheer Nipple-Baring Gown for 2023 CFDA Awards — See Her Daring Look!
There really are no sartorial boundaries for Hamlin, who adds that she would experiment with every fad in the book if she could. “I think it's fun to try to incorporate as many as you can in your everyday life.”
Her habit of hopping from trend to trend fits right in with her “chaotic” approach to dressing.
“I am always navigating my style. I'm a Gemini. I feel like I know myself all too well, but then I feel like I don't know myself at all. It's just constant identity crisis after identity crisis."
And figuring all of that out in the spotlight — a status credited to her catwalk prowess and her famous parents, Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin — has only encouraged her to step outside of the box.
“I'm definitely doing me. If anything, it pushes me to explore out of my comfort zone. It’s always fun to never quite get comfortable with myself.”
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.