MOVE OVER, GIGI & BELLA
There’s a hot new sister act in the modeling world: the Hamlins
SO there are these two sisters — the daughters of one of the stars of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” The older sibling is a classic California blonde. The younger one is a brunette with a wicked pout and edgy style. And they’re ready to take the fashion world by storm. Sound familiar? Delilah and Amelia Hamlin are ready to follow in the footsteps of mega models Gigi and Bella Hadid, with whom they have a lot in common. The photogenic daughters of soapopera actress-turned-“RHOBH” firebrand Lisa Rinna and ’ 80s “LA Law” heartthrob Harry Hamlin, Delilah, 19, and Amelia, 16, are auditioning for their first New York Fashion Week shows this week. And they’re giving the Hadids a run for their money — even if the Hamlins insist the similarities are only on the surface. “We’re our own people. We have similar hair colors, and that’s it,” Amelia said. “We really respect and look up to [Gigi and Bella] — they’re such hard workers.” The Hamlin sisters’ Instagram accounts are filled with ultra-glam snaps of them traveling all over the world, from Tokyo to Paris, London to New York. Their look is sporty and sexy and street, with their bellies rarely covered. But these two teens haven’t exactly been living the Hollywood wild-child life. Until recently, Amelia was working at a deli, of all things. “I was making toast, frozen yogurt and tuna salad for customers,” she said. And up until her 18th birthday, Delilah had an 11 p.m. curfew. “My parents really wanted us to be responsible and love ourselves,” she said. “My dad didn’t let me wear makeup until I was 13!” Their parents’ celebrity, the sisters say, wasn’t a big deal. “I didn’t know our parents
were famous,” said Amelia of her younger years. “[Growing up] in Beverly Hills, that’s the norm.”
The girls also don’t give a second thought to the reality-show cameras that follow their mom.
“It’s so normal for us,” said Amelia, who is home-schooled. “Ever since I was 8 we were filming. It’s just our environment now.”
Gigi Hadid began modeling when she was 2 years old, but the Hamlins’ parents didn’t let them model until last year. Since then, their careers have taken off. Delilah walked in Tommy Hilfiger’s fall 2017 show in Los Angeles and Dolce & Gabbana’s fall 2017 outing in Milan. And, as of June, when Amelia joined IMG, they’re both signed to the high-profile agency that also reps the Hadids.
Together, the Hamlins have already been featured in Town & Country and Vogue Taiwan. But they didn’t always dream of being models.
Growing up, Amelia wanted to be an astronaut and Delilah wanted to be a secret agent. One day, in 2015, a bored Delilah asked Amelia to take Polaroids of her in their Beverly Hills back yard. The older sister uploaded them on Instagram, and then a modeling agency messaged her through the app to ask for a meeting. Now, Delilah counts Tyra Banks as one of her biggest inspirations.
“Before I ever wanted to be a model I watched ‘America’s Next Top Model’ — I was insecure then and seeing [host Banks] embrace her [curvy] body was really inspiring,” Delilah said.
Amelia said the sisters’ style has changed since the start of their careers.
“Before, we were putting random colors together, and now we keep it simple and chic,” she said. “We like to be edgy and the only ones in the room wearing what we’re wearing.”
Like most siblings, Amelia and Delilah don’t always get along. In their younger days, Amelia, who’s naturally more outgoing and precocious, would huff at her shy sister.
“We were very different — I secluded myself from everyone and always wanted to play dolls,” Delilah said.
“She’d beg me to play dolls when she was 10 [and I was 7], and I told her there was no way I’d do that,” said Amelia.
But now theyhey say there’s no sibling rivalry, especially when it comes to their careers.
“People always ask if there’s competition [between us],” Amelia said. “No, we’re on the same team. Her accomplishments are my accomplishments.”
Pretty soon, they’ll be temporarily separated. Delilah, who graduated from private Halstrom Academy in LA this past spring, is enrolled at NYU for the spring 2018 semester and will study criminal psychology.
“I like the idea of the city as a campus — I love New York City and I work a lot here so I thought it was the perfect college,” Delilah said.
And she might have a roommate in a couple of years. “She already has a bed for me in her apartment,” said Amelia.