Lauren & Cameron: The Next Chapter
America’s favorite sweethearts, aka, Lauren Speed-Hamilton and Cameron Hamilton, of Netflix’s breakout hit tv show, Love is Blind, are stronger than ever, and we can’t wait for the next chapter of their love story to unfold. Since filming wrapped on the show in November 2018, the couple has been intently focused on working on strengthening their relationship and marriage in meaningful ways. For one, the Hamiltons have welcomed the adorable Mr. Sparkx (an Airedale terrier) to the mix, officially making them doggie parents. Additionally, the two are spending plenty of quality time together cooking, hiking, traveling, or just having quiet date nights in what is now “OUR HOME”, Lauren and Cameron confirm in unison. This year and a half together without the cameras rolling has dutifully prepared them for the monumental moment they’re currently experiencing, including a recent major press tour with their fellow podmates, making rounds in New York and Los Angeles, even having some fun on The Ellen Show.
The couple recently sat down with me to talk about their life post show, and what excites them about the future.
Ralinda: You’re America’s favorite couple. Did you ever see any of this coming?
Lauren: “We hoped that it would be successful and received well, and I don’t think that any of us, including the creators of the show, expected this. We’re talking all over the world in multiple countries — Brazil, South Africa, England, Norway — it’s unreal. The positive support and encouragement have exceeded what we ever imagined. It has been wonderful.”
Ralinda: So, who knew who was “the one” first?
Lauren: “I definitely told Cameron how I was feeling first. I was feeling something I hadn’t felt before in previous relationships. It was a strong connection.”
Cameron: “She told me that she loved me first, but it was fairly mutual. Things evolved pretty quickly.”
The newlyweds adjacent, the Hamiltons, take it all in stride, underscoring the importance of striking a balance with work, play, personal space, time together, and everything in between. Whether you’re watching these two from afar or up close, you can’t help but notice the love, respect, and admiration they have for each other. The two have organically rubbed off on each other, subtly taking on each other’s personas. For example, on the show, we saw firsthand how readily Cameron expressed his affection towards Lauren, whether it was his gentle impromptu kisses or earnest, intent gaze at Lauren — every time she was in his presence. I mean, it’s one of the reasons why we fell in love with Cameron. We saw the way he looked at Lauren, awestruck by her beauty, as if he’s the luckiest man in the world. Well, he is, isn’t he? (May we all find someone who will look at us the way that Cameron looks at Lauren!) These days, Lauren seems to be taking cues from Cameron, where she outwardly shows her affection towards Cameron, even going in for a passionate kiss on the kiss cam at the recent Clippers v. Lakers game at Staples Center (whew, blessing us right before the NBA indefinitely canceled its season). Insert crowd chant: “Go Lauren, that’s your husband!.. You out here winning at life, sis!
Lauren: “I thought I was affectionate until I met Cameron.” He is AFFECTION-ATE with an exclamation point! I feel like in a lot of ways I grew more comfortable with it. At first, it was something I struggled with because I was not used to that much affection all the time.”
Cameron: “We’ve noticed that a lot recently that we’ve definitely rubbed off on each other, everything from little mannerisms, quirks, sayings that we have.”
Also, can we talk about how Cameron’s SWAG levels have gone up like 1000 percent since being married to Lauren? We see Cameron transition right before our eyes, from wearing fitted shirts, jeans, and hemp necklaces in Mexico, to custom fit, tailored suits in bold colors accompanied by fresh pine green J’s — (Yes, I repeat: pine green Jordans)…come all the way through, Cam, What is Life!!!
When I asked Cameron if Lauren has influenced his style, he quickly chimes in, “Yes, absolutely. Part of it is having Lauren as a sounding board for different looks and styles. She encourages things that I like, and lets me know what she likes, so it helps to have a partner that encourages you in all aspects.” Lauren agrees, adding, “We can just support and complement each other.”
A few of the artists the couple has chosen to work with include NYC-based stylist Candace Hokett of CXStyles and LA native designer Brandon Gray of the Grayscale Brand. These Black creatives marveled at the chance to bring eye-catching, innovative, and jaw-dropping ensembles to the couple, making way for Lauren and Cameron to SHOW UP and SHOW OUT serving LEWKS during their whirlwind press junket (straight FIRE!!!).
Ralinda: Was this a conscious choice you both made to give people of color opportunities in spaces where they may have traditionally or historically had more of a challenge to have their work seen? Or, did it happen organically with the creatives you’ve chosen to work with?
Cameron: “I think it’s both. Some are based on Lauren’s personal connections, but obviously we want to support Black businesses as much as possible, and the people we’ve been working with are just great people in general.”
Lauren: “They just do great work. It’s very important for me to highlight people who I’ve known from the past, and that I know do great work. If I’m on this journey, I’m going to bring along people who I know are great and that strive for excellence, because to me, that’s important. However we can shine a light on new designers, we’re definitely here for it!”
I love that this couple supports up-and-coming creatives who may have otherwise not gotten national attention or visibility for their work — add this to reason number 4,080 to love this perfect pairing.
Exactly one month has passed since Love is Blind first aired and when Lauren and Cameron stole our hearts with their instant chemistry and meeting in the pods. Do we even know where’d we be right now had this show not come into our lives? We’ve never been so invested in two people whom we’ve never met before. We cried at their wedding and now look forward to our Lauren and Cameron marriage updates. Speaking of married life:
Ralinda: So, how’s married life been so far?
Lauren: “I’m so happy. The happiest I’ve ever been and it’s wonderful to be on this journey together.”
Cameron: “Married life has been awesome. We’ve been growing our relationship all the time. We’re a great team.”
Our hearts can rest a bit easier knowing that our favorites are indeed still together, enjoying marital bliss. With the recent launch of their YouTube channel, Hangin’ with the Hamiltons (already at 300,000 subscribers), they invite us into their home, where we get a glimpse into their experiences as husband and wife, as well as gaining insight on why Black women are a gift from God! (Believe that!)
Ralinda: What are you hoping for people to take away from watching your journey via the YouTube Channel?
Cameron: “Lauren and I love working together, and I think that’s the best part for me. I love spending time with her in that context, where we get to have fun with each other. So, what we hope to do with that channel is to share the continuation of our development as a couple.”
Lauren and Cameron’s love story resonated so deeply with us, and reflecting on it, I think I know why. In the seemingly dark times we live in, where there is so much uncertainty, social distancing, and quarantining due to COVID-19 (Is your local Costco out of hand sanitizer and toilet paper, too?), we needed something to uplift our spirits and hearts, giving us all the feels inside. We needed something to make us believe in love again, putting smiles on our faces, smiles as big as the emojis we use in our text messages. Who knew that all we needed to restore our faith in humanity was an authentic connection on reality television between two strangers through a wall, no less (cue Drake: “started from the pods, now we here”).
We needed a WIN, and I’m talking about a win without the asterisk next to it, WIN! A win that would go down in the digital era history books. Well, fate brought Lauren and Cameron together, and in turn, they brought all of us together, allowing us to tag along for the ride of our lives (while also trending as Netflix’s #1 show for three consecutive weeks — we did that, y’all)!
2020 may not be off to the start that we’d hoped for, but I think we can confidently agree that one of the best things to happen to us in 2020 is Cameron and Lauren (and, the church says, AMEN!). If we’ve never believed in fairy tale endings before, we now know they can and do come true, as evidenced by two people who met through a modern-day dating experiment in the information age of technology and social media — yep, we’ve got the supporting hashtags to prove it!
In the end, as it turns out, we all got that W that we so passionately rooted for, and we have Lauren and Cameron’s vulnerability and genuineness to thank for that. The W was a win for love, and, well, you knew it was coming, they lived happily ever after, and We Love to See It! Long live the Hamiltons.
Love is Blind is currently streaming on Netflix and recently announced casting has begun for Season II in Chicago. To see all things Lauren and Cameron, subscribe to their YouTube channel, Hangin’ with the Hamiltons.
Ralinda Watts, a native of Los Angeles, is a cultural commentator, educator, speaker and writer who works at the intersection of culture, identity, and diversity, sparking thoughtful conversations on what matters most; authenticity! Connect with me on Instagram & Twitter @ Ralinda Watts
