You’ve certainly heard of Rome Flynn—the Emmy-winning actor, accomplished musician and NBA All-Star MVP. Undeniably, his accolades speak with conviction. However, Flynn’s presence doesn’t need to announce itself—there’s no scramble for validation, no rehearsed Hollywood gloss—just an unflinching sense of direction, delivered in that smooth Chicago cadence that makes everything sound more deliberate.

“I’m just trying to vibrate at a high frequency,” he shares with MOD, not as a line, but as a philosophy. As MOD’s first-ever male cover star, Flynn reveals how he moves through fame with the discipline of an athlete and the restraint of an artist, constantly balancing dualities: actor and musician, public figure and private man, form and feeling.

There’s a quiet precision to Flynn, a composure that feels both magnetic and measured, like someone who’s learned that power is most potent when it’s calm. His journey to success wasn’t pre-plotted, and perhaps that’s what makes his philosophy so potent. When asked about the pressure to choose his next move, he offers a powerful perspective that shifts the entire paradigm. “You know, I don’t look at it as pressure,” he shares. “But as I navigate through my career, which is a luxury in any sense, I’m always just navigating with the highest level of optimism and trying to just vibrate at a high frequency with decisions that I make. So, I don’t necessarily worry about the outcome of things that I try to pursue. I just try to go after things that drive me and give me purpose.” There it is, purpose.

Flynn shares that he entered the entertainment world without “any real understanding of it” and this meant no preconceived notions about how things should work, allowing him to take challenges head-on. Specifically, recognizing early on that the entertainment business is “so unconventional,” he didn’t chase a rigid career path. Instead, Flynn built his mindset on possibility.

“I always felt like every step that I took toward my career, [and] in my career, ultimately leads me to where I’m supposed to be.” It is precisely this optimism coupled with a hunger to learn more that keeps taking Flynn further. “I just have so much to give still,” he shares, “and I think that that won’t ever change, hopefully.”

Certainly even the most optimistic face obstacles. Flynn speaks candidly about the limitations he faces as an actor of color, acknowledging that the industry is not equal. “I don’t think that every actor is created equal. There’s a lot of things at play. There’s things in the sense of who you know, your demographic, [and] all these different things.” This reality means his career decisions are made with deep intention. “The kind of career that I want to have? I have to make decisions that ultimately lead to the future version of myself [that I want],” he explains. “This means that sometimes I have to be patient, and then, [hopefully there are the times] when things actually click.”

In terms of Flynn’s career—there is a beautiful inherent duality in his commitment to his various passions. While many creatives struggle to transition between two demanding fields, Flynn approaches acting and music, with a clear, almost spiritual respect for each craft. “I think they serve two different parts of me creatively,” he explains. “I think the process I’ve created for myself is that there’s no way for me to halfway commit to a character and then also commit to making music creatively. I’ve tried it. It’s a difficult balance. And I think what happens is that I rob myself of being present in the opportunity of these projects and these things that I have been given the chance to do.” So, rather than try to do everything at once, Flynn recognizes the importance of giving himself the necessary space and time to honor each opportunity fully.

“When I’m doing music, I have to create the space for that. I have to be intentional about doing that because if I don’t, it just won’t happen naturally.” In fact, Flynn views the two facets of the industry—acting and music—as operating on different industry clocks.

“With acting, it’s very much almost a flash in a pan. You have to acknowledge there are certain momentums in acting… that you have to capitalize on,” Flynn shares. “[Whereas] I’ve put out music periodically,—maybe one or two songs a year… [and] I feel like music is a lot less forgiving [than acting]. With music, you can take more of your time and build perspective.”

Speaking of perspective, we pivot to a discussion around its role in fashion. “I think with fashion, it’s so subjective [and] what determines what you believe is luxury depends on what your perspective is,” Flynn says. To him, true luxury is owning your choice, regardless of external validation. “It’s more about actually acknowledging what I’m wearing that makes it important to me and less about the brand.” Coming from an athletic background, it makes sense that Flynn prioritizes dressing mostly for comfort. However, even though his personal style, despite being refined, is built on a foundation of comfort and simplicity, he views himself as a “chameleon” who can adapt to any look. His closet staples though? None other than a trusty plain black and/or white shirt.

As for roles that have impacted his style, Flynn points to the Godfather of Harlem. “A lot of the clothes that I wore on that show were vintage clothes. It does put you in that time period once you put this stuff on.” The clothes, he says, truly “set the table for me to approach playing the character.” Fittingly, Flynn points to 60s fashion as a favorite because it was a “unique style.” “When you see someone who was wearing something from the 60s or 70s, you know it’s from that time period,” he says laughing.

When we shift to the topic of social media, we discuss its undeniable dichotomy—value vs. harm. Flynn acknowledges its benefits, which include creating “incredible lives for people” and avenues for creative outlets. “[However] there aren’t really any boundaries [anymore],” Flynn says, continuing, “social media has become a place that is sometimes disingenuous.” Given this, Flynn’s approach to social media mirrors his intentionality in other areas of his life, viewing it as a tool rather than a window. He adds, “The way that the internet works is less about what’s true. It’s more about the way people perceive it.”

In terms of what is next for Flynn, he is most excited for audiences to see his latest work, including a new limited series on Apple TV+, Imperfect Women, starring Kate Mara, Kerry Washington, and Elizabeth Moss. “Its sort of like a murder mystery with an intermonologue,” says Flynn with a chuckle. “That was a lot of fun, we had great chemistry.”

Flynn’s also been working on a passion project called Otra (meaning “another” in Spanish), which is a one-shot musical focused on Latin dancing. The film was an international journey, shot everywhere from Puerto Rico to the sacred lands of the Navajo Nation. “The experience I had filming that was incredible… And when I say musical, it’s not singing, it’s dancing,” reveals Flynn.

Read the full cover story in our Luxury Redefined issue.

Talent: Rome Flynn
Photographed by Mark Clennon
Styled by Nico Amarca
Grooming/Makeup: Colleen Dominique
Manicurist: Brooklynn Rhayne
Photo Assistant: Clarke Wacunza
Styling Assistants: Derek Richmond & Trei Abutin

Rome wears The Valedictorian Tassel Loafer in Nero (Black Suede) by JB Ander