Hilary Duff says posing for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue was both intimidating and deeply empowering. The 38-year-old actress, singer, and mother of four recently opened up about the experience, admitting she initially felt nervous about stepping into the iconic swimsuit spotlight but ultimately embraced the shoot as a celebration of confidence, womanhood, and self-acceptance.
“I’m a mom of four, and I’m not a spring chicken,” Duff told Sports Illustrated. “So, of course, it was flattering.”
While Duff joked that she doesn’t normally “frolic around in a bathing suit,” she said the on-set environment helped transform the experience into something positive and affirming. “It was a little scary, but it was also incredibly empowering,” she explained. “It was a mostly female crew on set, and it really felt like a celebration of women.”
Duff also reflected on how her relationship with her body has evolved over time, particularly after motherhood and years spent in the public eye. “I can look at my body now and appreciate all the things it has done for me,” she said. “I no longer find that I am constantly comparing myself — and that is a better place to exist.”
The former Lizzie McGuire star said that personal growth has extended beyond body image into the way she approaches her career and public life overall. Duff explained that she has become far more intentional about the projects she chooses and less interested in pleasing everyone around her.
“Rather than just saying yes to everything, I think a lot more about what I am doing,” she said. “I’m intentional about what I do.”
According to Duff, authenticity has become the deciding factor behind nearly every professional decision she makes now. “Does this feel authentic? Does it resonate with my life?” she said. “The answers to those things are really important when deciding if I am going to spend my time on something.”
The interview arrives amid Duff’s return to music following an 11-year hiatus. Earlier this year, she released her comeback album Luck… or Something and previously admitted the idea of returning to the music industry felt emotionally risky after stepping away for more than a decade.
“Everyone has a way to tell you how they feel about what you make, and that felt scary,” Duff told Rolling Stone in an earlier interview. “But obviously, I miss performing.”
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