Hilary Duff Shines at 38: Graces Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition Cover with Confidence

Hilary Duff proudly graces the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit edition for the first time at 38 years old.

Known for her role as Lizzie McGuire, Duff stuns in a deep-cut ivory swimsuit on the magazine’s cover, which will be available on Thursday. Her appearance marks an exciting milestone in her career.

In a candid conversation with the magazine, Duff expressed her mixed feelings about the experience, saying, “I’m a mom of four, and I’m not a spring chicken. I don’t typically frolic around in a bathing suit, so it was a little scary.” Despite this, she found the opportunity to be on such a renowned cover “flattering.”

Within the magazine, readers can also find Duff striking poses in a sleek black bikini and a vibrant red one-piece, showcasing her confidence and style.

Inside the publication’s pages, Duff is also seen sizzling in a black bikini and an eye-catching red one-piece. 

Duff is mom to son Luca, 14, as well as daughters Banks, seven, Mae, five, and Townes, who turns two next month. 

Hilary Duff has landed a major magazine cover that is very coveted in Hollywood that was photographed by Kat Irlin

The Lizzie McGuire actress posed in a plunging ivory bathing suit for the summer 2026 cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition

The Swimsuit Edition features multiple covers, with  Alix Earle, Tiffany Haddish and Nicole Williams English also featured on the front of the new edition. 

Meanwhile, Olandria Carthen and Gabi Moura, Christen Goff, Katie Austin, Jena Sims, Jasmine Sanders and Ellie Thumann are also featured inside the issue.

Landing on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swim is one of the modeling world’s top honors. 

Past stars include Salma Hayek, Elle Macpherson, Brooks Nader, Paulina Porizkova and Christie Brinkley.

Duff’s cover comes in the midst of her comeback year.  

In February, the star released her first album in more than a decade, and this summer she will be on her The Lucky Me tour, where she will sing some of her old hit songs.

‘I’m so excited for the scale to change,’ Duff previously told People.

‘There is something so sweet about getting to see everyone’s face, and being so intimate and close with everyone — and it was really a great way for me to start and build confidence — but I just feel like I know what I’m doing and kind of got my reps in.’

‘Of course it was flattering,’ she told the publication. ‘I’m a mom of four, and I’m not a spring chicken. I don’t typically frolic around in a bathing suit, so it was a little scary’

At the 2026 TIME100 Gala in New York in April

‘What’s been so fun about the live shows is realizing how much the old songs mean to people,’ Duff said. 

‘A lot of those songs just live rent-free in my head, so it’ll be nice for the other music to catch up and join the mix.’

Reflecting on how she and her assistant figured out the schedule, she told People: ‘It’s been a lot of logistics that can seriously bend a brain, but it’s going to be an adventure.

Alex Earle wore a nude-toned string bikini in a shoot by Ruven Afanador

Nicole Williams English had a pale mint green bathing suit on as she was on a beach

English, who was on the show WAGS, was snapped by Ben Watts, the brother of Naomi Watts

Tiffany Haddish modeled an orange bikini over a yellow swimsuit while in the water

‘All of these cities have so much to offer, and I feel like there would be no other time when my kids would see the U.S. like this, so we’re just thinking of it as a big, long road trip.

‘And hopefully, they don’t get bored with seeing my show every night. [laughs]’

The singer and actress will also be performing classic tracks alongside tunes from her new album Luck… or Something.

She revealed her daughters will likely ‘be there most of the time’, but her eldest child, teenager Luca, won’t be forced into the same schedule.

‘[He’s] a teenager, so he’s not going to be giving me four weeks of his summer. But he’ll be bopping in and out, for sure,’ she stated. 

The tour kicks off with a show in West Palm Beach, Florida, on June 22, and Hilary will perform across the US, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

As it stands, the final show of the run is set for Mexico City, Mexico, in January 2027.