Hilary Duff is one of four cover stars of the 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, the magazine announced Tuesday.
The 38-year-old actress, singer and mother of four was photographed by Kat Irlin in South Caicos for her debut in the annual edition. Duff appears alongside comedian Tiffany Haddish, influencer Alix Earle and model Nicole Williams English on separate covers of the issue, which celebrates “relevance, resilience and range.”
Duff wore a plunging cream-colored one-piece by OYE Swimwear in one of the cover images, part of a sun-soaked gallery that also features cutout bikinis and retro glamour looks. The former Disney Channel star, known for “Lizzie McGuire,” recently released her album “luck … or something” and has been open about body confidence after four pregnancies.
“I’m a mom of four and I’m not a spring chicken,” Duff told SI Swimsuit. “So, of course it was flattering. … I don’t typically frolic around in a bathing suit, so it was a little scary.” She added that she now appreciates her body “and that is a better place to exist.”
The announcement quickly drew widespread reaction on X, formerly known as Twitter, where fans celebrated the news with nostalgia and praise. Many called it a full-circle moment for the Y2K-era icon who grew up on their screens.
“Peak ‘Y2K icon never left, she just upgraded,’” one user wrote alongside photos from the shoot. Others posted images with captions like “Hilary Duff slaying the 2026 SI Swimsuit cover” and “she looks absolutely smoking,” racking up thousands of likes and views within hours. Fans described the cover as “surreal” and “empowering,” especially for a mother of four who has spoken publicly about body image.
Media outlets including TMZ, Page Six and People shared the images, amplifying the buzz. Some users highlighted the “full-circle” aspect, noting Duff’s evolution from child star to confident cover model.
SI Swimsuit editor MJ Day praised Duff’s career in a statement, calling it “its own form of quiet rebellion” marked by reinvention, confidence and grace.
Digital galleries from the 2026 issue are available now on the SI Swimsuit website, with print editions available for preorder. The issue features 34 models photographed across locations including South Caicos and Botswana.
Flip the pages for the photos of Hilary Duff in SI.
