Hilary Duff Just Became a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Model

When Hilary Duff said goodbye to Lizzie McGuire, she didn’t just shelve the Disney days—she fully reinvented herself. And on Tuesday, the publication Sports Illustrated made it official: the former child star is now a cover model for the legendary Swimsuit Issue.

The announcement hit with a set of behind-the-scenes shots that showed the 38-year-old actress and singer in her element during a shoot in South Caicos, photographed by Kat Irlin. This isn’t just a throwaway credit either. Duff is one of four cover stars for the 2026 edition, alongside Alix Earle, Nicole Williams English, and Tiffany Haddish—a lineup that signals Sports Illustrated’s commitment to featuring women who’ve built careers far beyond the traditional model-influencer lane.

MJ Day, SI Swim editor, captured the mission perfectly:“Our four cover models—Hilary Duff, Alix Earle, Tiffany Haddish and Nicole Williams English—redefine what you might expect from the SI Swimsuit Issue, and that’s exactly what makes this moment so exciting.”The goal, Day explained, isn’t sameness but the opposite. These women bring“relevance, resilience and range that extend far beyond what the world expects of them.”

For Duff specifically, this moment represents another chapter in her serious comeback arc. She’s been busy with new music and a tour, making it crystal clear that her brand has evolved. She’s not banking on nostalgia—she’s building something entirely new. The fact that Sports Illustrated tapped her for this honor shows that mainstream culture is ready to see her as more than just a’90s kid who made good.

The full 2026 issue will feature even more star power, with names like Nina Agdal, Napheesa Collier, Sophie Cunningham, Livvy Dunne, Bethenny Frankel, Camille Kostek, Brooks Nader, and others filling the pages. When the print edition drops later this month, these magazines are going to move fast. And Duff’s cover? That’s the one everyone will be talking about.