Hilary Duff Had One Rule For Her Sports Illustrated Shoot

Hilary Duff may have landed the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2026, but the actress and singer made one thing clear from the start. She wasn’t doing bikinis. The 38-year-old mother of four recently opened up about setting boundaries for the shoot and why feeling comfortable in her own skin mattered more than baring it all.

During an appearance on “Not Gonna Lie” with Kylie Kelce, Duff reflected on her early conversations with the Sports Illustrated team and revealed she had one major request. “It was great to have conversations with them and be like, ‘Hey, I’m not going to wear a bikini,’” Duff explained.

The former Disney Channel star said motherhood played a big role in how she approached the shoot. “Like, I have had four kids. I feel comfortable showing this. I don’t feel comfortable showing this,” she continued, adding that the magazine team was immediately understanding. “And they’re like, ‘Got it. Got it. Got it.’”

Duff Admits Her First Reaction Was Panic

While the cover ultimately became a confidence boost, Duff admitted her first reaction to the opportunity was far less glamorous. The actress said she found out she landed the cover while driving to pick up her kids from school, and instantly began second-guessing herself. “My first reaction was like, ‘Sh-t. I thought I’d get in, like, rip-roaring shape,’” Duff admitted. “And I’m also like, I’m not a model. I’m 5’2. I’ve had four kids.”

What ultimately eased her nerves, however, was the environment on set. According to Duff, the shoot was largely female-led, and she was surrounded by a trusted glam team that helped her feel comfortable throughout the experience. “The editor-in-chief is incredible. The photographer was who I wanted. It got to be my whole styling team, my hair and makeup,” she said. “They wanted me to feel my best.”

Hilary Duff Says Motherhood Changed How She Sees Her Body

Duff posed for the cover in a plunging white one-piece swimsuit while shooting in South Caicos for photographer Kat Irlin. Though the shoot was fast-paced, taking place during a whirlwind one-day trip on the night of the Super Bowl, Duff described the experience as freeing.

“My body’s worked really hard for me and produced an entire family,” she said, before also admitting that each pregnancy has helped her find more peace with the physical changes that come with motherhood, saying she’s found “a little bit more ease” in the process.

Duff shares the 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover alongside Alix Earle, Tiffany Haddish, and Nicole Williams English.

Duff Is Also Entering A New Era Of Music

The Sports Illustrated milestone comes during a major comeback year for Duff. Earlier this year, the actress released her sixth studio album, “Luck … Or Something,” marking her first new album in more than a decade.

Next month, Duff is set to launch her global “The Lucky Me Tour,” where fans can expect a mix of nostalgic favorites and brand-new tracks. “I’m so excited for the scale to change,” Duff 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.”

She continued, “But I just feel like I know what I’m doing and kind of got my reps in. Now I’m ready for more. I’m ready for my set list to change. I’m ready to surprise people with some of the songs that I’m going to be singing and my new music.”

Hilary Duff Says Her Old Hits Still Mean Everything To Fans

During her “Small Rooms, Big Nerves” tour, Duff performed fan-favorite hits like “Wake Up,” “So Yesterday,” “With Love,” “Why Not,” and “Come Clean.” She also performed “What Dreams Are Made of” from “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” live for the first time.

“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.”