A certain photo of Hilary Duff at the gym is once again doing the rounds on social media – but it also comes with some questions.
More than two decades since she made her name as the ultimate Disney teen in Lizzie McGuire, the now-38-year-old actor, singer, and mom of three has found herself trending after a gym photo resurfaced on social media — and fans can’t get over how strong she looks.
The image – originally taken back in 2021 – shows Duff wearing blue leggings, a white vest top, and a face mask as she works out at what’s believed to be a Los Angeles gym. But when the photo was reposted to X (formerly Twitter) by the account Daily Loud, it exploded — racking up nearly 40 million views in just days.
And, thanks to pages like LadBible, the image has once again gone viral on social media.
Why? Well, it’s all done to how jacked the former Disney star is looking – with many social media users crowning her with a new nickname: “Hilary Buff.”
“Nah that’s Hilary Buff,” one meme account declared. Another quipped, “Lizzie McGuire grew up to become G.I. Jane?” while TikToks poured in from nostalgic fans rediscovering their millennial icon.
Another joked: “Miss ma’am, whose Lizzie McGuire is this?”
Of course, this being the internet, the conversation didn’t stop at admiration. Some users questioned whether the photo had been altered – given just how impressively strong the actor-singer was looking and pointing out that Duff’s thighs appeared more muscular than usual.
After social media users did some detective work and found the original image, it was pointed out that the viral pic had been NEEDLESSLY edited – especially around her glutes and quads. I emphasise “needlessly” because Duff is looking absolutely incredible in the original image and no editing should have ever taken place.
As one social media user joked: “Hilary Duff could end any of us at any time. The only reason you draw breath is because she allows it.”
The original unedited images can be seen in the tweet below:
Others took a more practical interest, tweeting things like: “Me emailing Hilary Duff to find out her leg/glute day routine.”
And honestly? They might be onto something.
Duff’s Real-Life Workout Routine
Hilary Duff has been open for years about her approach to fitness — one that focuses less on appearance and more on strength, balance, and health. Speaking to Women’s Health, she said: “[I’m] appreciating my health, doing activities that make me feel strong instead of just bettering the outside of my body. Spending time with people that make me feel good and share similar views on health and body positivity and getting enough sleep and balance in my diet.”
The How I Met Your Father star trains three to four times a week with a personal trainer, often targeting her upper body and correcting muscle imbalances through “complex movements.”
“This is the first time I’ve really trained like that, and it makes such a huge difference, especially with my core and not getting hurt,” Duff told Shape. “I’ll turn [to look] over my shoulder in the car to make sure I can change lanes and I’ll put my neck out.”
She’s also a big believer in lifting weights — something she says every woman should incorporate into her routine. “Lifting weights, as a woman, is really important,” she told Women’s Health. “It’s important for your bones. It’s important for us constantly being on our cell phones and our posture. … I’m not talking like crazy heavy weights. You know, I’m not a bodybuilder. But it is nice to lift weights.”
Beyond the gym, Duff keeps active with her husband, musician Matthew Koma. “About two years ago, I told him, ‘Here’s the deal: We need a sport so we still like each other when the kids leave the house,’” she said. “So now, we ski, which is obviously seasonal. And we play tennis together, which is really fun.”
Duff and Koma share two daughters, Banks Violet, 6, and Mae James, 3, while Duff also co-parents her 12-year-old son Luca Cruz with ex-husband Mike Comrie.
Despite juggling motherhood, acting, and music, she maintains a healthy perspective on her body and self-image. “I’m proud of my body,” she said. “I’m proud that it’s produced three children for me. I’ve gotten to a place of being peaceful with the changes my body has gone through.”
In other words, Hilary Duff doesn’t need to “go viral” to prove she’s thriving — but when she does, the internet will always be there to shout, Hilary Buff is real.
Featured image credit: Instagram/@hilaryduff
