Hilary Duff says her move into pop music came from a desire to build an identity beyond Lizzie McGuire. In a recent interview, the singer and actress reflected on how strongly audiences connected her with the Disney character that made her a household name.
Duff explained that after the series ended, music gave her a chance to show a different side of herself. Rather than remain closely tied to one role, she wanted to create something that felt more personal and allowed her to grow in public on her own terms.
Her early albums helped establish that second chapter, with songs that became closely associated with 2000s pop culture. At the same time, separating herself from Lizzie was not always simple. Duff has said that growing older while the character remained frozen in time created an unusual relationship with her own past.
Years later, she has become more comfortable embracing that history. Her return to music now connects those earlier pop years with where she is today, bringing nostalgia and new material together.