Because of this job, I end up reading a lot of gossip/entertainment sites written by straight men. So I’ve always known that Hilary Duff is sort of beloved by dudes-on-the-internet. I get it, to a certain extent – she’s pretty in a wholesome, girl-next-door way. She takes care of herself, she’s always being photographed going to the gym, and she seems like she has a cute personality. But the way dudes go on and on about her… well, I do find it bewildering. But something Hilary says in her Redbook cover profile really struck me. She’s talking about what the LA dating scene is like now that she’s divorced from Mike Comrie and she says: “I never think being single sucks until I go out in L.A. with my girlfriends and the options are terrible. I really attract the old men!” Bam! That clicked something for me. Older dudes like to perv on her. That’s what it is. The world makes sense now. You can see Hilary’s Redbook piece here. Some highlights:
On having more children: “I’ve gotten over the fact that I’m not going to have a baby that’s close in age with Luca. It sucked when everyone would be like, “When are you having another?” I’d be like, “Do you know what’s happening right now? I’m not having another.” You get engaged: “When’s the wedding?” You get married: “When’s the baby?” You have a baby: “When’s the next one?… I’m cherishing the now. Besides, watch: I’ll probably get some evil spawn of Hilary the next time around.
On dealing with mom guilt: “I always feel torn or guilty about something. I’m not working right now, and at first I stressed about that, like, “Oh, I shouldn’t stay still this long.” And that’s ridiculous. I have a child; it’s totally fine to not be slammed all the time. It feels really good to not be on someone else’s schedule—besides Luca’s. I’m basically his chauffeur!
On co-parenting her son, Luca, with ex-husband Mike Comrie: “Some of my friends tell me, “God, it must be so nice, you get a break from your kid because you share him.” I’m divorced, and it sucks. Well, it did suck for a while; now it’s just normal. But it’s true, I do get a break. I had Luca by myself for a few weeks, no help, when Mike was on the road, and when he got home I was like, “He’s yours! Bye!”
On the dating scene: “I never think being single sucks until I go out in L.A. with my girlfriends and the options are terrible. I really attract the old men!
She’s all for leaning out: “As I get older, I feel more comfortable ‘leaning out.’ I don’t need to cram every day full, because I can and because I’m capable. I have worked my whole life.”
I’ll admit that I think those “when is so-and-so going to have another baby?” thoughts too about celebrity women. It’s a weird thing, where we expect women/celebrities to have at least two kids within three years or so. Not every woman is like that. And in Hilary’s case, I think her marriage was probably already in shambles by her son’s first birthday. Anyway, I’m just so happy that the Hilary Duff Attraction Conundrum finally clicked for me: she’s got that bouncy, youthful energy that old dudes love.
Photos courtesy of Eric Ray Davidson/Redbook.
Not a starlet, but can still attest to how hard it is to date (am turning 30)! I am not having any luck on the apps that are popular, and only find waste men.
I mean, is it too much to want a partner that has a job and does not live at home with their parents?
What if they are livng at home to save money to buy a house? I recently came out of a ten year relationship and dating nowadays sucks!
Dating these days is definitely is harder than it used to be. So many people aren’t into actually having a relationship, just the benefits. Hard to find guys in my area because they’re all tourist going to Disney with their wife and kids
@Beth
WAIT
Are those dads on dating apps? Or just the men in the area in general?
@INeedANap, I’ve never used dating apps. So many people I know settle for friends with benefits because they don’t want relationships. I tried a fwb relationship with 1 guy for a few months. Ouch. Now I have my exclusive boyfriend the way I’ve always perfered it to be
Yeah, I hated dating.
Try going to certain concerts. Many bands draw a lot of guys without women as dates.
@Jayna… Speaking as someone who has always been around single guys (growing up w/brothers and raising two of my own), that is great advice!
Sporting events (if you have the interest) are also where single guys would go with buddies – just steer clear of the intoxicated ones.
It is remarkable to me how grounded and sensible she turned out in her adult years even after going through a fade out period with childhood stardom. Major kudos to both Hillary and whoever helped her navigate the fame game.
My husband also actually really likes her lol and he says it’s because she seems very cute and relateable. I think she’s a great mom and she’s doing as much as she can, especially with the situation she’d been handed. i feel for her on the when are you having another thing – I’m married and almost as soon as I had my first people are like SO WHERE IS THE SECOND? It’s so intrusive and insensitive and also none of ANYONE’S business.
Hilary Duff and Emma Watson. Men go crazy for them. It’s odd because I always thought men went for the sexy vixens, but seems now a days they want the “wholesome girl next door” type. I don’t know. Perhaps it’s because they are so used to seeing half naked or well fully naked women all over the place (especially the internet) so the “thrill” has gone for them?
I think it’s the girlishness in their appearance and mannerisms. We enjoy hypersexualizing the idea of female innocence and naiveté because it plays into a power dynamic that forfeits dominance and control to men. Equally creepy and objectifying, but on a more subtle level.
Interesting !
Along with the power dynamic, there’s also the perception that a “wholesome girl next door type” is (1) more attainable and (2) morally better (e.g. “not slutty”).
It’s really gross and creepy.
I think those ladies seem like achievable goals for many dudes. Attractive but not stratospherically so. Like they could date those actresses given the chance. Not actually true but I think it’s part of the fantasy.
She seems non-argumentative and many men love that. Cute “girls” don’t threaten them.
I’m I hate to be the killjoy here but considering her ex-husband and co-parent is facing a rape investigation I think she’s got bigger challenges than her dating woes?
What’s wrong with old men? If it’s not her taste then be it, why label it “terrible dating options”? Not above agism feminists!
The problem is when it’s nothing BUT old men approaching you (and the ones your age run off because they always see some old guy around you and so they think that’s your preference when it’s not).
No ageism was meant by her comments. The problem was that she wasn’t doing the choosing.
A lot of Older men (she’s probably talking 50 year olds but idk) especially older men with money, they definitely think they can get a 30 year old. Any 30 year old not just Hilary. And certainly a 30 year old mom.
Hilary isn’t being mean to older men it’s just most 30 year old women prefer someone in their age range. Just like most 30 year old men do.
There is something about her that rubs me the wrong way.
I like her. If you need a fun fizzy show, catch her on Younger on TVLand. It’s funny and entertaining. She’s good on that show, she seems grounded and realistic in interviews…and she hasn’t had the easiest path. The fact that she’s transitioned from child star to working actor with no known vices is admirable.
I will attest to that. I like a lot of their new shows. Duff wasn’t in it, but Teachers was also great.