Entertainment

Hilary's Dating Past Is Nostalgia-Inducing

by Maitri Suhas

Hilary Duff is having a moment right now. Her second moment, actually. Obviously, her first round as a sensation was when she played Lizzie McGuire, the coolest girl we wished we knew in real life on the Disney Channel. She was one of the original Disney Channel sweethearts — years before Miley Cyrus was Hannah Montana — and now she's back with a vengeance with her new album Breathe In. Breathe Out, which will be released June 12 that, based on the track list alone, seems to focus pretty heavily on relationships. Sweet girl that she is, Hilary Duff does not have the smoothest relationship history. I mean, she started dating when she was super young, and who knows what they're doing then? I had my first kiss in eighth grade in an English classroom at lunch — everybody gets a pass.

In February 2015, the 27-year-old mother of one reportedly filed for divorce from her husband, hockey player Mike Comrie, and made a Tinder profile not long after. And then she made a Tinder-themed music video not long after that. I hope homegirl is having more luck on the swipe site than I do, but I'm sure she is because she's got a great attitude about love and relationships. Let's reminisce about Duff's past relationships from her Disney days until now, and suggest some potential eligible dudes to move on to next.

Who She's Dated

Aaron Carter

Little did Hilary Duff know that her innocent tween romance would continue to haunt her into 2014. Though everything was all smiles on Lizzie McGuire's Christmas special that featured Carter, Aaron's party soon ended, but his pining did not. The two started dating all the way back in the year 2000 when they were 13 years old. But just last year, he was like, "I still love her, wah wah wah," and Duff was like, "New phone, who dis?"

Shia LaBeouf

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Apparently a dark point in both of the former Disney Channel stars' dating history. Just Jared says the two went on a date in 2011, and LaBeouf later told Details that it was "probably the worst date either of us has ever had." It's unclear whether they met when they were both at peak Disney fame on Lizzie McGuire and Even Stevens, but Disney is a very insular, exclusive club, so it might just be.

Frankie Muniz

This one I wish had lasted. Hilary Duff dated Malcolm in the Middle, which means she probably also met Brian Cranston by proxy. The two starred together in Agent Cody Banks, which is a quality film, if you ask me. They supposedly broke up on May 17, 2004, which was almost exactly 11 years ago for anyone who's counting.

Joel Madden

Girls don't like boys, girls like cars and money, and for some time, Hils liked Joel Madden. The pair was together from the time that Duff was 16 to 19, and Joel was 25 to 28. A lot of nosy Nellies wanted to know if Duff lost her virginity to Madden, and she put a moratorium on the conversation in an interview with Cosmopolitan in March 2015: "I had a 26-year-old boyfriend, so everyone can make their own assumptions about what I was doing."

Mike Comrie

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After a long string of famous relationships gone sour, Duff went north to Canada to find her next boo. She began dating Mike Comrie, an NHL hockey player, in 2007. Eventually the two got married and had a son, Luca, who is now 2 years old. But unfortunately, it just didn't work out, and Duff maintains that the split was amicable. "I just always want to fight for happiness," she told Cosmopolitan . That is one hell of a positive mental attitude.

Who's Next?

Duff seems pretty busy right now, but that doesn't mean she's not diligent on Tinder (or maybe she has an intern to swipe for her) and the bougier, more exclusive Ivy League app. (Invite only, beeyotch.) I just want her to be happy! If she wants to just do her and not date anyone, that's great. But if she wants to take the plunge with her Hil-heart, I have a few suggestions for her. No pressure, though.

Gordo

Aka Adam Lamberg, who was the perfect dude on Lizzie McGuire. He was a true nice guy who managed not to complain about being friend-zoned. Unfortunately Lamberg, now 30, has dropped out of the acting game, but he's a serious developmental associate in New York for the Irish Arts Center. Not bad, dude. Maybe Duff could use someone serious.

Mario Lopez

OMG Lizzie and Slater. I am HERE for this. Look at those blinding smiles.

This Guy

Who's this dude? Not bad. If he got rid of the pencil 'stache. But to each their own.

Go forth and conquer, Hilary. Whether that means the music biz, the dating world, or both, you got this.