Nicole Richie has penned a touching tribute to her close friend Hilary Duff, highlighting their unique bond that transcends past romantic connections. In a feature for Time magazine, which named Duff one of its 100 Most Influential People of 2026, Richie reflected on a friendship that has flourished for nearly a decade.
"Hilary Duff has been my friend for about seven years," Richie shared, "but in the minds of millennials everywhere, she's been our friend for most of our lives."
The 44-year-old designer and actress described experiencing a "collective surge of serotonin" alongside fans when Duff, 38, released her album Luck... or Something earlier this year. She praised Duff's ability to inhabit both nostalgic and contemporary spaces, writing that her friend "reminds us of a time that felt safe and full of possibility" while having "grown up, unapologetically."
Richie marveled at Duff's capacity to balance motherhood—raising four children while co-parenting with ex-husband Mike Comrie and sharing parenting duties with husband Matthew Koma—with leading a pop music resurgence and maintaining an active social life.
"She's the girl we danced with in our bedrooms then and the woman we all want to have dinner with now," Richie wrote, describing Duff as "grounded, glowing and fully herself."
The friendship between Richie and Duff is particularly notable given that Duff previously dated Richie's now-husband, Joel Madden, from 2004 to 2006. Despite this history, the two have developed what Duff describes as a "lowkey" but consistent friendship.
"We actually hang out all the time," Duff revealed during a 2023 appearance on Watch What Happens Live. "I was just in her driveway honking for her to come drink wine with us the other day."
Richie concluded her tribute by quoting one of Duff's iconic lyrics, writing, "I'm letting the rain fall down, and my hair down, and feeling Mature through it all."