Hilary Duff is heading back to Hulu with a brand-new series that promises to mix humor, drama, and a sharp edge. The 37-year-old actress, best known for her iconic role in Lizzie McGuire, has been confirmed to star in Pretty Ugly, a fresh project centered around the cutthroat—and often absurd—world of child beauty pageants.
The show is being adapted by Kirker Butler from his 2015 novel of the same name. According to Deadline, the story follows Miranda Miller (played by Duff), a determined mother whose life revolves around making her ten-year-old daughter Bailey the biggest name in the child pageant circuit.
“Miranda Miller’s mission in life is to make her ten-year-old daughter Bailey the most successful child pageant contestant in the United States. A former teenage pageant queen herself, Miranda dreams of endorsement deals, beauty brands, maybe even a TV show. Bailey, however, wants none of it. She’s been doing pageants since she was three months old and is burned out,” the synopsis reads.
As the description reveals, Miranda refuses to slow down—even while seven months pregnant. She’s already mapping out a future in pageants for her unborn child. Meanwhile, her husband Ray, a nurse with a reckless habit of experimenting with pills, complicates the picture even further after getting the teenage granddaughter of one of his hospice patients pregnant. Adding to the chaos, Miranda’s mother Joan—a lonely widow—cooks up a bizarre scheme of her own, which includes plotting a murder with none other than Jesus. The mix of characters and twisted storylines promises plenty of darkly comedic moments.
“It’s all pretty ugly,” the synopsis concludes.
The series marks an exciting return to Hulu for Duff, who previously headlined How I Met Your Father. That spinoff of the long-running sitcom How I Met Your Mother ran for two seasons between 2022 and 2023 before it was canceled. Despite that setback, Duff remains a fan favorite, consistently praised for her charisma, comedic timing, and ability to carry a show.
For fans, Pretty Ugly is shaping up to be an intriguing next step in Duff’s career, showcasing her in a role that’s both over-the-top and grounded in real, messy family dynamics. It also marks another entry in Hulu’s growing lineup of unconventional, risk-taking comedies.
