In a surprising revelation that offers a glimpse behind the curtain of Disney's star-making machine, Hilary Duff has disclosed she was once approached to guide the careers of two future superstars during their formative years.
The Lizzie McGuire icon, who rose to fame in the early 2000s, confirmed during a recent podcast appearance that Disney Channel executives had asked her to become a mentor to both Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato as they embarked on their own journeys to stardom.
The Weight of Responsibility
"I was asked to mentor them, and I was like, 'No, I don't want to mentor anybody. I'm literally a child mentoring another child,'" Duff candidly explained during her conversation on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast.
Despite being only a few years older than both Gomez and Lovato, who were then starring in Wizards of Waverly Place and Sonny with a Chance respectively, the production team saw Duff as the ideal candidate to guide the newcomers through the complexities of child stardom.
Navigating Young Fame
Reflecting on that period, Duff acknowledged the immense pressure that comes with early fame, noting that "it's a lot to put on a kid" to navigate such a high-profile career while still developing personally.
The actress and singer, who was approximately 17 or 18 at the time she was approached, recognized the absurdity of expecting one teenager to guide others through an experience they were all still processing themselves.
Different Paths to Success
Despite declining the formal mentoring role, all three stars have achieved remarkable success in their respective careers. Gomez and Lovato have become global music sensations alongside their acting achievements, while Duff has maintained a successful career in television and music.
Duff's honest reflection provides fascinating insight into the inner workings of the entertainment industry and the unusual expectations sometimes placed on young performers.
