Inside Hilary Duff’s MANY tattoos: Secrets behind the star’s 26 inkings revealed after baring all

More than two decades after soaring to fame portraying goody two-shoes Lizzie McGuire on Disney Channel, Hilary Duff has proved her love for tattoos is more than teenage rebellion. 

After suffering a ‘horrifying’ eating disorder at 17, which caused her to wither down to an unhealthy 98 pounds, the actress confidently bared her heavily-inked body, which she has praised for helping her ‘build a beautiful family.’

On her quest to find peace in her own skin, the Younger star, 34, has gone under the needle to obtain at least 26 tats, many of which hold a special meaning to her. 

Here, DailyMail.com takes a look inside the mother-of-three’s extensive inkings, that range from sentimental and playful to ‘really’ having no meaning at all.

Tiny tattoo lover: Hilary Duff showcased her heavily-inked body on the cover of Women’s Health Australia

1. Black bear 

Duff opted to unveil her latest tattoo of an American black bear, this week, on the January 2023 cover of Women’s Health Australia.

The latest addition, permanently etched onto her hip bone, features a realistic-looking bear laying down. 

While she has yet to explicitly say what inspired the piece of ink, bears are often seen as symbols of strength, courage and tenacity

As a mother, she may feel a connection to how bears never stand down when their cubs are put in harm’s way. 

Fierce: Duff opted to unveil her latest tattoo of an American black bear, this week, on the January 2023 cover of Women's Health Australia

Fierce: Duff opted to unveil her latest tattoo of an American black bear, this week, on the January 2023 cover of Women’s Health Australia

2. Post-it note

In May, while gracing the cover of Women’s Health May/June in the buff, the Come Clean singer displayed a Post-it note, featuring a smiley face on it.

She called the tattoo a ‘daily reminder to remember all the things’ she has in her life that make her happy. 

It is located on the back of her right arm, several inches above her elbow.  

Symbol of optimism: In May, while gracing the cover of Women's Health May/June in the buff, the Come Clean singer displayed a Post-it note, featuring a smiley face on it

Symbol of optimism: In May, while gracing the cover of Women’s Health May/June in the buff, the Come Clean singer displayed a Post-it note, featuring a smiley face on it

3.  ‘Ma Petite Amie’ 

Additionally, she has a rarely photographed tattoo of the French phrase, ‘Ma Petite Amie’ (which translates to ‘my girlfriend’) on the right side of her ribcage. 

She was first spotted rocking the term of endearment on her back on a vacation to Hawaii while rocking a black bikini in 2009. 

Symbol of optimism: In May, while gracing the cover of Women's Health May/June in the buff, the Come Clean singer displayed a Post-it note, featuring a smiley face on it

Symbol of optimism: In May, while gracing the cover of Women’s Health May/June in the buff, the Come Clean singer displayed a Post-it note, featuring a smiley face on it

4. ‘Mother’ 

On the same issue, Duff debuted the word ‘mother’ on the back of her neck in black script.

She got the piece of ink done by tattoo artist Victoria Do of the New York-based Bang Bang Tattoo, last year, after giving birth to her third child.

The performer shares two daughters, Bank, four, and Mae, one, with her husband Matthew Koma as well as her son Luca, 10, from her past marriage to Mike Comrie.

Parental pride: On the same issue, Duff debuted the word 'mother' on the back of her neck in black script

Parental pride: On the same issue, Duff debuted the word ‘mother’ on the back of her neck in black script

5. ‘Luca’ 

Her ‘mother’ tattoo came years after she got her eldest’s name on her right wrist in cursive. 

Luca is Duff’s only son and child from her first marriage, which lasted from 2010 to 2016. 

In March, while celebrating his tenth birthday, she gushed on Instagram that her little boy is ‘magic’ and watching him grow up has been her ‘pleasure.’ 

Inked: Her 'mother' tattoo came years after she got her eldest's name on her right wrist in cursive

Inked: Her ‘mother’ tattoo came years after she got her eldest’s name on her right wrist in cursive

6. ‘Take Foundation’

In addition to being inspired by her children, Duff felt called to get ‘Take Foundation’ on her body after Bette Davis said that was her piece of advice to aspiring actresses to Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show.

‘At first I thought, ‘I hope that people don’t think that the idea behind it is taking a shortcut,’ she previously told Refinery29 of its meaning. 

She continued: ‘It’s brilliant. And I have been there, trying to get to three auditions in one day and just stuck on Santa Monica Boulevard. The meaning for me was not taking the main road, so it is funny, but it also has a little more meaning to me.’ 

Fountain is an avenue that leads to Hollywood quicker than Santa Monica Boulevard or Sunset Boulevard. 

Good advice: Fountain is an avenue that leads to Hollywood quicker than Santa Monica Boulevard or Sunset Boulevard

Good advice: Fountain is an avenue that leads to Hollywood quicker than Santa Monica Boulevard or Sunset Boulevard

7. A swallow

Duff’s sixth tattoo is a swallow on her forearm, which she got at the Shamrock Social Club in Hollywood in 2012. 

Earlier this year, she revealed it ‘doesn’t really mean anything’ but is ‘probably’ one of her most favorite tattoos. 

The bird is historically bearers of good luck and symbolize peace and wanderlust.

One of her favorites: Duff's sixth tattoo is a sparrow on her forearm, which she got at the Shamrock Social Club in Hollywood in 2012

One of her favorites: Duff’s sixth tattoo is a sparrow on her forearm, which she got at the Shamrock Social Club in Hollywood in 2012

8. A butterfly 

Among her other less frequently seen tattoos is a butterfly on her left hip, which made a rare sighting inside the pages of Women’s Health. 

While posing nude in a large bathtub, fans caught a glimpse of Duff’s tiny butterfly, which may be a nod to her second studio album, Metamorphosis.

She has never publicly confirmed its meaning.  

Nod to her music? Among her other less frequently seen tattoos is a butterfly on her left hip, which made a rare sighting inside the pages of Women's Health

Nod to her music? Among her other less frequently seen tattoos is a butterfly on her left hip, which made a rare sighting inside the pages of Women’s Health

9. ‘BK’ 

While living in Brooklyn during shooting for her hit series, Younger, Duff and her pal, Lauren, got matching ‘BK’ tattoos. 

Twnning: While living in Brooklyn during shooting for her hit series, Younger, Duff and her pal, Lauren, got matching 'bk' tattoos

Twnning: While living in Brooklyn during shooting for her hit series, Younger, Duff and her pal, Lauren, got matching ‘bk’ tattoos

10. Saturn

She also has matching designs of the planet, Saturn, with her Younger co-star Molly Bernard, who is the godmother of her daughter Banks. 

Out of this world: She also has matching designs of the planet, Saturn, with her Younger co-star Molly Bernard, who is the godmother of her daughter Banks

Out of this world: She also has matching designs of the planet, Saturn, with her Younger co-star Molly Bernard, who is the godmother of her daughter Banks

11. Roses

On her left inner arm, the How I Met Your Father actress got two roses from Dr. Woo in 2016. 

At the time, she talked about her permanent body art on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. 

‘I think that part of me loves tattoos and part of me doesn’t want the full commitment of getting to see them all the time,’ she confessed. ‘So when my arms are down I look just like a normie and when my arms are out I look super hardcore like a gangster.’

Flower power: On her left inner arm, the How I Met Your Father actress got two roses from Dr. Woo in 2016

Flower power: On her left inner arm, the How I Met Your Father actress got two roses from Dr. Woo in 2016

12. An arrow through crescent moon

Duff has a faded arrow and crescent moon piece on the inside of her arm with a few tiny stars around it. 

Constellations: Duff has a faded arrow and crescent moon piece on the inside of her arm with a few tiny stars around it

Constellations: Duff has a faded arrow and crescent moon piece on the inside of her arm with a few tiny stars around it

13. Tiny red heart

On her left wrist, she has a small, simple red heart.  

Simple: On her left hand, she has a small red heart; seen in 2013

Simple: On her left hand, she has a small red heart; seen in 2013

14. ‘Stand by me’

The beauty got ‘stand by me’ tattooed on her inner right elbow, sometime around 2010. 

The beauty got "stand by me' tattooed on her inner right elbow, sometime in her early twenties (seen in 2010)

The beauty got ‘stand by me’ tattooed on her inner right elbow, sometime in her early twenties (seen in 2010)

15. ‘Ride or die’ ghosts 

Duff and her longtime pal Alanna Masterson got matching tattoos of ghosts with ‘ride or die’ under them. 

Boo! Duff and her longtime pal Alanna Masterson got matching tattoos of ghosts with 'ride or die' under them

Boo! Duff and her longtime pal Alanna Masterson got matching tattoos of ghosts with ‘ride or die’ under them

16. ‘Let It Be’

Duff has the name of the The Beatles’ hit track from 1970, ‘Let It Be,’ on her foot.

The Beatles fan: Duff has the name of the hit track from 1970, 'Let It Be,' on her foot; seen above in 2016

The Beatles fan: Duff has the name of the hit track from 1970, ‘Let It Be,’ on her foot; seen above in 2016

17. ‘Thick as Thieves’

Duff and her sister Haylie both have ‘Thick as Thieves’ in cursive tatted on their arms. 

Sisterhood: Duff and her sister Haylie both have 'Thick as Thieves' in cursive tatted on their arms

Sisterhood: Duff and her sister Haylie both have ‘Thick as Thieves’ in cursive tatted on their arms

18.  A sun

Above her son’s name, Duff has a  fine-line sun on her arm.

Doting mom: Her 'mother' tattoo came years after she got her eldest's name on her right wrist in cursive

Doting mom: Her ‘mother’ tattoo came years after she got her eldest’s name on her right wrist in cursive

 19.  Wildflowers

If you look closely, fans can see a delicate tattoo of wildflowers on her elbow. 

Barely visible: If you look closely, fans can see a delicate tattoo of wildflowers on her elbow

Barely visible: If you look closely, fans can see a delicate tattoo of wildflowers on her elbow

20.  An anchor

On her left foot, the A Cinderella Story star has a tiny black anchor.

In addition to representing the sea, anchors symbolism for protection and faith. 

Staying grounded: On her left foot, the A Cinderella Story star has a tiny black anchor; seen in 2016

Staying grounded: On her left foot, the A Cinderella Story star has a tiny black anchor; seen in 2016

21.  A wishbone

On of Duff’s first tattoos is a small wishbone, which traditionally represents good luck. 

Hope: On of Duff's first tattoos is a small wishbone, which traditionally represents good luck; seen in 2011

Hope: On of Duff’s first tattoos is a small wishbone, which traditionally represents good luck; seen in 2011

22. Unknown

Duff revealed a large tattoo below her hip while rocking a tiny bikini in a sexy mirror selfie.

It is unknown what the design is. 

Unknown design: Duff revealed a large tattoo below her hip while rocking a tiny bikini in a sexy mirror selfie

Unknown design: Duff revealed a large tattoo below her hip while rocking a tiny bikini in a sexy mirror selfie

23.  A star

In 2019, she unveiled a ‘sassy’ star formation near her elbow on her Instagram Story. 

Recent addition: In 2019, she unveiled a 'sassy' star formation near her elbow on her Instagram Story

Recent addition: In 2019, she unveiled a ‘sassy’ star formation near her elbow on her Instagram Story

24. ‘Shine’ The four-time Teen Choice Award winner also has the word ‘shine’ on her middle finger.

Finger tat: The four-time Teen Choice Award winner also has the word 'shine' on her middle finger

Finger tat: The four-time Teen Choice Award winner also has the word ‘shine’ on her middle finger

25. Two cents

In addition to the ghosts, Duff and Masterson got matching ‘two cents’ tats on their arms. 

Best friend goals: In addition to the ghosts, Duff and Masterson got matching 'two cents' tats on their arms

Best friend goals: In addition to the ghosts, Duff and Masterson got matching ‘two cents’ tats on their arms

26. Another star

The mom-of-three also has a tattoo of a star on the back of her neck, which she rarely shows.  

Not pictured: The mom-of-three also has a tattoo of a star on the back of her neck, which she rarely shows.

Not pictured: The mom-of-three also has a tattoo of a star on the back of her neck, which she rarely shows.

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