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Hilary Duff knows how grueling growing up in the spotlight can be, especially considering how young she was during her claim to fame in the Lizzie McGuire and A Cinderella Story eras. With this in mind, it makes sense that she’ll be starring in the upcoming Hulu series, titled Pretty Ugly, which examines the dark side of show business for young individuals who are still trying to make sense of the world around them.
The series will be based on the novel of the same name, which highlights the toxic culture surrounding the entertainment industry. While showbiz may be flashy and bright on the surface, it’s often a source of turmoil and ugliness behind the glitzy facade. This is especially so when it comes to the dreaded “stage moms” who often force their daughters to participate in the entertainment world in order to live vicariously through their kids.
In the case of Pretty Ugly, Hilary Duff portrays a “pageant mom” who is making her daughter participate in a local beauty pageant. But is her daughter on board with this? Or is she secretly burned out by the process, considering her young age?
Scroll to see everything you need to know about Hilary Duff's Pretty Ugly show on Hulu!
What is 'Pretty Ugly' about?
Pretty Ugly follows the story of a former pageant queen, Miranda Miller (Hilary Duff), who's transferred her passion for pageants to her 10-year-old daughter, Bailey. Miranda is incredibly determined to make her daughter a star, pushing the boundaries as far as she can to achieve her "dreams of endorsement deals, beauty brands, maybe even a TV show,” according to the logline.
On the other hand, Bailey isn't interested in her mom's pageant-laden world — much to her mother's dismay. Still, Miranda continues on as she prepares for her unborn child's upcoming career, navigates life with her pill-addicted husband, and her widowed (slightly cuckoo) mother.
Is 'Pretty Ugly' based on a book?
Yes! Pretty Ugly is based on a novel by Kirker Butler.
Who's in the 'Pretty Ugly' cast?
Right now, the only confirmed Pretty Ugly cast member is Hilary Duff — but we can't wait to see the surely star-studded cast list start rolling in.
When does 'Pretty Ugly' come out?
Pretty Ugly is still in early stages of production, so we don't anticipate seeing any episodes until at least late 2026 — if not 2027.
So, what do we think about 'Pretty Ugly' so far?
I’m personally interested in seeing Hilary Duff portray such an unlikable character, based solely on the synopsis. I grew up watching Duff in Lizzy Maguire, A Cinderella Story, and Raise Your Voice. While she’s great in these movies/shows, Duff always sort of stuck to the simplified “pop princess” roles that lacked complexity or flaws. As such, it’ll be fascinating to watch the Disney Darling’s debut outside of this polished landscape. What will she be like playing the bad guy?
Additionally, another Hulu series centering around the problematic psychology of the stage mom is Jeanette McCurdy’s adaptation of her memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died. This best-selling book explores the traumatic real-life relationship between the former iCarly star and her narcissistically abusive mother.
With both shows coming to Hulu in the distant future, it’s good to know there’s more of a discourse and overall awareness of the toxic culture surrounding stage moms who prioritize their daughters’ stardom and acclaim over their happiness and well being. It’s a less talked about problem within our culture that isn’t exclusive to Hollywood, and can happen anywhere, really. We see that with Pretty Ugly, which concentrates on local pageants. Yet despite the smaller scale of the spotlight in this case, it doesn’t make the behind-the-scenes turmoil any less detrimental.
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