In the early 2000s, just about every pre-teen and teenage girl wanted to be Lizzie McGuire -- including Hannah Montana.
Miley Cyrus had Hilary Duff on her Instagram Live talk show Bright Minded on Wednesday (March 25), creating a very full-circle moment for the "Malibu" singer, who admitted to Duff that Lizzie McGuire was the "only reason" Cyrus auditioned for Hannah Montana in the first place.
It started with Cyrus seeing Duff in concert when she was 11. "I wore a plaid skirt and Uggs to the show because you wore a plaid skirt and Uggs,” Cyrus recalled to Duff. "And from the nosebleed seats I was hoping you would notice me and be like, ‘Hey girl, nice Uggs!’ I don’t know what I was thinking. But I was obsessed with your T-shirt -- it was bedazzled, and it said ‘Nashville,’ and I immediately went and bought a bedazzler and I stayed up all night jeweling everything that I owned.”
Cyrus continued, "I flew to L.A. almost immediately so I could audition for Disney. And I ended up getting the role, but the only reason I wanted it was so I could do whatever you did. And so really, I don’t think I gave a s--t about being an actress or a singer. I just wanted to copy you no matter what. So I just wanted to say thank you again for just inspiring me. I would never be sitting here, being able to be a light if it wasn’t for you and you showing me how to do that."
Naturally, Duff responded by gushing right back. "First of all, you’re so sweet, and I feel like I’ve known you for such a long time,” she told Cyrus. “Just to hear you say that, I feel like you have been such a bright light and you have made so many choices that have been so bold and you’re an inspiration to me and to all of us -- and you continue to be.”
Before Duff even came on the show, Cyrus shared a vintage clip of teenage Miley receiving a surprise phone call from Hilary while appearing on a Canadian talk show. In the clip, Duff asked how Cyrus decided on her career path, so the "Slide Away" singer decided to ask the Younger star the same question on Bright Minded. Little did Duff know that her Lizzie McGuire legacy helped create a fellow Disney phenom.
If there's one thing Cyrus wanted you to take away from her dream-come-true chat with Duff, though, it's this: “You can go from stalking someone behind their tour bus to FaceTiming them live on Instagram."
Check out Cyrus' full interview with Hilary Duff, as well as Reese Witherspoon, Bebe Rexha and Dua Lipa, on Bright Minded below. (Note: The Hilary Duff segment begins at 17:15.)