Is it just me, or does Hilary Duff never seem very happy?

Sure, she’s on the cover of magazines posing with her new abs proclaiming that she’s comfortable at 5’2” and 109 pounds (down almost 20 pounds from her reported weight of 130 in 2003), has been seen out and about since her split with ugly, ugly, ugly Joel Madden, and is giving interviews saying she’s “all set” with the ending of her first big love affair…but I just can’t help detecting weariness in between all those words.

First of all, at 5’2”, 109 is not the easiest weight to maintain. I’m that height, and the last time I weighed 109 was when I had just gotten out of surgery and spent three weeks puking from anesthesia side-effects. These days I’m almost spot on with the Duffster’s old weight, and even those numbers prove to be difficult when it’s 98 degrees and all I want is a giant cone from Cold Stone Creamery.

Second, it’s gotta be hard as hell to see your Ex cavorting around Hollywood with Nicole Richie, and even harder to know he got the chick pregnant.

Thirdly, those interviews she recently gave makes her seem less than thrilled with life in the spotlight. Sure, a busy schedule can be tiring, but a busy schedule making Tween movies and putting out albums nobody listens to? It’s no wonder she fills unfulfilled.

Not to mention the ankle weight of older sister Hailey, who’s been hanging on the Duffster’s fame ever since those Lizzie McGuire days. You want to tell me life doesn’t get hard with a sister who’s constantly nipping at your heels for parts and pop duets?

Maybe I’m reading too much into it. I mean, the girl is insanely rich, has stylists and personal trainers and chefs and limos and loads of guys drooling over her and 4 page spreads in Maxim magazine. On the surface, everything seems completely awesome.

…Or is it?