Black People Love Paramore
Episode: Lizzie McGuire
Hosts: Sequoia Holmes & Jewel Wicker
Aired: February 19, 2026
Overview
In this episode, Sequoia and Jewel dive deep into the cultural and nostalgic significance of the Disney Channel classic Lizzie McGuire, examining its legacy, distinctly 2000s aesthetics, characters, and, most importantly, what it meant for Black and POC viewers growing up. With their signature humor, they unpack why this seemingly “universal” show resonated, the overlooked role of side Black characters, and how Hilary Duff’s “comeback” makes them reflect on their own childhood and cultural milestones.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Why Lizzie McGuire, and Why Now?
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Lizzie McGuire turned 25 in 2026 (premiered January 12, 2001). Despite running only two seasons, it was formative for both hosts.
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Hilary Duff’s (Lizzie) resurgence is marked by a new world tour, stirring nostalgia and online discussions.
"She’s officially going on a world tour. She started off like a mini tour… and at the last show, she announced: World tour!"
— Sequoia (01:56)
2. The Show’s Format and Impact
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Lizzie McGuire is described as a coming-of-age comedy for 13-year-olds, featuring episodes tackling puberty, body image, and relatable adolescent issues.
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The show’s 34+ episode seasons made it feel more expansive, lingering through the hosts’ seminal years.
"Lizzie McGuire is a television series on Disney Channel about a 13-year-old girl… going through the trials and tribulations of becoming teenagers together."
— Sequoia (04:15) -
The hosts contend Lizzie McGuire appealed to all genders. Sequoia’s male housemates were “locked the fuck in” when they screened the show for research (05:21).
“Garrick made a good point and said it is pretty much the Disney equivalent of Malcolm in the Middle, which is very boy.”
— Sequoia (05:43)
3. Signature 2000s Aesthetic
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Fashion: From hair with “little braids” and “poofy balls,” wooden clogs, to cheetah print and 70s-inspired fits, the show’s look is celebrated and ripe for a comeback.
“The little braids, the little poofy balls that you would have in the hair… it was really cute. I’m like, we actually need to bring that back.”
— Sequoia (06:18) -
The hosts reminisce about the style being “deeply 2000s” and universally adored, especially Miranda’s fashion and attitude.
“Maybe… I don’t know if it was because girl of color in the show. Yes, that was for me.”
— Jewel (07:07)
4. The Miranda Controversy & Representation
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Miranda (Lalaine) was a crucial “girl of color” and iconic to many nonwhite girls. But her abrupt disappearance in later episodes and the movie sparked online rumor.
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Sequoia discusses the rumored feud involving Hilary Duff’s mom pushing Lalaine out due to competition over music careers.
“She felt like Lalaine was really talented, kind of a scene-stealer… [so she] pushed to have Lalaine removed.”
— Sequoia (09:50) -
Lalaine's Filipino heritage is contrasted with her character's written Mexican identity:
"She looks Filipina to me." [22:22]
"They made her Mexican." [22:38]
5. Problematic Representation of Black Characters
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The black characters, Claire (Kate’s sidekick) and Lainey (Matt’s friend), are critiqued.
- Claire was deeply “sidekick-coded;” Lainey never spoke, possibly due to SAG-AFTRA pay rules.
“The way that Lizzie McGuire handled the Black characters… pissed me off.”
— Sequoia (23:46)“At some point… I stopped seeing Lainey, but I did start seeing a monkey… The monkey also couldn’t speak… something about that ain’t sit right.”
— Sequoia (24:53)
6. Favorite Episodes and Memorable Moments
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The “Miranda eating disorder episode,” notable for its PLAY “Us Against the World” dance sequence. The streamer's modern rights issues led Sequoia to literally re-sync the song herself.
“My dopamine receptors lit the fuck up at the end of the episode… I needed that in my soul.”
— Sequoia (27:20, 30:13) -
The “Kate stuffs her bra” rumor/pilot episode and era-specific joke—“loser, loser, double loser, get the picture, whatever!”—evoke both nostalgia and the cringey nature of 2000s kids’ insults.
7. Spaces for Teens & the 2000s Hangout Fantasy
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The hosts reflect on how shows like Lizzie McGuire made hangout spaces (coffee shops, smoothie bars) look fun—lamenting that real life offered only skating rinks or nowhere to go.
“There was always, like, a hangout spot… I came up with a business plan for why we needed to have one for my neighborhood.”
— Jewel (30:22)“It’s the Digital Bean.”
— Sequoia (33:56)
8. Missed Reboot and Where Are They Now? Theories
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The failed Lizzie McGuire reboot: two episodes were reportedly shot, but never released.
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The hosts speculate humorously on the today’s fates of the Lizzie McGuire cast:
- Lizzie: Moved back home with kids after financial setbacks.
- Matt: “Steve Jobs-coded,” successful but low-key coder.
- Miranda: Split—possible celebrity hairstylist or high-powered attorney.
- Gordo: A24-type indie film director.
- Kate: Two options—Sequoia says “teen mom, bartender with a man who won’t commit;” Jewel imagines an “average, vanilla marketing job, unhappy but settled.”
- Ethan: Male model, not much else going on mentally.
“If you think Kate is a bartender, drop a martini glass in the comments. If you think she works in marketing… drop a laptop.”
— Sequoia (44:04)
9. Yearbook Memories & Childhood Crushes
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Both hosts share yearbook and T-shirt signing stories, re-reading old notes.
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Jewel recounts her elaborate plan to marry her high school basketball crush (believing he’d go to the NBA and she’d cover it as a celeb news anchor).
“I thought he was going to the league. … My crush planning was not the strongest."
— Jewel (48:48, 49:36)
10. Hilary Duff Movie Rapid Rankings
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Jewel ranks Hilary Duff movies on the spot:
- Cinderella Story
- Cheaper By the Dozen
- Cadet Kelly
- Lizzie McGuire Movie
- Raise Your Voice
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Sequoia's top pick is Lizzie McGuire Movie, and both find the title "Raise Your Voice" unintentionally comical and misleading.
"Something about the name 'Cheaper by the Dozen'… it sounds like chicken and eggs.”
— Sequoia (55:01)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On show lifespan:
“It only lasted two seasons. I definitely thought—so crazy to me… because to me, Lizzie McGuire went through the seminal years of my childhood.”
— Jewel (03:19) -
On representation:
“Maybe… I don’t know if it was because girl of color in the show. Yes, that was for me.”
— Jewel (07:07) -
On rewatching as adults:
“We all concluded that [Lizzie McGuire] held up much better than we thought it would as adults.”
— Sequoia (05:43) -
On the treatment of Black side characters & SAG reasons:
“Lainey does not speak in the show… if a character spoke five lines or more, you had to pay more… Why can everybody else get paid, but Lainey can’t get paid?”
— Sequoia (24:10) -
On 2000s digital culture:
“She did have a colored Mac! I remember watching Lizzie and being like, I want one of them… so bad.”
— Jewel & Sequoia (33:32–33:44) -
On failing to clear music rights:
“Come to find out Disney Plus did not get the licensing for Play’s ‘Us Against the World’—so I got some random ass music… pissed me off.”
— Sequoia (27:30) -
On 'where are they now' for the cast:
“He only wears black t-shirts. He codes. You can’t really tell if he’s clean or dirty half the time… but he has a lot of money. But you would never know looking at him, because he looks homely.”
— Sequoia, on Matt (40:24) -
On reluctance to attend Hilary Duff or JLo concerts:
“If I don’t have to be out super late, if it’s in my budget… and my social battery is not drained, I’ll be there.”
— Jewel (53:37)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Opening/Themes of the Show – 00:19–05:19
- Lizzie’s Resurgence & Cultural Impact – 01:55–03:50
- What is Lizzie McGuire About? – 04:05–05:19
- Male Appeal & Show Holding Up – 05:19–06:10
- Fashion & Aesthetic Deep-Dive – 06:10–07:14
- Miranda’s Legacy and Real Life Background – 07:14–09:50, 22:20–22:32
- Miranda Drama Rumors – 09:50–10:13
- Characters - Black Representation – 23:14–25:49
- Favorite Episodes/Crucial Music Licensing Issues – 27:18–30:13
- 2000s Teen Hangouts vs. Real Life – 30:22–33:56
- Unreleased Reboot, Fan Theories on Where They Are Now – 34:19–45:59
- Yearbooks and Teenage Nostalgia – 45:59–49:58
- Rapid Ranking: Hilary Duff Movies – 50:00–56:51
Final Thoughts
Sequoia and Jewel deliver a sharp, affectionate, and critical look at Lizzie McGuire—embracing its nostalgia while interrogating what representation in early-2000s Disney often left unspoken. Their banter and warmth make this a vibrant generational and cultural time capsule, perfect for listeners reflecting on what “feeling seen” looked like as a Black kid in the 2000s.
Find the podcast:
@BPLPEPod on socials | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | blackpeopleloveparamore@gmail.com
“If you have thoughts, have vibes, want to talk to us at all, you can find us…”
— Sequoia (56:51)