They?re the Bennifer for the tween generation. Following in the footsteps of their predecessors ? that?s Bennifer, part 1, with Jennifer Lopez ? power couple Hilary Duff and Good Charlotte?s Joel Madden are broadcasting their love for each other in the latest issue of People. Teen People, of course.

Duff and Madden, who went public with their relationship two months before Duff turned 18, posed in their first cover together for the February 2006 issue of the magazine. In it, they try to convince readers just how normal their relationship is, despite the fact that tattooed rocker Madden, 26, is eight years older than the perky blonde starlet, and that the two began dating when Duff was still underage.

“You’re automatically prejudging us because Joel has tattoos or I have blond hair,” Duff told Teen People. “He has tattoos so he’s bad, I smile all the time so I’m perfect.”

But the couple said they balance each other out, with Madden actually being the one who watches out for Duff while his girlfriend drags him off the couch. ?She?s made me more social,? said the GC frontman. ?It’s not me going, ‘Come on, Hilary, get on a motorcycle and ride into the sunset to a raging party!’ ”

Madden added that he wasn?t worried about what the public would think of his relationship with the Disney princess. “I didn’t care what the press would say,” he said. “I cared what my mom would say.”

The couple said they are taking it slow, with Duff gushing, “Joel is the most respectful boyfriend I’ve ever had. We had five or six dates before we even kissed.”

“This is the slowest relationship, physically, that I’ve had,” Madden said. “It’s grown at the right pace, organically and naturally.”

Madden envisions a long relationship with the singer-actress, but said they?re not thinking about marriage yet. He also let it slip that if he had a daughter Duff?s age, he wouldn?t let her date a guy his age. “I wouldn’t let it happen.?

In any case, Duff said she is very comfortable with Joel, and added, ?we know we’re not going anywhere.”

Hopefully, that doesn?t mean Madden will be jumping on couches and the duo will be grinning at each other on ABC Primetime any time soon.






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