If you have seen Victorious, then you must be familiar with Victoria Justice, who played the character of Tori Vega. She has grown into a dynamic presence in Hollywood and balanced her early stardom with a steady evolution in her career.

She broke into acting at just 10 years old with a guest role on Gilmore Girls. However, her breakthrough moment came as Lola Martinez in Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101. But it was her lead role as Tori Vega on Victorious that turned her into a teen idol and a mainstay in pop culture.

Justice’s story is one of reinvention and quiet determination. She has transitioned from a teen sensation into a thoughtful artist and advocate, taking on projects that reflect her evolving identity.

5 reveals from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3’s trailer

Where was The Resident filmed? All shooting locations explored

“She is my spirit animal”: Parker Posey’s role in The White Lotus season 3 has fans calling her their favorite new character

5 lesser-known things about Victoria Justice

1) Early career beginning

Victoria Justice got into acting at the age of 10. Her first role was a small guest appearance on the popular show Gilmore Girls in 2003. It wasn’t a huge part but it was her first real step into acting and landing a role on such a well-known series at that age was pretty impressive.

It gave her early experience on a professional set and introduced her to the industry.

2) Philanthropic endeavors

Victoria Justice has been actively involved in philanthropy. She supports organizations like the United Nations Foundation, which addresses causes such as health, education, and human rights.

On September 30, 2010, she joined the “Girl Up” campaign, which empowers girls in developing countries. At the campaign’s launch in New York City, she spoke how excited she was.

“I’m so excited to become a champion for Girl Up and to help make a difference for girls who aren’t given the same opportunities that most of us take for granted,” she said.

Justice also participated in the “Unite for Girls” tour, visiting cities across the U.S. to raise awareness. She traveled to Girl Up-supported programs in developing countries, witnessing the impact on local communities.

Justice added:

In an interview with Seventeen on December 2010, she said, “Hearing these girls in Guatemala and Africa talk about walking miles for water and crying because they can’t go to school really broke my heart, so I want to spread the word as much as I can and get other people working together. Before you know it we can actually make a difference.”

3) Musical influences

Victoria Justice has drawn inspiration from a wide range of musicians throughout her life. She spoke about it in an interview with PopEater in December 2010 and also shared how her sound is shaped by artists from different genres.

“It’s hard to say because I get inspired by all kinds of music,” she said. “It’s hard to pinpoint just one artist, but I’ll try to name a few: Pink, Sara Bareilles, Britney Spears, Madonna, Amy Winehouse, and Lily Allen. I love Motown music, Hall and Oates, Carly Simon, Billy Joel, Jackson 5, Karen Carpenter, and The Beatles. I’ve listened to all of these artists since I was little, so they’ve all influenced me in one way or another.”

Justice also hinted that these influences would be reflected in the next album she was going to release. She described her music as deeply personal and shaped by her own experiences.

4) Advocacy for self-care

Victoria Justice has become an advocate for self-care. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Justice spoke about how she took her once flawless skin for granted during her teenage years.

“I would come home from being on set, and I didn’t even have a skincare routine. I would truly use Softsoap to wash off my makeup,” she admitted.

Her perspective changed after developing cystic acne due to thyroid medication for her Hashimoto’s disease.

“Anyone who has dealt with cystic acne knows how much it sucks and affects their confidence,” she shared. “I wear sunscreen every day, I try not to drink too much, I work out,” she said.

5) Comeback from hiatus

Victoria Justice made her musical comeback in December 2020 with the release of her single Treat Myself. It was her first new song in seven years. The former Victorious star announced the release on Instagram and shared the message behind the track.

“I’ve written & recorded many songs over the past few years, but this one in particular has a message that I think is more important than ever to share now,” she wrote.

Justice explained that while her goal for 2020 was to release a full album or EP, the year’s challenges shifted her plans.

“My hope was to complete a full musical project and have an album or EP to release, but of course 2020 has not exactly turned out as many of us planned. And instead of overthinking all of this, I just thought. F#%! it. I’m going to just put it out there.” she said.