Victoria Justice, known for her Nickelodeon shows Victorious and Zoey 101, has a lot on her plate as she approaches the new year – not to mention a big birthday coming up—the big 1-8. Besides working on her television series, Justice has a new movie coming out, and her much anticipated album will be dropping soon. Regardless, she still makes time to work with the non-profit organization, Girl Up.

Girl Up is a campaign of the United Nations Foundation, and gives all girls an opportunity to help other adolescent girls in the “hardest-to-reach” areas of the world. Putting it in their words, “Girl Up gives American girls the opportunity to channel their energy and compassion to raise awareness and funds for programs of the United Nations that help some of the world’s adolescent girls.

“I am very mindful of the audience I am reaching, and that many look to me to see what I’m doing,” says Justice. “If I can help raise awareness, funds and have others feel that they want to do the same, then that’s a very cool thing. It’s really very easy to get involved, and with as little as five dollars, you can change someone’s life.” (More information is included on Girl Up’s official web site: girlup.org)

Not only is she a part of the Girl Up foundation, she also helped launch the charity effort. “I had been looking for a charity that I really wanted to support, and this one seemed like a great fit. Also, the fact that I could be a part of helping launch a new charity with the United Nations was of interest to me, because it gives it credibility. The main thing that was important to me was the fact that it was girls helping other girls who weren’t as fortunate.”

“Every girl has hopes and dreams. It is sad (and outrageous when you see the conditions that they live with), to think they aren’t given the same chances we are here, in America. These girls are full of potential and their lives are very difficult. Girl Up helps target these girls in hard to reach areas and helps to bring education, health care and safety to them.” – Shannon Suetos

(For complete article, purchase Victoria’s issue online!)

PHOTOGRAPHER: DEREK WOOD
ART DIRECTOR: LYNDZI TRANG
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR: AMANDA ELKINS
HAIR/MAKE-UP: TAMARA OGDEN
STYLED BY: MADISON GUEST

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