Bullying Awareness Week begins on Monday, November 12, and Victoria Duffield, Canada’s multi‑talented performer, is lending her voice to the Stand UP! To Bullying Network through Family Channel. The pop singer and dancer joined the 2012 Stand UP Rally, taking the stage with her dancers to energize the crowd as the week kicked off. If you missed the live performance, you can watch Victoria’s set on Family Channel on Friday, November 16 at 5 p.m. ET/PT.
Victoria was interviewed ahead of her appearance. Check out the interview below!
The last time she spoke about her work, it was before her tour with Big Time Rush. How did it go?
Good. She wished it had been longer. She loved it. It was a lot of fun. Everything’s been going really well. She had to go back to school for a bit, since she’s graduating this year and needed to catch up with everything. Now she has some shows lined up, including the Family Channel Stand UP! Rally, We Day, and another cross‑country tour. She’s very excited for what’s ahead.
How did you get involved with the campaign?
She had done other support for Family Channel previously. When she heard about Stand UP, she wanted to participate because bullying is a major issue. People need to stand up to it and stop it. It’s something she wanted to show support for.
With fans literally following your every move, how do you use your position as a role model for good?
She is a very positive person. She is in a position where she can influence kids and teenagers just like her. She tries to give positive messages in her songs and writes them from the standpoint of being a strong person and making good decisions. Plus, she does things like this—supporting a Family Channel event for anti-bullying. She hopes that if a fan wants to know what she’s interested in, they’ll look into it and want to get involved too.
Have you had an experience where you have really inspired someone?
She sees people on Twitter saying, “Oh, you’ve inspired me to get back into dance!” It’s really cool to hear that kind of thing. It’s crazy for her. Growing up, Britney Spears was a huge influence. It’s amazing to hear fans say, “Oh my gosh, you’re my idol and I want to be like you!” It’s such a cool feeling.
When you’ve had a bad day, what is your outlet to get your frustration out?
She’s an open person, so she’ll talk to her parents or friends if something is bothering her. Music and dance are the main outlets. When she was younger and in the dance studio all the time, getting to class, immersing herself in practice, working hard, and exercising was a way to let things out. She also has a treadmill at home, so a quick jog can clear her head.
If you could pick one song that would be an anthem for bullying up‑standers around the world, what song would you choose?
“Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera is a song that touches on that. She used to sing a lot of cover songs in hometown performances and learned that one. Listening to it and watching the music video were really inspiring. It’s all about will power, self‑confidence, and not letting others put you down.
What do you have planned for your performance at the rally?
She’s going to sing “Feel” and “Break My Heart.” She’ll open and close the show and will have her dancers with her. It will be great to be part of it and to share the message of anti‑bullying.
Be sure to check out Victoria’s performance at the Stand UP! Rally on Friday, November 16 at 5 p.m. ET/PT on Family Channel.