With Bullying Awareness Week kicking off on Monday, November 12, it seems that everyone is eager to do their part to support the cause – including Victoria Duffield! Canada’s very own quadruple threat talent has joined Family Channel’s Stand UP! To Bullying Network! The singer hit the stage with her dancers at the 2012 Stand UP! Rally to get the crowd even more hyped for the week. If you weren’t able to attend, you can catch the performance on Family Channel on Friday, November 16 at 5 p.m. ET/PT.
The Magazine caught up with Victoria before her performance. Check out the interview below!
The last time we spoke to you was before your tour with Big Time Rush. How did it go?
Good! I wish it had been longer. [laughs] But yeah, I loved it. It was so much fun! Everything’s going really well. I had to go back to school for a little bit. I’m graduating this year, so I had to get all caught up with everything. Now I have some shows here, including the Family Channel Stand UP! Rally, We Day and I am also going on another tour right across the country! I’m very excited for that.
How did you get involved with the campaign?
I had done some other support for Family Channel previously. I heard about it and wanted to be involved because I think bullying is a major issue. People need to stand up for it and stop it. It’s something that I wanted to show support for.
With fans literally following your every move, how do you use your position as a role model for good?
I am a very positive person. I am in a position where I can influence kids and other teenagers just like me. I try to give positive messages in my songs and write them from the stand point of being a strong person and making good decisions. Plus, I do things like this – supporting a Family Channel event for anti-bullying. I hope that if a fan wants to know what I’m interested in, they’ll look into it and want to get involved too.
Have you had an experience where you have really inspired someone?
I see people on Twitter being like, “Oh, you’ve inspired me to get back into dance!” It’s really cool for me to hear that kind of thing. It’s crazy for me. Growing up, Britney Spears was a huge influence of mine. It’s crazy to hear people saying, “Oh my gosh, you’re my idol and I want to be like you!” Like how Britney Spears was to me, I am a person that people look up to. It’s such a cool feeling.
When you’ve had a bad day, what is your outlet to get your frustration out?
I’m a very open person, so I’ll talk to my parents or friends if something is bothering me. Music and dance are ways that I express myself. When I was younger and in the dance studio all the time, just getting to class, engulfing myself, working hard and exercising was a way for me to let things out. I have a treadmill at home too. So just going for a jog on my treadmill is a way for me to let everything out!
If you could pick one song that would be an anthem for bullying up-standers around the world, what song would you choose?
“Beautiful” byChristina Aguilera is a song that kind of touches on that. I used to sing a whole bunch of cover songs when I would perform around my hometown and I learned that one. Learning the song and watching the music video for that was really inspiring. It’s all about will power, self-confidence and not letting other people put you down.
What do you have planned for your performance at the rally?
I am going to be singing “Feel” and “Break My Heart”. I’ll be opening and closing the show and I’ll have my dancers with me. It will be great to be a part of it and share the message of anti-bullying.
Thank you, Victoria!
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.