Victoria Justice Is Working Toward Self-Love by Learning How to Forgive Herself: 'We're All Human' (Exclusive)
Justice tells PEOPLE about writing through emotional highs and lows while launching back into music with new songs like "Raw" and "Down
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Victoria Justice in Inglewood in March 2024Embracing self-love has been a process for Victoria Justice.
The actress and singer, 31, has been writing through emotional highs and lows while launching back into music with new songs like "Raw" and "Down," leading her to look within and examine her relationship to herself.
"Raw," for example, finds Justice embracing her own imperfections and hoping a romantic partner will as well. "I think forgiving yourself is a really big part of loving yourself," she tells PEOPLE. "I feel like we're all human, and no one is immune to making mistakes, including myself, obviously."
"We all go through ups and downs in this life, and I think it's important to give yourself grace, do your self-reflection and think, 'Maybe I could have handled this better, or maybe I made this mistake' or whatever, but not dwelling or beating yourself up over those things," she says. "That's something that I can sometimes do, and I need to always remind myself, 'It's OK, Victoria, forgive yourself.'"
Justice's latest single, "Down," is more playful. "I feel like I'm in this era right now that is very sexy, empowering, flirty, fun and sassy — all the things that to me are fun about being a woman," she says, describing the song as "a really fun new side of me that I don't think people have ever heard."
The track, made with Grammy-winning writer/producer Toby Gad, features elements of Afrobeats and marks a more dance-forward sound for the former Nickelodeon star. "I wrote it in Baja, Mexico with a view of the ocean," she explains.
"I just want to see people living their best summer lives with this song," adds Justice. "I want to see people on the beach playing it, dancing. hanging out by the pool and making out with someone that they're into. It's just a fun song, and I'm having fun with it."
Aside from music, the entertainer — who's been working since her childhood — recently acted alongside Noah Schnapp in The Tutors, and she'll star in the upcoming thriller Depravity as well as a guest role on NBC's Suits: L.A. pilot.
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Victoria Justice in Los Angeles in April 2024Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Justice is also currently partnering with skincare brand Belif, and she recently told PEOPLE that focusing on her skin has made it feel "very flattering" to receive comments from fans about how she seemingly hasn't aged.
"I really appreciate it, especially because I feel like I do things to try to take care of myself the best way that I can. I wear a baseball cap when I can, I wear sunscreen every day, I try to not drink too much, I work out," she said. "I definitely put effort towards my wellness, so it feels nice to hear those comments."
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