Victoria Justice was twelve years old when she walked onto the set of Pacific Coast Academy. She wasn’t the first choice for the show’s dynamic, but she became the most necessary one. When Kristin Herrera (who played the tough-talking Dana Cruz) was written out after Season 1, the writers needed a bridge. They needed someone who could balance Zoey’s level-headedness and Nicole’s high-energy obsession with guys and lip gloss. Enter Lola on Zoey 101.
Most people remember Lola Martinez as the girl with the colorful hair streaks and the dramatic flair. But if you actually look back at the show’s run from 2005 to 2008, her character did something much heavier than just fill a vacant bed in Room 101. She shifted the entire tone of the series.
The Goth Girl Prank and the Birth of a Star
Lola didn't just walk into the room; she staged a full-blown performance. In her debut episode, "Back to PCA," she arrived dressed in full goth attire—piercings, dark makeup, and a cold attitude that genuinely terrified Zoey and Nicole. It was a classic Dan Schneider introduction.
The reveal? It was all an acting exercise.
Lola Martinez was an aspiring movie star, a character trait that wasn't just a hobby but her entire identity. She famously claimed she would win an Oscar by the time she was nineteen. While she didn’t quite hit that mark in the fictional world, the "Lola on Zoey 101" era essentially served as a three-year audition for Victoria Justice’s real-life career. Without Lola, we probably never get Victorious.
Why Lola Martinez Replaced Dana Cruz (The Real Story)
There has been a lot of internet chatter over the years about why Dana left. Some fans theorized Kristin Herrera looked "too old" next to Jamie Lynn Spears, while others suspected behind-the-scenes friction. Regardless of the rumors, the transition to Lola changed the roommate chemistry forever.
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Dana was the antagonist in the room. She was the friction.
Lola, conversely, was the glue. She was trendy, slightly ditzy in the early seasons, and fiercely loyal. She brought a "theatre kid" energy that allowed the show to lean into more absurd storylines. Remember when she dressed up as a boy named "Steve" to infiltrate the boys' dorm? That wasn't just a gag; it was a testament to how the character was used to push the boundaries of the typical "teen girl" archetype on Nickelodeon at the time.
The Style Evolution: Streaks, Hoops, and 2000s Chaos
If you want to talk about "Lola on Zoey 101," you have to talk about the hair. In Season 2, she was the queen of the early-2000s "cool girl" aesthetic. We’re talking:
- Purple and pink clip-in extensions.
- Giant hoop earrings that defied gravity.
- Layered tank tops that served absolutely no purpose.
By Season 3 and 4, her style settled down into something more "Hollywood chic," which mirrored Victoria Justice’s own transition into a leading lady. Fans often debate which version of Lola was better. The Season 2 version was snarkier and more experimental, while the later versions were more "girl next door."
Personally? The Season 2 Lola was a vibe that hasn't been matched since.
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Relationships: From "Steve" to Vince Blake
Lola’s love life was... chaotic. She was the resident flirt, often using her acting skills to manipulate guys into doing what she wanted. But things got real toward the end of the series when she started dating Vince Blake.
Vince was the school’s star quarterback and resident "bad boy" who had previously been caught cheating on a test. Their relationship was one of the more mature arcs in the show. They had this weird tradition where they had to fight before a big game or a big audition because they believed the "angry energy" made them perform better. It was toxic, sure, but for a 2007 Nickelodeon show, it was peak drama.
The Zoey 102 Snub: Where Was Lola?
When the revival movie Zoey 102 dropped in 2023, there was a glaring hole in the cast. No Victoria Justice. No Lola Martinez.
The internet went into a tailspin. Was there beef? Was she too famous for her PCA roots? Victoria eventually cleared the air, citing "scheduling conflicts" with a movie she was filming at the time. Honestly, it was a bummer. Seeing Quinn and Logan get married without Lola there to judge everyone’s outfits felt wrong.
In a 2023 interview with OK! Magazine, Victoria shared her own "headcanon" for Lola: she’d be living in Los Angeles, acting on a soap opera, and obsessed with her two King Charles Spaniel dogs. It fits. Lola was always destined for the spotlight, even if she had to step away from the PCA gang to find it.
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Key Facts You Probably Forgot
- The Name Swap: On the official (and now archived) PCA website, Lola's last name was listed as "Camacho" in her "Lolascopes" section, even though the show called her Martinez.
- The Phobia: She had a legitimate, terrifying fear of people in big, fuzzy costumes (mascots).
- The British Accent: She was surprisingly good at a British accent, which she used to trick boys on more than one occasion.
- The Near-Spin-off: There were rumors of a spin-off titled Hey Lola before Victorious was greenlit.
How to Channel Your Inner Lola Today
Lola Martinez wasn't just a character; she was a masterclass in confidence. She didn't care if people thought her acting exercises were weird. She didn't care if her hair was three different colors.
To really appreciate the legacy of "Lola on Zoey 101," you have to look at how she paved the way for the "multi-hyphenate" Nickelodeon star. She was the first one who felt like a real person with a real ambition that extended beyond the school walls.
If you're revisiting the series, pay attention to the small moments. The way she handles Logan’s sexism with a well-placed spitball or the way she supports Quinn’s "Quinnventions" when everyone else thinks they're crazy. Lola was the friend we all wanted—mostly because she was the only one who knew how to have a good time without making it a whole "thing."
Next Steps for Fans:
Go back and watch the Season 2 episode "Girls Will Be Boys." It is arguably the best showcase of Lola's character range and remains one of the highest-rated episodes of the entire series. If you're feeling nostalgic, check out the Zoey 101 soundtracks on Spotify—Lola might not have been the "singer" of the group (that was Zoey's thing), but the vibe of that era is perfectly preserved in those tracks.