If you grew up during the late 2000s, your Friday nights were basically decided for you by a single TV executive. You were either watching a girl from Seattle run a pirate web show or a girl in Hollywood learning how to "make it shine." Miranda Cosgrove and Victoria Justice weren't just actors; they were the pillars of the Nickelodeon empire. But honestly, the way people talk about them now is kinda weird. There’s this lingering idea that they were rivals or that one "won" while the other didn't, which is just not how reality works in the actual industry.
Let’s get one thing straight: the "feud" was almost entirely a fan invention. Sure, there was that one episode of iCarly where Victoria played a MMA fighter named Shelby Marx and literally punched Miranda in the face, but off-camera? They were just two teenagers carrying the weight of multi-million dollar franchises on their shoulders.
The Crossover That Defined an Era
Remember iParty with Victorious? That 2011 crossover felt like the Avengers of kid TV. It was massive. You had the iCarly crew driving down to LA because some guy named Steven was cheating on both Carly and Tori. It was the peak of the Miranda Cosgrove and Victoria Justice era.
Behind the scenes, the dynamic was way more relaxed than the tabloids wanted it to be. During the filming of that crossover, Miranda and Victoria actually spent their breaks trying to harmonize to John Mayer songs. Miranda once mentioned in an interview with TV Guide that they’d all go out to lunch together—a massive group of 18 people including their moms—trying to find a table at Kabuki on Sunset Blvd without a reservation. It wasn’t a competition; it was a logistics nightmare.
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- The Shelby Marx Incident: This was their first real on-screen meeting. Victoria wasn't Tori Vega yet; she was the "tough girl" guest star.
- Leave It All to Shine: This mashup of their theme songs peaked at number two on the Kid Digital Song Sales chart. It's still a banger.
- The Pay Gap Rumors: People love to bring up that Miranda was the highest-paid child actor in 2012. She was. But Victoria was also doing just fine, and they were on different contracts with different production timelines.
Where is Victoria Justice in 2026?
Victoria Justice is having a bit of a "chill" renaissance. For a long time, the internet was obsessed with why she didn't become a global pop star like her co-star Ariana Grande. Honestly? It feels like Victoria just wanted to do her own thing. She’s been leaning heavily into indie films and Netflix rom-coms lately.
In 2024, she starred in the thriller Depravity, and as we move through 2026, she’s been popping up in more mature roles. You might have seen her in California King or heard her recent singles like "Santa Darlin’" and "Love Zombie." She’s transitioned into that "working actor" phase where she doesn't need a massive franchise to stay relevant. She also just joined the cast of Suits: LA as Dylan Pryor, which is a huge move into prestige TV.
The iCarly Movie and Miranda’s Big Return
Miranda Cosgrove, on the other hand, is the queen of the "Revival." After the iCarly reboot on Paramount+ got canceled on a massive cliffhanger (the wedding! the mom!), fans went nuclear.
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The big news for 2026 is that the iCarly wrap-up movie is finally happening. Miranda confirmed it on The Drew Barrymore Show, and filming is slated for early this year. She’s not just the star; she’s an executive producer. That’s the real shift in her career. She’s the one calling the shots on the scripts now. She’s been very open about how "strange" it is to walk back onto those sets as a 32-year-old, looking at the hallways of a fake high school where she spent her actual childhood.
Why the Comparison Still Happens
People still compare Miranda Cosgrove and Victoria Justice because they represent a very specific type of "safe" stardom. They didn't have the "wild child" phase that defined the Disney stars of the same era. There were no public meltdowns. No high-speed chases.
Because they were so "normal," the only drama people could find was by pitting them against each other. "Who's more talented?" "Who's more successful?" It’s a boring conversation. The truth is that they both managed to survive the Nickelodeon machine with their sanity intact, which is a much bigger win than any Billboard hit.
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- Miranda's Path: Focused on the Despicable Me franchise (voicing Margo) and producing her own content. She stays close to the iCarly legacy because she genuinely likes it.
- Victoria's Path: Diversified into fashion, indie thrillers, and a slow-burn music career that isn't chasing TikTok trends.
What You Should Actually Be Watching
If you want to see what they’re doing now without the nostalgia goggles, check out Victoria’s performance in The Tutor or Miranda’s work in the 2024 film Mother of the Bride. They aren't kids anymore, and they’re both making choices that reflect that.
The real takeaway here is that the Miranda Cosgrove and Victoria Justice era didn't really end; it just evolved. They went from being faces on a lunchbox to women who actually run their own careers.
To keep up with their latest moves, keep an eye on the production updates for the iCarly finale movie—it’s expected to drop late 2026 or early 2027. If you’re a Victoria fan, her stint on Suits: LA is going to be the first time we see her in a gritty, high-stakes legal environment. Both are worth a watch.